Mens Health Blog. Medical Blog

Depending on what is important to you and your general make up, and perhaps how rapidly the oestrogen falls, the turning down in oestrogen production will give rise to a variety of different symptoms throughout your body. Some symptoms occur before your periods become irregular or alter in any way. Your periods vary because there is a variation in oestrogen production – with or without the production of an egg -and therefore the production of progesterone following this also varies. The uterine lining may be thick or thin because of a variation in oestrogen, or come away erratically because of the absence of progesterone. Some people have erratic periods for several years, others may stop menstruating suddenly, without warning. If periods are frequent and heavy your doctor should be consulted and a curette may be advised. This is not only to make sure that nothing abnormal is present, but is often curative, as there may be some irregularity of the lining causing heavy periods to persist.

Symptoms following the downturn of oestrogen production are variable. A Medical Women’s Federation report as far back as 1933 stated that results from a survey showed that only 15 per cent of women had a menopause free of symptoms1 However the intensity of symptoms varies from woman to woman. Symptoms seem to accompany strong variations in hormones, and disappear as the hormones are stabilised. The ovaries, adrenal glands and fat in the female body continue to make variable amounts of oestrogen for years afterwards, and the variation of this production from person to person perhaps explains the variation in symptoms.

When insufficient hormones are produced, artificial hormones are available for replacement therapy.

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Dyspareunia occurs at varying times in women’s lives and in some instances not at all, for some women continue to produce enough oestrogen after menstruation ceases. Fat women for instance, who manufacture oestrogen in their subcutaneous fat, complain less often of this symptom. However, dyspareunia may gradually increase as the woman ages, unless oestrogen is replaced locally or generally.

Discomfort with intercourse at this time was once thought to be a psychological symptom, and women were blamed for not being interested in intercourse. But there is an actual change in the cells of the vagina that can be observed under a microscope. With the application of oestrogens, these cells revert to their oestrogenised state.

At menopause the tissues atrophy and become dry, and the vagina becomes, in some instances, shorter and more rigid. This condition is aggravated if there is no sexual activity.

Lack of lubrication can certainly affect libido because of sheer discomfort. In addition the oestrogen-deficient, less-acid vagina is more prone to infection, and, with vaginal thinning, it may bleed due to friction during intercourse. This dryness of vaginal tissues in some women comes on gradually, and in others it appears more suddenly. It may occur within weeks if the ovaries are removed surgically.

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Your periods must have stopped for at least twelve months for you to ignore contraception. If you are on the pill your periods will be pill-induced, and the pill must be stopped to confirm the absence of your periods for this length of time. Pill-induced periods have nothing to do with your own cycle. During this twelve months you should use barrier methods of contraception such as condoms and cream.

What are the alternatives if contraception is still necessary under the age of fifty? Just as in the selection of contraceptives at any age, you and your partner must work out with your doctor what best suits you, taking into consideration the general health factors of your age group. The physical condition of a woman with, for example, raised blood pressure and cardiac disease becomes more important, and if the woman also smokes, problems with these conditions also increase.

The combined pill using the lowest dose possible is a reasonable choice with regard to recent reports of the hazards of the pill to those over thirty-five. With these facts in mind, permanent methods of contraception, such as tubal ligation for women or vasectomy for men, are being suggested to more and more couples. Barrier methods using condoms or diaphragms combined with creams are coming back into fashion.

The intra-uterine device (IUD) has a place if the woman does not experience irregular bleeding. Although it has a 4 per cent failure rate, failure would declare itself by a missed period.

Termination could be sought, if desired, at an early stage.

The mucus method of contraception has a place for the well-trained couple, but again, irregular periods are a problem. In this case a woman who misses a period may suffer undue anxiety that she may be pregnant.

The progestogen-only pill does not usually produce regular periods, therefore pregnancy would not be so obvious so soon. It has a four per cent failure rate. Spotting, which is often associated with this pill, is also a problem with this age group of women as spotting may indicate other problems that should be investigated.

These are only a few basic points. Other considerations must obviously be taken into account, and these can only be assessed by you and your own doctor. One worry that women raise when hormones are used after menopause, and particularly when periods are reintroduced, is ‘Can this mean that I can get pregnant?’ The answer to this is no, provided periods have been absent for twelve months.

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Bleeding

Bleeding is the most common side-effect of hormone therapy and it is vital that it be clearly distinguished from any other cause of bleeding such as cancer of the genital tract. On continuous oestrogen, with progestogen at regular intervals, you will almost certainly bleed after the progestogen. However, if you bleed at any time other than after the progestogen, you must tell your doctor who will almost certainly suggest dilatation and curettage, or suction curettage-an outpatient procedure. (Your doctor will also almost certainly suggest this if the bleeding is heavy or prolonged, even if it is at the expected time.)

