If you’ve read my blog for any length of time then you know I am not a “one size fits all” person. There are simply too many variables and individual differences that make up our lives and who we are as people to approach life this way.
I have tried to approach this blog with the opinions and advice I give from that point of view and certainly, with every book review or product review I post here at The Perimenopause Blog, I try to bring that attitude as well.
Some women swear by bio-identical hormones during perimenopause. Some women take birth control pills for their symptoms with virtually no side-effects to speak of. Some women prefer to take only herbs and adhere to non-traditional approaches to find relief and then, still others, like myself, fall somewhere in the middle.
Though I may lean in a certain direction at times, it is also entirely possible that I will lean in another direction at another time. I am of the mind that we must do what works for each of us as individuals and be comfortable with those decisions.
In her new book, The Menopause Makeover
Staness began menopause just as she was beginning to plan for her wedding at the age of 47. Imagine this ladies. You’ve been in the dating and single world all of your adult life and you finally meet “the one”. You fall madly in love and decide to get married. The impending nuptials sets your life in a forward motion with excitement and anticipation for happily ever after with the man of your dreams. Then - you hit menopause. Planning a wedding while you’re having hot flashes, night sweats and ravaging mood swings? It just doesn’t seem fair does it? I’m going to be very frank here, had it been me? I would have called the whole thing off.
But, that wasn’t what Staness decided to do and it was her determination and a light bulb moment which included utilizing a system similar to her wedding planner that got her into her wedding gown and subsequently gave birth to her book.
Less than 4 months before her wedding Staness Jonekos,
“…………..Created a twelve-week plan to manage my uninvited wedding guest – menopause. Inspired by my own wedding planner book, which offered succinct information, checklists, to-do lists, and a place to journal, set goals and track progress, my makeover plan helped me reclaim my health and my life in just three months………………..”
And that is exactly what you will find in her book: succinct information, checklists, to-do lists and places to journal and set and track your own goals.
Staness worked with Dr. Wendy Klein, M.D., physician and professor of medicine, obstetrics & gynecology at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine to present medical research on what many would call traditional hormone therapy compared to bio-identical hormones.
Staness presents that the only “natural” hormones are those that are made by your body. And the notion that bio-identical hormones are not synthesized in a lab in the same manner that the hormones from traditional therapy are is a misconception that many women have. And she herself thought that as well.
Now, ladies, before anyone goes off on me here about bio-identical hormones being superior to traditional hormone therapy, I must say this: She is correct.
In fact, I did a post here recently where I discussed this exact topic. You can read it here. You are also welcome to read the article found at The Synergy Integrative Medical Center for Women, upon which I based that particular post and you can find that here as well.
Here’s the point: Staness has presented good solid medical research that hormone therapy (in the traditional sense as I am referring to it) is as effective and safe as bio-identical hormones.
She gives credit and credence to both choices, however, and she herself did a combination of both hormone therapy and “complimentary and alternative methods” as she refers to it, as well.
So, if you’re looking for one point of view versus another in terms of hormone therapy or bio-identical hormones, you won’t find that in The Menopause Makeover
Staness left no stone unturned in The Menopause Makeover
I’m going to tell you all with no reservation what so ever, this has been, hands down, one of the best books I’ve read on the topic of menopause and how to cope with it. It is thorough, easy to read and takes the bull by the horns so to speak, giving you the tools to be able to get your life and those crazy menopause symptoms under control.
Please be sure and check out Staness’s website and hop on over to Amazon.com to pick up a copy if you haven’t already. I believe you will find it to be an excellent resource.
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Magnolia,
I so appreciate your open-mindedness and willingness to explore all of the available options women have when it comes to menopause. I, on the other hand, admittedly am a proponent of bioidentical hormones. This is based on my own dramatic health change as well as having spoken to literally thousands of women who did not get well with synthetic hormones.
I’d like to comment mostly on the article from The Synergy Integrative Medical Center for Women that you mentioned above vs. The Menopause Makeover as I found the article most compelling in regard to the bioidentical vs. synthetic hormones debate. The article stated “bioidentical means the structure of the hormone you are taking exactly matches what your body produces. They are the most natural hormones available to women because the chemical structure mirrors precisely what is made in your ovary, adrenal or thyroid.” From a scientific standpoint what this means is that “form fits function”. In science if form does not fit function, proper function cannot and does not occur.
