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It must be a conspiracy…how could there
only be 16 shopping days left? Now don't be judgmental when
I tell you this… but except for the children, our family
has stopped the gift thing… we decided that for the most
part, everyone has what they need...let's just enjoy the day
and limit the mall madness. I must admit, I submitted the
idea and then campaigned for it - it just wasn't the same
after my mother died. Now, for the few gifts I still buy,
the stress level has not diminished like it should…I
think it's because I have it in my head that I don't need
to worry, but I do! And this year, I'm going to visit family
in Florida who I don't usually see around the holiday - now
I have to get them gifts. (I do, right? just a little something…)
Thinking about it just makes me crave eggnog,
with spirit.
November news was about P&G's testosterone
patch and less reported but important information about a
vaccine for cervical cancer. And, because I keep my promises,
I'm going to report on fertility herbs, as many of you are
interested in promoting and maintaining fertility - one of
the best being chaste tree berry, like in our Oöna PMS1.
Quick reminder, you may want to load up
this month on Oöna products with your Flexible Spending
Account (FSA) dollars - check with your plan, in most states,
if your doctor recommends it specifically for menopause or
for PMS, you can use those tax free dollars. The employer
makes the final decision.
THE TESTOSTERONE PATCH
The big news this month had to do with the testosterone patch
from P&G getting on the fast track with the FDA and then
getting turned down. The testosterone patch has been touted
in the media as the woman's Viagra. They've even come up with
a new fancy clinical name for women with low sex drives, it's
called hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) - the problem
is that women's sex drives are a lot more complicated then
men's. Further, it is not an issue exclusive to the 40s and
50s set - according to an Australian researcher, 28% of women
in their 20s are unable to reach orgasm. (birth control pills
can flatten out the rising estrogen levels, diminishing drive)
According to JAMA, 43% of women 18-59 experience sexual dysfunction
(5 million women)…it's 31% for men.
So what's with the patch? First, it's important
to note that the role of androgenic hormones (hormones produced
in our adrenal glands such as testosterone and DHEA) in women
has only just begun to be studied recently, mostly in the
'90s, although its importance was noted as far back as 1939.
Testosterone is needed during our fertile years to build the
lining in our uterus in preparation for pregnancy as well
as energy and healthy muscles and bones. It's especially prevalent
during puberty. Associated with sex drive in adult women,
testosterone is also a precursor to estrogen, meaning that
it can be converted to estrogen.
So from what I can gather (Nurses, MD's,
please correct me if I'm wrong) our ovaries produce both estrogen
and testosterone (about 1/10 of that in men) - and testosterone
is also excreted through our adrenal glands along with DHEA,
another precursor to estrogen. At menopause, the ovaries continue
to excrete both estrogen and testosterone but at much lower
levels, specifically 70-80% and 50% of what they were. Women
with ovaries continue to produce testosterone at this 50%
level at least 4 years into menopause; women with no ovaries
they lose this 50% level - although they do produce through
their adrenal glands. The reason these androgenic hormones
are so important is that they are precursors to estrogen -
in other words the body converts them to estrogens.
Most physiological sexual issues with post
menopausal women have to do with a loss of estrogen to the
genitals - this can manifest as vaginal dryness, painful sex
and also decreased desire.
So the theory as I see it (again, you can
correct me) is that the patch delivers testosterone in amounts
that provide the body enough to covert to estrogen and a decent
sex drive. And because the body is converting them to estrogen,
it is assumed that it would only convert what it needs and
therefore reduce the risks associated with estrogen replacement.
The P&G folks were playing it safe in that they are only
recommending it for women with ovaries removed - these woman
obviously have an androgen deficiency and will most likely
benefit. The benefits become a lot more obscure if there is
an absence of androgen deficiency. (see bmj piece below) Word
on the street is that when it works, testosterone can really
make a dramatic difference, in about 50% of women.
Then there's the risks… we do know
that too much progesterone can cause acne and hair growth,
anger, weight gain and liver disease. But the FDA turned it
down for now because it may have cardio vascular effects as
well as breast cancer risks.
