THE ESTROGEN CONNECTION – Estrogen is What, Exactly?

Estrogen

First, a primer: to some, it’s some “woman’ thing. Some do think of it as a hormone. But surprise, there is actually no single hormone called “estrogen”. Try plurals, here; estrogens are a class of hormones. There are three different forms of estrogens in the body: estradiol, estriol and estrone. (Close your eyes and try repeating.)

Although they are all pretty similar in function, they vary in potency. Estradiol is the most common type found in non-pregnant women of childbearing age, and its main function is assisting with the monthly egg release from the ovaries. Estriol occurs in abundance at pregnancy. Estrone, is the form found upon post-menopause.

It’s Everywhere, Doing Everything.

Estrogen, (as we’ll refer to it here for the sake of simplicity) isn’t just about the basics mentioned above. Consider this:

  • Your daily life affects your estrogen levels and needs-vigorous exercise or stressful situations make you use estrogen faster. When you sleep, when you’re ill, it all has an impact on your estrogen levels.
  • Estrogen can affect your sun sensitivity. (High SPF and no tanning beds, please.)
  • Estrogen has both a direct and indirect impact on the cardiovascular system helping stop the buildup of plaque in your arteries, for example. (Be still, my heart.)
  • Estrogen plays a role in brain function helping protect nerves from damage and possibly stimulate nerve growth. It can also delay memory loss. (What was that I just said?)
  • Even your eyes need estrogen, as low levels can cause dry eyes, blurriness and even a change in vision. (And you thought maybe it was just from a killer hangover.)
  • Estrogen has a big effect on your skin, improving collagen content and quality. (Wrinkle, wrinkle, little star.)
  • It even helps prevent bone loss. (Give me a break.)

Periods? Pregnancy? Post menopause? Just an itsy-bitsy part of the picture.

Get the Whole Picture

The fact is, people don’t know what they should about the hormones called estrogen. And like all hormones, they’re crucial to how your entire body operates. Because hormones send specific signals throughout your bloodstream, if the messages they’re carrying for your body to operate the way it should, a lot could happen. Or not. The most important thing to know about hormones, is that there is a safe and effective way to balance them. In the Denver area, Dr. Stephen A. Goldstein MD, F.A.C.S. at Denver Hormone Health is the expert in Hormone Replacement Therapy. Before anything, he will discuss estrogen in a language that’s easy to understand, and answer any and all questions you have. It is important to understand that hormone levels differ between individuals; what is normal for one person is not necessarily normal for another. That’s why testing for your individual levels is critical. The tests are simple, but the results are completely telling. Once he is able to see your hormone levels, he creates a tailored plan just for you. Because he’s there for you, wanting you to feel your best.

Call for an appointment now.

Unlike estrogen, he’s hard to replace.

UP IN ARMS OVER SEX

feb-16What happens to your love life, as you get older?  Let’s separate fact from fiction. There is a demeaning stereotype that elicits a giant “YUCK-EEEWWW” from younger people when the topic of senior sex even comes up. Horny old broads, dirty old men. There is a movie out there now called Dirty Grampa with Robert DiNiro that defines what these kids are thinking. But is it the true portrayal of what’s going on sexually with seniors today?  What does that mean? That sex in older adults is taboo?  Virility plays a big role in our concept of manhood. There’s this idea you’re supposed to live up to: “Real men are always in the mood.”  Forget about it.  Major myth. As you reach your 50s, 60s. 70s and beyond you might be tempted to listen to all the negativity and believe your sex life is kaput, once and for all. Baloney. Ninety-three-year-old actress Betty White loves to talk about sex: “I may be a senior, but so what? I’m still hot.”

WHERE HAS YOUR SEX DRIVE DRIVEN?

Most seniors aren’t aware of all the roadblocks that come with age. They think something is wrong with them and that a lot of it is in their heads. As mentioned above, they are not supposed to want and have a healthy, rewarding sex life. For both men and women, sex starts to become nothing but a memory. The fact is, the majority of issues are physical. No one thing causes low libido.

The most common sexual problems for men are erection difficulty (37%), lack of interest in sex (28%), climaxing too quickly (28%), performance anxiety (27%), and inability to climax (20%).