The article went on the state that “there are no extra chemical groups hanging off various sites of the molecule that ever so slightly tweak the function of the drug as in synthetic hormones.” I would have to disagree that the extra chemical groups hanging off the various sites of the molecule “ever so slightly tweak the function of the drug” when it comes to synthetic hormones. This small molecular change totally changes the function of the drug. This is the reason that there is a huge difference between bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones. When it comes to hormones… minor changes make a huge difference! Therefore, there is a huge difference between bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones. We have only to look at the picture you provided us on your November 16th blog to see the difference. Small change… but huge difference in function. Remember… form must fit function.
It’s also very important to know that once progesterone is modified (as in the picture), it is no longer progesterone. It is now “progestin”. The pictures actually denote natural progesterone and synthetic “progestin”. There really is no such thing as “synthetic progesterone”, the term is an oxymoron. Once the chemical structure has been modified it is no longer progesterone. Our bodies make progesterone, not progestin. Why do I choose to take progesterone vs. progestin? I chose to take progesterone because I do not want to put something into my body that does not fit perfectly with the structure of the cells that God made for me.
The hormonal debate continues because of what the article goes on to state. “Natural, or bioidentical, hormones cannot be patented. That’s why there is little interest in them from the pharmaceutical companies — bioidentical hormones have a low profit margin.” Yes, the debate is a monetary one.
This can all be very confusing and it is certainly tough to know who to believe. Thankfully blogs like yours, Magnolia open up communication and serve women as we seek answers. We can decide for ourselves what is best for us. In the end I feel that two things matter regarding this debate: 1. how our choice affects our health/ how we feel now, and 2. how what we do now affects our future health. I feel great today taking bioidentical hormones and am comfortable that taking them (in a small physiological dose to replace what has declined) is not only safe now, but it is also protective for my body as well to help prevent heart disease, cancer and other illnesses in the future.
Everyone has a choice. You can take synthetic hormones if you chose, but I feel that I would be remiss if I did not say that studies clearly show that synthetic hormones greatly increase a woman’s risk for blood clots, stroke, heart attacks and cancer. Whereas, bioidentical hormones taken in proper combination and dosages, do not. This is why I must disagree with the premise that “Staness has presented good solid medical research that hormone therapy… is as effective and safe as bio-identical hormones.” For me, the proof is in the pudding… thousands of women I have spoken to did not find synthetic hormones effective and again, studies have shown that absolutely synthetic hormones are not safe.
Thanks for reading my comments and listening to my point of view. I respect all viewpoints and that each woman must ultimately choose what is right for her.
Terri
Terri,
Thank you so much for your comment. As you know, I’m not a physician, nor have I ever held myself out as a medical expert. I, clearly, am not.
I am like so many other women trying to navigate this incredibly perplexing and confusing time of life called perimenopause. Because I don’t consider myself an ‘expert’ on either side of the debate, I have tried to be as fair minded as possible and allow both sides of the conversation be made available and for each woman to make up her own mind as to what works for her.
Traditional hormones did *not* work for me. though I did not have the patience to go through the rigg-a-ma-row that it seemed you had to go through to find the ‘right combination’.
Staness actually used a combination of things, so she’s not poo-pooing bio-identicals or alternative methods. She is just saying that her research gave her a different story. I respect her story and point of view and that is why I have given her a voice here at The Perimenopause Blog.
However, I also respect *your* point of view and the information that you bring to the discussion as well. I am a strong believer in giving women lots of information, shooting straight and keeping it honest (in other words, nobody has a monetary dog in the fight) and let people decide for themselves what works for them.
I am still completely open to learning and absolutely want to hear and read more, study more and put it on my blog. I’ve told you, I tend to *lean* more toward bio-identicals, but because I do not consider myself an expert, I do not feel comfortable taking a strong position.
So, please feel free to come by this blog often and leave your comments and provide information. I think it’s important and I censor no one here. ( Unless they are rude.
)
I look forward to receiving the book!
Magnolia,
I love everything you just said. I am totally enjoying you and your blog. I will definitely visit often!
Terri
Thanks Terri,
I appreciate your contribution here. Please feel free to share as often as you would like. It’s good for everyone.