And as noted women's sexuality is much more
complicated than one hormone - and encouraging this before
a woman understands what's happening to her body and psyche,
is really a disservice. As quoted in the Wall St. Journal,
"No single hormone determines sexual function,"
notes Susan R. Davis, professor of women's health at Monash
University in Melbourne and a principle investigator for the
Vivus spray (another similar remedy). "It won't change
anything for a woman who doesn't like the look of her partner
or if she's desperately unhappy, depressed or worried about
money."
P.S. The herbs in Oöna for menopause
as well as getting enough protein and exercise can help in
this arena.
More on the subject:
British Medical Journal
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/329/7477/1255
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/329/7477/1294
Susan Love, MD on the patch
http://susanlovemd.com/community/flashes/hotflash001027.htm
Various press reports
http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/1782.asp
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/95/103428.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=16979
http://www.fdaadvisorycommittee.com/FDC/AdvisoryCommittee/Committees
/Reproductive+Health+Drugs/120204_Intrinsa/120204_IntrinsaR.htm
A VACCINE FOR CERVICAL CANCER is very
close
While several companies are competing to make vaccines to
protect against cervical cancer, GlaxoSmithKlein began a new
trial this past May of 15,000 women that will involve long
term follow up for its vaccine to prevent the infection of
papillomavirus virus, or HPV. (probably the last trial phase
before approval) HPV is the virus we get pap smears for and
it can lead to cervical cancer. Between 70-80% of women are
exposed at some point in their lives, but most are harmless
and clear up on their own. More than 70% of cervical cancer
cases are caused by two high risk strains of the virus --
the vaccine is 100% effective for these strains. It is 91.6%
effective for low risk strains. 4,000 American women die each
year from cervical cancer along with 250,000 worldwide. This
vaccine would have the most effect in the developing world
where women do not get pap smears. Shots would be given to
young girls before they become sexually active.
FERTILITY HERBS
Let's just begin by saying that there is no panacea here but
herbs can be very helpful in maintaining/creating hormonal
balance and thus make pregnancy possible. Usually, pregnancy
issues are related to hormonal imbalances, fallopian tube
blocks, fibroids or a tilted uterus, cervical problems or
what appears to be "no reason at all". Alternative
approaches like herbs and acupuncture really only help women
with less severe endocrine issues as well as those who come
up with "no reason". Of course, they must be of
child bearing age. Herbs can also help a woman maintain their
fertility. Large fibroids, fallopian tube blocks and cervical
problems require medical procedures. As Susun Weed explains,
specifically what herbs can do is:
- nourish and tonify
the uterus
- nourish the body
- relax the nervous system
- establish and balance hormones
- balance the sex drive
The star in this category is chaste tree
berry - like in Oöna 's PMS1. There have been three pilot
studies (double blind placebo) in this country and several
in Europe that have shown that it increases fertility from
33% to 45%. As we know, chaste tree works through the pituitary
gland as a hormone regulator - working with the body to correct
hormonal deficiency of estrogen or progesterone. Another herb
I like in this category is red clover - as it has a high vitamin
content and is rich in calcium. The third must have is False
Unicorn Root, the strongest uterine tonic.
In the vitamin arena, make sure you have
enough zinc, vitamin E along with B6, B12 and folic acid.
In addition avoid synthetic estrogens in food as well as Aspartame
found in Equal or Nutrasweet. (not sure about Sweet n' Low)
Coming soon: Oöna Fertility….there's nothing out
there that we really like.
Have a MAGNIFICENT (think Donald Trump)
holiday season.
And our staff is available to answer any
questions you may have at 1-888-596-5154. That's right-real
people, not some electronic menu-happy to answer questions,
give opinions, take orders, or just listen. (Business hours
are 9:30-6 p.m. E.S.T.)
That's it for this month! As always,
check out our website for lots more information at www.oonahealth.com.
In Good Health,
The Oöna Team
Questions or comments? Write valerie@oonahealth.com
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