Men’s changing bodies can tend to cause the entire male sexual response to slow down in a multitude of ways. There is a delay in erection. There is a need for more manual stimulation to achieve an erection. The phase between erection and ejaculation is prolonged. Orgasm is shorter and less forceful. The penis loses its firmness rapidly after ejaculation. The time interval before erection can be achieved again can be quite long. Ilnesses that can affect sexual performance include coronary artery disease, chronic lung disease, arthritis, prostate problems, even stress, depression, sleep apnea, diabetes stroke and medications, all of which also affect women. Anything that is bad for the blood vessels is bad for erections.”

Women’s body changes are mostly due to estrogen decreases that alter the thickness and size of a woman’s reproductive organs. These changes include loss of elasticity and a thinning of the vaginal tissue, decrease in the amount of lubrication, decrease in the size of the clitoral, vulvar and labial tissue and decreases in the size of the cervix, uterus and ovaries. Ouch. Sometimes it can really hurt.

SEX IN THE SIXTIES

Well folks, are you sitting down?  In reality there is a lot of action going on between the sheets among those over 60.  Data from the University of Chicago’s National Social Life, Health and Aging Project presented in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that many men and women remain sexually active even in their 70s and 80s. Sexually active Americans aged 57-85 have sex as often as those aged 18-59.

Sex after 60 is healthy. In fact, there really is no validity to statements that suggest sex after 60 is too strenuous and should be avoided due to the risks. A study by the National Commission on Aging (NCOA) showed that women, in particular, find sex over 70 as or more physically satisfying than they did in their 40s. In an interview with Helen Mirren, the Oscar winning actress, announced that sex in her youth was “paranoid and empty.” At the age of 69, she quoted that sex is “great, just wonderful.” A study by the National Commission on aging (NCOA) showed that women, in particular find sex over 70 more physically satisfying than they did in their 40s. So is sex in seniors the newest Fountain of Youth? The fact is, the level of sexual interest and activity among people over the age of 65 is as diverse as the individuals who make up that population. Sex may be different at that age, but it’s not diminished.

REV UP A LOW LIBIDO

Let’s start the whole process with some heavy-duty attitude change and a lot of knowledge. When it comes to aging, we are our own worst enemy. So first, dump the image issue. You’re not in your 20s and you don’t have the body and looks you had then. Wrinkles, baldness, bellies and sagging skin are facts of life as you age.  If you let this kill your self-esteem and keep you keeping your clothes on, you’re missing out big time. Get over it, and get on with having a rewarding, fulfilling and ongoing sex life.  Consider these facts to get you going:

Sex can cure headaches. One of the health benefits of sex is its ability to act as a pain reliever. The hormone oxytocin (sometimes referred to as the love hormone) is secreted within your body during sex causing endorphins (which are hormone-like chemicals that bear a close resemblance to morphine) to be released.  Studies have shown that a rise in oxytocin levels can relive everything from headaches to cramps and overall body aches.

Sex can reduce stress and help you sleep better. One survey revealed that people who have more sex reported that they felt more at ease, happier and learned how to handle stress better. People who enjoy a regular dose of sex convey that they sleep much better during the night and feel alive and refreshed throughout the day. So, one of the health benefits of sex is a better nights sleep, which allows you to handle day-to-day stress much more efficiently.

Sex can increase blood flow. It goes without saying that when we get aroused our blood starts to pump at a quicker rate and, thus, blood flow to our brain increases What this ultimately means is that the fresh supply of blood pumping through your body provides the organs with a healthy dose of oxygen and rids the body of old and wasteful products.

Here’s a fun one: believe it or not, sexual intercourse burns off 150 calories every half hour. Although the average couple engages in sex for approximately 25 minutes a session only three times a week, it still accounts for 450 calories that are better taken off than put on. A health benefit of sex, particularly a rigorous hour of sex, is that it may burn even more than 300 calories depending on how rigorous you get. I wouldn’t suggest getting a fitbit for it yet…

Although the orgasm is sometimes referred to as the “little death,” having at least two orgasms a week can increase your life span. Every time you reach orgasm, the hormone DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) increases in response to sexual excitement and ejaculation. DHEA can boost your immune system, repair tissue, improve cognition, keep skin healthy, and even work as an antidepressant. Therefore, a health benefit of sex if you keep the orgasms coming, is potentially a longer life.

