Perimenopause is the phase between a woman’s reproductive years and menopause, marking the end of monthly bleeding cycles. During this transition, hormone levels change significantly. There are fluctuations in progesterone, but mainly a decline in estrogen. This drop in estrogen can cause both physical and emotional symptoms.…
I recently had a conversation with a patient who was entering menopause and fearful of starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT) because she witnessed the decline in her mother’s health after she stopped HRT at age 65. She assumed that the decline in her mother’s health was due to the use of HRT rather than the discontinuation of it. There has been much confusion and contradiction around the use of hormone therapy for menopause since 2002 when the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) released the results of their prematurely halted hormone therapy clinical trial revealing an increase in disease parameters for women on HRT.…
Tags: Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, BHRT, Bioidentical Hormones
I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. David Zava, the founder of ZRT Laboratory and someone I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for over 20 years. During our conversation, Dr. Zava shared insights into his fascinating journey from studying environmental chemicals at the University of Tennessee to founding ZRT in Beaverton, Oregon. Over the years, Dr. Zava's pioneering research and unwavering…
PCOS is a multifactorial condition impacted by alterations in receptors, metabolism and functionality of hormones, neurotransmitters and nutrients. It is a lifelong condition that contributes to infertility, weight gain, cardiometabolic symptoms and diseases. In this blog, we look at laboratory testing and what can and should be tested in all women where you suspect PCOS. Lab Testing for…
Tags: Fertility, PCOS, Menstrual Cycle Mapping
It is estimated that approximately 10% of all women have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and that around 80% of them will struggle with infertility (2). While many women with PCOS will achieve pregnancy on their own, others will need medical assistance to become pregnant. In the last couple of years, the research world has dramatically expanded our comprehension of PCOS. It has long been known that PCOS involves elevated levels of female androgens particularly testosterone and DHEA. Newer research has provided deeper knowledge into the interplay between environmental, immunological, inflammatory, hormonal, and genetic factors. This rise of knowledge underscores the reality that PCOS is a more systemic imbalance far beyond the ovaries and presenting a more comprehensive challenge to those it affects.…
Tags: Fertility, PCOS, Menstrual Cycle Mapping
According to the American Institute of Stress, 55% of people in the United States experience daily stress. Stress is, technically defined as the body's nonspecific response to any demand – pleasant or unpleasant – but more commonly perceived as a state of physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension. Chronic stress is especially prevalent in the workplace, with 83% of employees reporting daily work-related stress. However, statistics show that stress among students is also significant, common, and increases proportionally to a student’s progress through the educational system.…
Tags: Mental Health, Brain Health, Adrenal and Cortisol, Cortisol
A healthy and regular menstrual cycle is considered a vital sign of good health for premenopausal women. A normal menstrual cycle should occur every 25-35 days, (give or take a few days on either end), with the average cycle length falling at about 28 days. The length of the period can range from 3-7 days and the flow can be light, moderate, or heavy within a single menstrual cycle. A woman’s experience of her menstrual cycle may be unique to her, and what constitutes normal can have a broad range. Most importantly, each woman should be familiar enough with her own cycle to know if something has changed and when it is appropriate to seek help. One such situation would be the complete loss of a menstrual cycle for 3 months or more. Amenorrhea is defined as a complete absence of menses in a woman of reproductive age.…
Tags: Menstruation, Stress, Athletes, Fertility, Menopause
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a premenstrual disorder characterized by physical and psychological symptoms that occur in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and are often more extreme than the more common symptoms associated with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). PMS affects 20-40% of menstruating women and common symptoms include fatigue, irritability, mood swings, depression, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, acne, changes in appetite and food cravings. PMDD occurs in 5-8% of menstruating women and is characterized by extreme mood and physical symptoms that interfere with quality of life to a significant degree.…
Tags: PMS and PMDD
The fluctuation of hormones throughout the menstrual cycle is a normal process that supports ovulation and menstruation. Unfortunately, for some women, the inherent fluctuation of their hormone creates a rollercoaster of physical and emotional symptoms that can be extreme to the point of intolerable. While all women experience hormonal fluctuations throughout their cycle, some women experience only mild discomfort while other women feel as if their world is crashing around them. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) are premenstrual disorders characterized by physical and psychological symptoms that occur in the luteal phase (after ovulation) of the menstrual cycle. PMS affects 20-40% of menstruating women and common symptoms include fatigue, irritability, mood swings, depression, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, acne, changes in appetite and food cravings. PMDD occurs in 5-8% of menstruating women and is characterized by extreme mood and physical symptoms to such a degree that it is difficult to function in daily life.…
Tags: PMS and PMDD
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can develop over the course of many years without obvious symptoms until it has become quite advanced and is potentially beyond the point of reversal. The research states that the root cause of Alzheimer’s has yet to be discovered; however, if we continue to look for that ‘one thing,’ we may never find it. The development of Alzheimer’s disease is likely due to several factors that contribute to neuronal degeneration over several years.…
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