By Dr. Marina Johnson –
Menopause simply means the end of a woman’s ability to bear children.
In 1900 the average age of menopause was 51 just like it is today BUT in 1900 the average life expectancy for a woman was 50! Women in the 1800’s often died in childbirth. Today’s women are routinely “outliving their ovaries” because they often live to 80! Estrogen has over 400 actions in your body so is it any surprise there’s consequences when suddenly it’s gone! If we’ve been given a gift of 30 extra years, we should strive to have those be quality years we can enjoy.
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The first symptoms at menopause are “withdrawal” symptoms because the body is reacting to the fact that estrogen is low so it starts sending out “distress” symptoms. Women are familiar with the hot flashes, night sweats, crying spells and mood swings.
They may not realize distress symptoms can also include insomnia, fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, anxiety, depression, irritability, crying spells, and urinary frequency. Especially disruptive is the fuzzy thinking my patients often describe to me as “cobwebs on the brain” or “brain fog.” They tell me, “I have always excelled at multi-tasking and now I’m overwhelmed!” We are all busy with responsibilities in the workplace and/or home. These symptoms can be very disruptive to anyone who is trying to be productive. Symptoms may even go away as the body compensates to the loss of estrogen. Women may mistakenly think if they just suffer with the hot flashes till they’re gone, they’re “done with menopause” and can go back to their normal life!
Instead of estrogen, women are commonly given antidepressants, sleeping pills and tranquilizers. Many of these drugs have side effects that lead to other drugs being added to treat the side effects of the first drugs! Without estrogen, women develop insulin resistance that leads to weight gain, especially around their middle. Weight gain often brings on the need for more prescription medicines to treat blood pressure and cholesterol.
Even women who’ve been slender their whole life find themselves eating less and still gaining weight! It’s a very frustrating stage in life when suddenly you see your body changing and you seem to have no control. Some women take various nutritional supplements and herbs because they’re “natural.” While these may relieve hot flashes, they are NO substitute for the real thing – estrogen. If a symptom is being caused by a hormone deficiency, doesn’t it make more sense to replace that hormone that’s missing?
What comes next is an eye opener for most women! Within six months of no estrogen, various tissues literally start falling apart!! The systems most involved are the HEART, BRAIN, BONES, SEX ORGANS/BLADDER AND SKIN. The first symptoms, occurring around six months, are decreased sex drive, vaginal dryness, painful sex and urinary incontinence. Later women notice dry skin, premature wrinkling, cellulite, thinning scalp hair, facial hair and weight gain around their waistlines. Years without estrogen can lead to serious diseases like heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease. These degenerative chronic diseases are considered “silent killers” because they have no symptoms in the early stages. If you can easily prevent or reduce the occurrence of these diseases, why wouldn’t you want to do that??
Imagine the costs to the society if the Baby Boomers enter advanced menopause without estrogen? We have a responsibility not only to ourselves but also to our families and society to take care of ourselves. This will enable us to make the most of these 30 years so we can lead more enjoyable, productive lives.
To help women everywhere, Dr. Johnson describes her approach to HRT, the Johnson Menopause MethodR, in her recently released book, “Outliving Your Ovaries: An Endocrinologist Reviews the Risks and Rewards of Treating Menopause with Hormone Replacement Therapy.” Her book is based on her review of 500 published medical journal articles and is supported by three decades of her clinical experience. Empowered with these facts, women are better prepared to work with their own physicians to determine the HRT that’s best for them.
Marina Johnson, M.D., F.A.C.E., a UCLA-USC trained physician, is a board-certified endocrinologist and pharmacist with no ties to any pharmaceutical company. She’s the medical director of the Institute of Endocrinology and Preventive Medicine in Dallas, Texas. In her 30 years of clinical practice, she’s managed over 100,000 female patient visits. She’s appeared on Joni’s Table Talk on Daystar Television Network, The Balancing Act on Lifetime Television and the Daybreak USA radio show.
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