DON’T BE SHY

Be willing to be flexible and adapt to change. Forget staring in the mirror all the time. Don’t be afraid to slow the process down. Realize that sexual arousal takes longer and requires more manual stimulation. Make the most of foreplay. Communicate. Share what makes you feel good with your partner. Don’t think discussing any physical problems will turn your partner off. Experiment. Lighting, candles, oils.  Try a new place. Different positions. And women…make adequate lubrication part of your routine to avoid irritation of the vagina or painful intercourse. In all this, we’re referring to couples. But don’t avoid pleasuring yourself.  Forget the “shouldn’ts, couldn’ts.” Masturbation is part of any healthy sex life. As people age, it is often more difficult to find a partner. Make yourself feel good. You certainly deserve it.

IT’S TIME FOR A CEASE FIRE

Hormone imbalances don’t just occur as part of the aging process, although it is often the case. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on living a robust and yes, sexual life. There is a way to address many of the issues you’re struggling with. Some, of course, are due to physical problems. But others could be the result of hormone imbalances, and the key to getting what you want. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is a good way to start. Bioidentical hormones are hormones derived from natural sources, and have an exact structural match to the hormones produced by the human body. This “bioidentical” structure allows these hormones to follow the same pathways and act on the same receptors in the body as your own hormones.

Where can you find out if BHRT can help you?

WITH STEPHEN A. GOLDSTEIN, M.D, F.A.C.S. AT DENVER HORMONE HEALTH, ONCE YOU’RE THERE, YOU’VE GOT HIS FULL ATTENTION. FEW HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF BHRT AS HE DOES. YOU CAN DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH HIM. WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT BHRT IS?  HE’LL EXPLAIN IN DETAIL. HE’LL LAY OUT THE MANY WAYS BHRT COULD HELP YOU, AND GIVE YOU OPTIONS AS HOW TO PROCEED. COMPREHENSIVE TESTING AND EVALUATION WILL LET HIM ASSESS ANY ISSUES WITH YOUR HORMONE LEVELS AND WHAT HE CAN DO TO RESTORE IMBALANCES THAT ARE DETERRING YOU FROM LIVING THE LIFE YOU WANT, NO MATTER YOUR AGE.  FROM THERE HE CREATES INTEGRATED AND INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PROGRAMS THAT COMBINE USING BHRT WITH PROPER NUTRITION AND EXERCISE.

CALL NOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A CONSULTATION. IT’S AMAZING HOW GOOD YOU’LL FEEL.

THE ESTROGEN INVASION

feb-16No way around it, you float in an estrogen fluctuating womb before you’re born. If you happen to be born a girl, well…you’re going to find yourself giving over your whole life to this very exclusive hormone. Female estrogen is produced and secreted from the ovaries. In early childhood, the ovaries are relatively dormant and serve as a sort of warehouse for eggs. Yes, you are probably more than aware of its role in much of what we discuss below, but there are some things about estrogen you might not be that aware of:

Your daily life affects your estrogen levels and needs. Vigorous exercise or stress will make you use estrogen faster. Being ill, your body needs more estrogen to heal.

Estrogen can make your skin much more sensitive to both the sun and tanning beds.

Estrogen can play many different roles in cardiovascular health, helping prevent the buildup of plaque in your arteries, for example.  It can keep blood vessels flexible for better blood flow.

Estrogen is essential for a wide variety of brain functions one of which is creating common menopause symptoms.

Estrogen has been found to play a pivotal role in bone development and growth No or low estrogen can cause dry eyes, blurriness or ever a change in vision.

Low estrogen levels early in life can lead to postmenopausal osteoporosis in females.

You’d be amazed how fickle this fluctuating hormone can be.

NOT QUITE THERE YET

There’s a stage that comes before a young girl’s menstrual cycles; it’s called pre-pubescence, a rollercoaster of change when girls desperately try to fit in with others who aren’t there yet.  The first visible evidence of puberty in girls is a nickel-sized lump under one or both nipples. Breast buds, as these are called, typically occur around age nine or ten, although they may occur much earlier, or somewhat later. The girl may worry that something is wrong, especially since the knob of tissue can feel tender and sore making it uncomfortable for her to sleep on her stomach. And one breast can appear before the other. This is the time of  “bra” or “no bra”. For most girls, the second sign of puberty is the appearance of pubic hair. In the case of their changing bodies, preadolescent females acquire what, in common language, is often called “baby fat,” which may give them a more rounded belly, a development which may cause considerable anxiety for these girls. And who do they have as role models? A Kardashian? Barbie?

