Estrogen plays an important role in a woman’s body. During very early perimenopause, levels fluctuate and can often be higher than normal. But as women approach menopause (about 2 years before their final period) estrogen starts to decline. By two years after the final period, estrogen levels are depleted.
This decline in estrogen brings on many symptoms women can feel such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, fatigue, and memory problems. But it also brings symptoms they cannot feel like weakening bones and increased risk of heart disease.
The problem is that there are many misconceptions and unfounded fears about taking estrogen. Not only that, most doctors are not up on the latest research and have little experience giving hormones like estrogen when it’s needed. To clear up the confusion, we have Dr. Mache Seibel
Dr. Mache Seibel is an international health expert and leading authority on women’s wellness and menopause. He is the author of The Estrogen Fix and The Estrogen Window and the founder of The Hot Years: My Menopause Magazine.
Show Highlights
- Why Dr. Seibel decided to specialize in menopause (hint: his wife went into early menopause)
- What estrogen does in the body and the risks and benefits of taking it when levels decline
- The shortcomings of the 2002 Women’s Health Imitative study and what the re-analyzed data shows
- The different types of estrogens and progestogens that women can choose from and which ones are safest
- What bio-identical hormones are, their potential benefits, and which ones are the safest
- The problem Dr. Seibel has with estrogen/progesterone from compounded pharmacies
- The lowdown on vaginal estrogen and how it can help most women post menopause
- The most optimal timing for taking estrogen that has the most benefits and the least risks
- Why recommendations differ for women who go through early menopause
- The baseline medical tests every woman at midlife should get
- How to find a good doctor to help you through this transition
Each person has to be individualized…when it comes to hormone therapy it’s hard to generalize — Mache Seibel, MD
Links
Books: The Estrogen Window and The Estrogen Fix
The Hot Years: My Menopause Magazine
Studies mentioned:
Woman’s Health Initiative study
Hot Flashes and heart disease risk
Follow Midlife Strong on Instagram or join Maryann’s private Facebook group.
Duration: 1:05:32
Download episode
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or RSS
Podcast Music: Corporate Uplifting by Scott Holmes
Like the Healthy Family Podcast? Help spread the word by subscribing and rating/reviewing it Apple Podcasts
Leave a Reply