Menopause
Contrary to popular belief,
Menopause is not simply the result of estrogen
deficiency; although, estrogen levels do decline during the latter phases of a woman's reproductive
cycle.
Estrogen levels drop by approximately 40% at menopause while progesterone levels plummet to approximately 90% of
the pre-menopausal levels.
It
is the relative loss of progesterone that causes the majority of symptoms.
The disproportionate loss of progesterone begins in the latter stages of a woman’s reproductive cycle, while
unbeknownst to her, the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle begins to malfunction.
The malfunction is initiated
when the remnant tissue of the follicle (corpus luteum), the primary source of progesterone, begins to lose its
functional capacity.
By approximately age 35, many of these follicles fail to develop creating a relative progesterone deficiency. As a
result, ovulation does not always occur and progesterone levels steadily decline.
It is during this period that a
relative progesterone deficiency, or what has become known as Estrogen Dominance, develops.
Typical symptoms of estrogen
dominance are:
Mood Swings: Irritability,
Depression
Irregular Periods
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Hot Flashes
Vaginal Dryness
Water Retention
Weight Gain: Hips, Thighs
and Abdomen
Sleep Disturbance
(Insomnia, less REM sleep)
Decreased Libido
Headaches
Fatigue
Short-term Memory Loss
Lack of Concentration
Dry, Thin, Wrinkly Skin
Thinning of Scalp Hair
Increased Facial Hair
Bone Mineral Loss
(Osteoporosis)
Diffuse Aches and Pain
The most effective way to assess
hormone status is to test saliva for the appropriate hormone levels.
The reason that saliva is the best method of testing is that "active" tissue
levels are measured, opposed to serum testing in which essentially measures the "inactive" levels.
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