MOM I THINK I GOT MY PERIOD

They’re shocked. They’re amazed. They’re mortified. They hate it. They love it. It’s terrifying. It’s exciting. They’re women. They still feel like little girls. This is the time hyper-hormones kick in. It’s an enigma for most of them. If they haven’t learned all about it in school (and even if they have) it’s important for both parents to make their girls understand what it going on with their bodies and how natural the process is. Girls will have questions and “it’ll be o.k.” won’t cut it. This is the time for “the talk”. And you need the answers.

Why Do You Have a Period?

During the month, blood builds up in the lining of your uterus, which will help a baby develop when you’re older and want to have a family. Most of the time, a fertilized egg is not implanted in your uterus, and the blood sheds out of your body during your monthly period.

What’s Really Going On?

All kinds of changes occur in your body during your menstrual cycle. You get hormone surges at night, with higher and higher and higher peaks, until your period begins. Raised levels of hormones helps eggs grow in your ovaries. Each month, one egg is released into your Fallopian tubes. This is called ovulation. The egg travels down the tube to your womb. And while this happens, your uterine lining thickens with blood — just in case an egg is fertilized by sperm.

If the timing is right, the egg and sperm join together, and the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of your uterus. Pregnancy begins. Without a fertilized egg, the thickened lining has no purpose. So it sheds and comes out through your vagina. Your period has arrived. The average age to start your period is 12, but many girls start younger, and others start later. When you first start to get breasts and some pubic hair, you can usually jump forward two years and guess that’s when you’ll start. It might take up to two years for your period to get regular because the hormone surges are uneven.  At first, it’s common to have one period, and then not another for a few months. But even if you don’t have a period every month, you can still get pregnant.

OMG-PMS

PMS…Perplexed, Moody, Sad

PMS-Please Make it Stop

PMS- Poor me syndrome

PMS- Powerful Monthly Spell

No matter what, to say it can be a horror is understatement. That’s why it’s often called the “CURSE”! The causes of PMS aren’t clear, but several factors may be involved. Changes in hormones during the menstrual cycle seem to be the key element. Chemical changes in the brain may also be involved. What are some of the symptoms of PMS? Acne, swollen or tender breasts, trouble sleeping, upset stomach, bloating, headache, backache, food cravings, joint or muscle pain, trouble with concentration or memory, tension, irritability, mood swings, crying, anxiety, depression and often irrational emotional outbursts. That’s the OMG part. Fortunately not all girls get all of them, and they vary from girl to girl. This is also cause for many guys to say cruelly negative things like, “she’s on the rag”… “Stay away from her, she’ll bite your head off”…”watch out, her monster’s coming out”. It’s painful to deal with.

BABY, LOOK AT YOU NOW

Let’s take a look at female hormones in a different light.

Estrogen is one of the most important female reproductive hormones that are produced by the developing follicles in a woman’s ovaries, as well as the corpus luteum and the placenta. A woman will produce more estrogen during one pregnancy than throughout her entire life when not pregnant. The increase in estrogen during pregnancy enables the uterus and placenta to improve vascularization, transfer nutrients, and support the developing baby. In addition, estrogen is thought to play an important role in helping the fetus develop and mature. Estrogen levels increase steadily during pregnancy and reach their peak in the third trimester. The rapid increase in estrogen levels during the first trimester may cause some of the nausea associated with pregnancy and, during the second trimester, plays a major role in the milk duct development that enlarges the breasts.

Estrogen is important as it increases blood flow throughout the body. It allows the healthy growth of the placenta. This increase in blood flow may cause a generalized flushed appearance. Mucous membranes may get congested, and this may cause swelling, causing postnasal drip, and some sinus congestion. This increase in blood flow may also cause the skin to be more sensitive, and may even be associated with some skin discolorations, and increased pigmentation. For this reason, the nipples, areola, and the white line that runs in the midline of your abdomen may become darker. It comes with the territory.

Progesterone is the other big mama of maternal hormones. It is a “pro-gestational” hormone, hence the name. One of the main purposes of progesterone is to keep the uterine lining healthy and thick, full of nutrients for the developing baby. It keeps muscles relaxed and inhibits pre-pregnancy’s natural contractions of the smooth muscle of the uterus, allowing the baby to grow in an expanding and expanding, and expanding… womb. Progesterone is made early in pregnancy by a cyst on the ovary called the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone until about 10 weeks, when its production is taken over by the placenta. In the first trimester, levels of progesterone rise exponentially, and then they plateau. Progesterone does some very important jobs along the way. Not only does it keep the uterus muscle relaxed, it plays a role in the immune system helping the body tolerate foreign DNA (that is, the fetus).

