Hormone Replacement Therapy: Conventional Medicine and Natural Alternatives, Your Guide to Menopausal Health-Care Choices

459 Pages·1999·0.84 MB·English

by  Linda Laucella

Hormone Replacement Therapy :
Conventional Medicine and Natural
title:
Alternatives, Your Guide to Menopausal
Health-care Choices
author: Laucella, Linda.
publisher: NTC Contemporary
isbn10 | asin: 0737302518
print isbn13: 9780737302516
ebook isbn13: 9780071393393
language: English
Menopause--Hormone therapy--Popular
subject works, Menopause--Hormone therapy--
Miscellanea.
publication date: 1999
lcc: RG186.L238 1999eb
ddc: 618.1/75061
Menopause--Hormone therapy--Popular
subject: works, Menopause--Hormone therapy--
Miscellanea.
Page iii
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Conventional Medicine and Natural Alternatives, Your
Guide to Menopausal Health-Care Choices
THIRD EDITION
Linda Laucella
Page iv
The information contained in this book is compiled from various
sources and medical experts. It is intended only as a source of
information for women making decisions about hormone replacement
therapy. No medical point of view or preferred medical treatment is
suggested or endorsed. The benefits or health risks associated with
any medical treatment program depend on a woman's individual
health profile and cannot be determined simply by reading this book.
Every woman making decisions about her own health care and
medical treatment needs to consult a health-care professional.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Laucella, Linda.
Hormone replacement therapy: conventional medicine and natural
alternatives, your guide to menopausal health care choices / Linda
Laucella.3rd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7373-0251-8
1. MenopauseHormone therapy Popular works. 2. Menopause-
Hormone therapy Miscellanea. I. Title.
RG186.L238 1999
616.1'75061dc21 99-39388
CIP
Published by Lowell House
A division of NTC / Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc.
4255 West Touhy Avenue, Lincolnwood (Chicago),
Illinois 60646-1975 U.S.A.
Copyright © 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 by NTC / Contemporary
Publishing Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without
prior permission of NTC / Contemporary Publishing Group, Inc.
Printed in the United States of America
International Standard Book Number: 0-7373-0251-8
99 00 01 02 03 04 DHD 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Page v
Contents
Introduction ix
Chapter One 1
What Is Premenopause?
Chapter Two 15
What Happens to a Woman's Body during and after
Menopause?
Signs and Symptoms 15
The Transition Stage 22
Lifestyle and the Onset of Menopause 24
Chapter Three 29
What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)?
Estrogen 30
Natural Progesterone and Progestins 35
Testosterone 43
Taking Hormones 44
Chapter Four 51
What Are the Positive and Negative Aspects of Hormone
Replacement Therapy?
Estrogen 51
Natural Progesterone and Progestins 54
Testosterone 56
Side Effects 57
Chapter Five 59
How Can You Decide If HRT Is Right for You?
Making the Decision 59
Finding a Doctor 61
The Physical Exam and Tests 64
Long-Term Implications 68
Page vi
Chapter Six 73
Can HRT and Nondrug Treatments Work Together during
Menopause?
Acupressure and Acupuncture 77
Aromatherapy 78
Ayurveda 80
Chinese Medicine 80
Chiropractic Medicine 82
Herbs 83
Homeopathy 90
Naturopathy 93
Chapter Seven 95
What Lifestyle Changes Can Enhance a Woman's Health
with or without HRT?
Overall Health and Fitness 95
Dietary Habits 98
Nutritional Supplements 101
Exercise 105
Stress 106
Chapter Eight 111
The Discomforts of MenopauseWhat Can You Do about
Them?
Hot Flashes 112
Lack of Energy 117
Vaginal Dryness 118
Loss of Sexual Desire 119
Emotional Changes 121
Body Aches and Pains 123
Chapter Nine 125
What Are the Effects of HRT on Your Appearance?
Body Shape 126
Fluid Retention 129
Skin 130
Hair 134
Page vii
Chapter Ten 137
How Does HRT Affect Your Bones?
Osteoporosis 138
Dietary Factors 144
Nutritional Supplements 148
Exercise 152
Other Risk Factors 153
Chapter Eleven
How Does HRT Affect Your Breasts?
How Does HRT Affect Your Breasts? 159
Cancer Risk 159
Monitoring Breast Health 168
Fibrocysts 172
Dietary Factors 174
Chapter Twelve 177
How Does HRT Affect Your Cardiovascular System?
Risks of Cardiovascular Disease 177
Benefits of HRT 179
Coronary Artery Disease 181
Stroke 182
Cholesterol 184
Lifestyle Choices 186