Do not panic if abnormal bleeding occurs. This is almost always due to the oestrogens that you are taking. These bleeds while on oestrogen do not necessarily mean there is any serious cause, and in fact they may be beneficial, as investigation may show up something small, like a polyp, which is easily corrected, or they may alert your doctor to some trouble that might, if no oestrogen had been taken, have remained undetected until much later.

Could oestrogen stimulate a cancer already present? Cancer of the endometrium is stimulated by oestrogens. A full history and medical examination will always be done by your doctor before oestrogens are given. If a history of irregular or excessive bleeding is present the doctor would investigate it by dilatation and curettage or suction curettage.

Does a Pap smear diagnose cancer of the endometrium? A Pap smear is a test only for the cells of the cervix, not for the lining of the uterus. However, cells shed from the lining of the uterus may be present in the smear and may give useful information that an abnormality is present in the endometrium. This would be reported with your smear test and investigated by your doctor.

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Does oestrogen cause hair growth?

Definitely not, but some tablets given at the menopause are a cocktail of oestrogen (female hormones), and testosterone (male hormones). These certainly may cause hair growth because of the presence of the male hormone. If this has occurred don’t panic. Once the male hormones are stopped and the hair removed, this hair growth will not recur unless the same tablets are recommenced.

Do oestrogens improve the hair on your head?

Hair is said to be improved in texture by oestrogen therapy but this is hard to measure. You can only assess this for yourself. Some patients come to the clinic complaining that their hair is falling out or losing its body and in some instances this condition improves markedly with oestrogen therapy.

Effects of oestrogen on the skin

You have only to look at English skins from moister climates and compare them with our own to see the problem behind our dry and wrinkled skins. With any luck, ours will be the last generation which will be so badly affected by the sun. The next generation have available some wonderful sunscreening creams which have been developed recently, and these are available in pharmaceutical as well as luxury lines. People are more conscious now of the harmful effect of the sun, not only in producing cancer of the skin, which is increasing markedly in this country, but also of the harm it does to the elastic fibres in the deeper layers of the skin, which helps to increase the wrinkles.

There is also, of course, a natural ageing process, and with the decrease in ovarian function this seems to increase.

Can oestrogen replacement improve your skin or prevent it from wrinkling?

Oestrogen increases the layer of subcutaneous fat, giving your skin a softer, smoother texture. The reverse effect occurs when oestrogen levels are falling. Such an effect will occur gradually unless there is a sudden cut off in the supply of oestrogens, as when both the ovaries are removed at operation. Some women in our clinics refuse to give up oestrogen because of the beneficial effects on their hair and skin. These effects difficult to monitor but it is; worth reporting as a clinical fact. Two papers have reported these effects.

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Some researchers claim that vitamin C protects against catching cold. However, the protection lasts for only a few hours. If you are exposed to someone with a cold, or are sneezed at, it has been claimed that you can intercept and squelch a cold by taking 600-700 mg of ascorbic acid as soon as possible. Three hours later, the same dose should be repeated.

The same prophylactic dose could protect you if you anticipate being exposed to a cold virus. Take 600-700 mg of vitamin C just prior to the exposure and a similar dose three hours later.

Don’t forget to eat the 80-10-10 way so that your diet contains an abundance of complex carbohydrates (fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes) and a minimum of fats and oils, meat, whole milk dairy products, eggs, fried foods and refined flour or sugar.

If at least 80 percent of your diet does not consist of complex carbohydrates, you should take a good quality multiple vitamin-mineral supplement together with a timed release B-complex supplement containing the entire range of vitamin B components.

To minimize chances of catching cold, most nutritionists advise a daily intake from all sources of: vitamin A 5,000 IU; vitamin C 250 mg three times a day with each major meal; vitamin D 400 IU; vitamin E 100 IU; calcium 750 mg for men, 1,000 mg for women; iron 20 mg; magnesium 400 mg; selenium 100 meg; (twice a week); and zinc 15-20 mg.

And don’t forget to exercise every day.

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Hot soups act as expectorants by helping loosen secretions from the chest. In our opinion, the very best natural expectorant is a soup made with plenty of onions and garlic simmered in a pot of water with cayenne added.

Tangerines have been found to be effective natural decongestants. In 1960, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station reported that tangerines contain synephrine, a powerful decongestant. Many people have since reported that a tangerine is more effective than nose drops.

Investigations by Eric Block of the State University of New York at Albany, uncovered the fact that garlic possesses antifungal and antibiotic properties. It was found that garlic contains the chemical allicin which wards off fungi, bacteria and yeast (Later, ailicin turns into ajoene, a substance which inhibits blood clotting and may help prevent a stroke.)

While nothing was found to link garlic with fighting cold or flu viruses, nonetheless eating garlic raw has long been a traditional folk remedy for colds. Garlic is best taken with foods. Or you can squeeze the oil out of a clove and use it to flavor foods. Alternatively, you can take garlic oil in capsule form. Or you could cut open the capsules and squeeze the oil onto food. Garlic’s principal drawback is its unsavory smell.