SOMETHING’S COMING AND IT’S NOT GOING TO BE GOOD

According to the Mayo Clinic, perimenopause means “around menopause” and refers to the time period during which a woman’s body makes its natural transition toward permanent infertility (menopause). Perimenopause is also called the menopausal transition. Women start perimenopause at different ages. You may notice signs of progression toward menopause, such as menstrual irregularity, sometime in your 40s. But some women notice changes as early as their mid-30s. The level of your estrogen — the main female hormone — rises and falls unevenly during perimenopause. Your menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten, and you may begin having menstrual cycles in which your ovaries don’t release an egg (ovulate). You may also experience menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep problems and vaginal dryness. Which are just a few. “Not tonight, honey” is real, when headaches and migraines, debilitate and radically interfere with normal functioning.  Then there could be clumsiness, fatigue, backaches, and food cravings –get out those chips and chocolates! Once you’ve gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, you’ve officially reached menopause, and the perimenopause period is over. Aahhh…at last.

HOT’S NOT COOL

We’ve seen it in movies and TV. Women standing with their heads in front of an open fridge or freezer. When it comes to menopause, hot flashes are the first things that come to mind. Menopause, a decline in women’s estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels, usually begins around the age of 40. In the United States, there are currently about 45 million women going through the stages of menopause. In addition, each year another 4 million women will join them. Although women will have a perimenopausal period, lasting for up to 15 years, most women will notice a sharp decline in hormones around the age of 50. What causes even more hormonal changes in menopause?

Hormones are the messengers in the body that travel through the blood stream to start, stop, speed up or slow down your physical and chemical functions and processes across all body systems. Your ovaries are the source of estrogen and progesterone, the two key hormones that control the reproductive system, including the menstrual cycle and fertility in women. You are born with all the eggs you will ever have. The eggs are in the follicles, which are found in the ovaries. During menopause, the number of ovarian follicles decline and the ovaries become less responsive to the two other hormones involved in reproduction—Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH). As your ovaries age and release fewer hormones, FSH and LH can no longer perform their usual functions to regulate your estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Ta-da!  Oh no! Menopause. More hormonal imbalances. And a lot more debilitating symptoms than just the hot flashes experienced in perimenopause.

HERE’S THE REAL FLASH

Like testosterone replacements, women are assaulted by estrogen replacements.

Chaste tree berry extract, Red clover, Dong  quai, Black cohosh, primrose oil, beeswax, orange oil, and on and on. It’s “Shop on Google”, “Shop on Amazon”…lozenges, suppositories, different estrogen types in different creams, serums and patches. Like estrogen deficiency or excess is something you can patch up.

COME TO PEACE WITH YOUR BODY

For women, life is a non-stop onslaught of hormonal fluctuations from before your first period, through menopause and aging. This is where bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help. BHRT as it is often referred to uses natural hormone supplements to address hormonal imbalances and deficiencies. Unlike synthetic or animal-derived hormones, these hormones are identical to those naturally produced by the body. This allows the body to use them in exactly the same manner as it does its own hormones. So where do you go for help?

STEPHEN A. GOLDSTEIN, M.D, F.A.C.S. AT DENVER HORMONE HEALTH HAS YEARS OF EXPERTISE IN HELPING WOMEN RESTORE THE HORMONE IMBALANCES THAT TOO OFTEN DISRUPT THEIR LIVES. YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? HE’S THERE TO LISTEN AND ANSWER. EDUCATION IS A HUGE FACTOR TO HIM IN THE INDIVIDUALED PROCESS OF HELPING WOMEN FEEL THEIR BEST. IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO HIM TO ADDRESS NOT JUST SYMPTOMS, BUT ROOT CAUSES OF WHAT MIGHT BE OTHER PROBLEMS. WITH COMPREHENSIVE TESTING, HE IS ABLE TO DETERMINE ANY DEFICIENCIES OR EXCESSES IN YOUR SYSTEM. AS A RESULT OF THES TESTS, HE CREATES AN INDIVIDUALIZED, COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM TO HELP ALLEVIATE YOUR SYMPTOMS, HELPING YOU FEEL THE BEST YOU HAVE IN A LONG TIME.

CALL, KNOWING IT’S THE FIRST BEST THING YOU CAN DO TO DO SOMETHING REALLY GOOD FOR YOURSELF.