Why Zinc Is One of My Favorite Supplements for Women’s Health
Looking for a simple solution for period and hormone problems? Consider the humble mineral zinc.
Zinc is an important nutrient for women’s health and is effective treatment for acne, PCOS, period pain, vaginal dryness, and many other symptoms. Why I Prescribe Iodine for Breast Pain, Ovarian Cysts, and PMDD
As I discuss in my new book Hormone Repair Manual, iodine helps with breast pain, premenstrual mood symptoms, and the prevention of ovarian cysts. It works by promoting healthy estrogen metabolism, down-regulating estrogen receptors, and stabilising estrogen-sensitive tissue including breasts, uterus, ovaries, and the brain.
Iodine’s anti-estrogen effect makes it one of the best treatments for estrogen excess or “estrogen dominance,” although I don’t use that term.
Guide to Using Progesterone for Women’s Health
As I describe on this blog and in my books Period Repair Manual and Hormone Repair Manual, bioidentical progesterone is a viable treatment for women’s health conditions such as PCOS, PMDD, migraines, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and perimenopause.
Progesterone is available as “oral micronized progesterone,” and requires a doctor’s prescription. Brand names include PrometriumⓇ, UtrogestanⓇ, TevaⓇ, and FamenitaⓇ, depending on your country. Alternatively, progesterone cream is available over-the-counter in some countries and can help with mild symptoms but is generally not as effective as capsules.
Here’s what you need to know.
How Testosterone Can Cause Weight Gain in Women
Too much testosterone can cause insulin resistance and abdominal weight gain in women.
That’s why androgen excess is a factor in the weight gain associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menopause, and some types of birth control.
PCOS Cannot Be Diagnosed (or Ruled Out) by Ultrasound
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cannot be diagnosed by ultrasound because polycystic ovaries are not cysts. They’re follicles or eggs which are normal for the ovary.
It’s normal for all women to sometimes have a higher number of follicles. It’s normal for young women to always have a higher number of follicles because young women have more eggs. That’s why the new international PCOS guidelines state that “ultrasound is now not recommended in diagnosis in those within 8 years of the start of periods.”
What Are Bioidentical or Body-Identical Hormones?
Bioidentical or body-identical hormones are estradiol and progesterone that are molecularly identical to human hormones. Most (not all) modern menopause hormone therapy is bioidentical. Keep reading for a list of brands.
The difference between “bioidentical” and “body-identical” is that body-identical is the preferred conventional term and bioidentical the term traditionally applied to customised hormone formulas dispensed by a compounding chemist, back in the day when compounding was the only way to obtain hormones identical to the body’s own hormones.