Plain low-fat yogurt makes a good source of protein and calcium while suffering from an infection. Calcium is essential for metabolism of vitamin C. Yogurt containing Lactobacillus acidophilus appears to possess the added property of being able to help heal cold sores and cankers due to herpes simplex virus which may appear on the lips during or after a cold. Acidophilus yogurt is available in most health food stores.

When antibiotics are given to annihilate bacteria during a complication, the antibiotic frequently destroys all or most of the bacterial flora in the digestive tract. Acidophilus yogurt aids in restoring this digestive bacterial flora back to normal.

During the first two days of influenza, adults and children are often unable to eat solid foods. When appetite returns on the third day, it’s best to start with a bland diet consisting of soups, steamed vegetables, baked beans and broiled chicken or baked fish.

Finally, any new mother who is wondering whether it’s OK to continue to nurse a baby when the mother has a cold, can relax. Most pediatricians concur that a mother can safely continue to nurse an infant. They also advise eating plenty of fruits and not skipping any meals.

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A deficiency of iron has been observed to cause a wide variety of defects in immune system function. However, too much iron can aid bacterial invaders in multiplying. The suggested daily intake is 25 mg during a cold and 20 mg otherwise.

Magnesium dilates arteries and relaxes muscles throughout the body, thereby inducing a feeling of calm. This serenity, in turn, helps to enhance immunocompetence. All evidence suggests that an adequate magnesium intake is essential for keeping arteries relaxed and for remaining at ease during the stress of a cold or flu infection. There commended daily intake is 500 mg during a cold and 400 mg otherwise.

Summing Up. The massive build-up of white blood cells and antibodies needed to overcome a viral infection can occur only when sufficient vitamins A, C and E, the B complex, zinc and other essential nutrients are present There is considerable evidence that megadoses of a single nutrient, such as vitamin C or zinc, achieve no greater result than more moderate amounts. For optimal benefit, most evidence seems to support a more holistic form of nutritional therapy based on taking the smaller amounts of essential nutrients. Since no study has been made using a holistic nutritional approach, we cannot say with certainty how swiftly your cold is likely to disappear.

But every indication is that cold symptoms should vanish more rapidly than by using a single nutrient such as vitamin C or zinc. The smaller amounts of each nutrient should also eliminate any risk of intestinal or other discomfort. However, if you do experience any adverse effects due to supplementation, you should cease taking the supplements until you can identify the specific nutrient that is responsible.

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Because the respiratory tract is a series of cavities (sinuses, lungs etc.), connected by air passages, viruses can spread from the nose to the sinuses and throat and into the middle ear trachea, larynx, bronchial tubes and lungs. Secondary infections spreading to these locations can cause complications, some quite serious.

Sinusitis is a common dysfunction which frequently occurs after a cold is complicated by a secondary bacterial infection. Sinusitis is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the air-filled sinus cavities, which are hollow spaces in the bones of the skull. The frontal sinuses are above the eyes, the maxillary sinuses behind the cheeks. They are lined by mucosal cells which produce mucus that drains into the throat.

When the nose is blocked by a cold, this discharge accumulates and blocks the nose still more. The sufferer must then breathe through the mouth and speech often becomes nasal. Tenderness and headache pain are also often experienced in the cheeks and forehead; below, behind and above the eyes; and in the upper teeth, especially in the rear upper jaw. Vision may also become blurred. Adding to the discomfort is further pain caused by irritated nerve endings in the sinuses themselves.

If the frontal sinuses are affected, headache pain usually appears over one or both eyes, especially upon waking or on bending forward. If the maxillary sinuses are affected, one or both cheeks may be tender and painful, and pain may be experienced in the upper jaw.

Sinusitis is not normally dangerous but when it appears together with a cold, and then continues to produce a copious green discharge after the cold ends, it may be due to a bacterial infection. Or it could be due to an allergy. If you suspect a bacterial infection, a physician can confirm sinusitis by X-ray diagnosis. Otherwise, treatment is similar to that for a cold.

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However, exciting new discoveries are emerging to show that the type of optimal, or peak, immunocompetence that can consistently annihilate a cold in a very brief time can be achieved only by a holistic or whole person approach.

It has been found that three principal factors can enhance immunocompetence. They are:

1. Nutrition and light eating; 2. Regular exercise; 3. Positivism, which translates into thinking positively, staying emotionally calm, and being physically relaxed and free of tension.

While our eating habits, and how we exercise, form an important and essential contribution to bolstering immunocompetence, recent advances in immunological methodology have confirmed that Positivism is the largest single influence on the body’s health and well-being.

Put together, Nutrition, Exercise and Positivism interact synergistically so that the sum total of their overall results is many times greater than the cold-fighting power of any one of the three factors considered alone.

This explains the varying results and the controversy which has surrounded such unholistic therapies as taking vitamin C without the support of other essential nutrients, and without the wider support of exercise and Positivism.

When vitamin C therapy is supported by other essential nutrients, and by exercise and Positivism, immunocompetence can be dramatically boosted, often in a matter of hours.

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