If your doctor refuses to treat menopause Comments

Accurate information about menopause is difficult to find. That is because menopause is typically treated like a social issue instead of a medical issue. No other organ failure in women is treated with such disregard. When hypogonadism occurs in men the attitude in the lay and medical community is that this is very unhealthy and should receive aggressive treatment. Hypogonadism creates the same ill health and symptoms in men as it does in women. Ask yourself this question, would you encourage a man with testicular failure (menopause in a man) to unnecessarily endure hot flashes, profound loss of sexual function, sleep disruption, foggy thinking, osteoporosis, and depression? What effect would all of this ill health have on his job performance, his marriage and his children? You know that effective treatment is available and that he would be healthier for it. What possible reason would you have in denying an ill man effective medical treatment? Now ask yourself this question, “Why deny a woman with ovarian failure, the identical condition to what this man is suffering from, effective treatment that would make her healthier?” The reason you are confused about menopause and its treatment is because medically it is fairly straightforward to treat it but culturally it is not. Medically, menopause is ovarian failure resulting in lower than normal levels of sex hormones. Treating it is fairly straightforward, put back what is no longer being produced. Hormone replacement is not a new part of medicine at all. Diabetics receive hormone replacement (insulin is a hormone) and are far better off for it and the treatment is the same for men and women. Hypothyroidism is effectively treated and again, men and women benefit equally from the treatment. The same thing applies to growth hormone for those who need it, both male and female. Medically, men and women who need and receive hormone replacement are much healthier. Men who are in need of medical treatment for hypogonadism (menopause in men) are actively encourage to receive effective treatment while women with the identical medical condition are actively encouraged to forgo treatment. Medically, menopause is organ failure. Treatment for organ failure is not new to medicine and is very successful, as I demonstrated with diabetes, hypothyroidism, etc. Men and women receive equal and effective treatment for all hormone replacement except for the treatment of hypogonadism in women. Culturally this is how we evolved. Medically, the answers are straightforward and only for women go unused. So to answer your question as to where to get more information, I would have to say yourself. The ill health associated with lower levels of sex hormones is clear. It is up to you if you want to follow the cultural norm of no treatment or follow the medical norm and find effective treatment.

I am in my 30s and I really don't know anything about menopause or testosterone cream. If we were to look for more information where would we start?

Typically doctors do not learn to recognize the signs of hypogonadism in women, only in men. Even though it is unlikely that your doctor would recognize it, you can point it out. Once pointed out most doctors will understand what you are talking about. Hypogonadism does not have to be scary. It is an illness that can be effectively treated once it is recognized. The ovaries make several sex hormones. If one or more of those hormones drops below normal, like testosterone does around age 30, then a woman is said to have hypogonadism. Replace the testosterone and the hypogonadism is treated and you are healthier and likely happier for it. Ovarian failure results in lower than normal levels of all of the ovarian hormones. Having levels of one or more ovarian hormones below normal is defined as hypogonadism. One important thing to remember about menopause, all of the ovarian hormones are below normal which leads some doctors to calling menopause profound hypogonadism. So in answer to the question, can a testosterone cream delay ovarian failure? I believe the answer to that is yes. Using a testosterone cream can help your ovaries work better and an organ that works optimally should last longer than one that is struggling.

Can we delay menapause by taking a testosterone cream? I'm really confused about menapause.

Wow I can't believe it begins at 30! That's pretty scary. Is this something most doctors know about or is my doctor going to look at me like I'm nuts when I say I want to prevent Hypogonadism?

Hypogonadism typically begins in women at about age 30 while a woman still has ovarian function (pre-menopausal). Hypogonadism means a person has lower than normal sex hormones and in women at about age 30 levels of testosterone, an ovarian hormone, begin to fall. Some women notice a drop in sexual response, increased foggy thinking, sleep disruption, all the symptoms of ovarian failure (menopause) only less severe. To raise your testosterone levels you can supplement with a small amount daily. You will need a prescription from your doctor for either compounded testosterone cream or Androgel. The Androgel can be repackaged by a compounding pharmacist for easy dispensing. By adding back testosterone you are actually helping your ovaries work better. This is important because the ovaries have a set number of eggs and helping the ovaries work better may mean the ovaries won’t run out of eggs between age 40-50. Perhaps then the ovaries may be able to function a decade longer. You are also improving your health and likely lowering your risk of breast cancer as testosterone has been shown to lower a woman’s risk. You are safeguarding your sexual response as well as keeping you mind sharp. I applaud you for looking ahead and ensuring your future health and well-being.

Hot flashes are a sign that ovarian failure has occurred or will occur very soon and that all of your ovarian hormones are below normal levels. To restore your ovarian hormones to normal levels you can use physiologic dosages of estradiol, testosterone, progesterone and dhea. Your doctor will need to write prescriptions for all of these ovarian hormones except for dhea which you can purchase at most health food and vitamin stores. You'll no longer have untreated hypogonadism, you’ll be healthier, and you won't have to worry about hot flashes anymore.

Thanks Beth. Sometimes we just need someone to tell us we are not crazy and what path to take. Do you have any specific recommendations for dealing with hot flashes?

Thank you for the great information, I know a lot of women who will find this post helpful when going through menopause. You would think Dr.'s would have a wider variety of helpful products for women to try and every woman will go through menopause at some point in their life. I do hope that by the time I hit menopause my Dr. will know exactly what will work for me.

My mother went through menopause. I don't think she opted to take any treatment. I am not aware that any of the women in my family took any treatment. The only difference that I have noticed when she was going through menopause in the early stages was that she wanted me to not wear any sweaters around her. I don't know that treating her symptoms with hormones would have been the right choice for her. Or if I would choose it for myself. But, I know other women who have been affected more and were taking hormones. But it seemed that they were given the wrong kind because the mood swings were very obvious and sometimes frightening.