Women taking pomegranate seed oil, marketed as an alternative remedy for menopausal symptoms, got no more relief from hot flashes than women taking a pill containing sunflower oil as a placebo, according to an Austrian study.

The study, in which women took the pomegranate seed oil — which is rich in plant compounds called phytoestrogens that mimic estrogen — twice a day, was the first clinical trial of the remedy and appeared in the journal Menopause.

As many as 85 percent of women experience hot flashes — a sensation of heat, often accompanied by sweating, rapid heartbeat and anxiety — many times a day before, during or after menopause.

“In postmenopausal women, pomegranate seed oil does not significantly reduce hot flashes within a 12-week observation period, but further studies are needed to investigate the long-term effect,” wrote lead researcher Leo Auerback at the Medical University of Vienna.

His team followed 81 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 60. all the women experienced a minimum of five hot flashes a day, and had gone at least 12 months since their final menstrual period.

Each participant kept a diary of menopause symptoms and took two 30-milligram capsules of pomegranate seed oil or placebo pills daily for 12 weeks. at the start and the end of the study period, the researchers also tested their hormone levels.

At the beginning of the study, women in the treatment group reported having an average of 11.1 hot flashes a day, and women in the placebo group reported 9.9 hot flashes each day, on average.

After 12 weeks, the women taking pomegranate seed oil saw a nearly 39 percent reduction on hot flashes, to 6.8 per day, while women in the placebo group saw a drop of nearly 26 percent, to an average of 7.3 a day.

The 13 percent difference between the effects seen in the two groups was too small to credit pomegranate seed oil with any real benefit, the researchers said.

The study found no differences between the participants’ hormone levels before and after the 12-week treatment, although the women on pomegranate seed oil did report a statistically significant improvement in sleep quality and related symptoms.

The researchers added that the marked drop in hot flashes seen in both groups was likely attributable to a so-called “placebo effect” — a trend seen in most studies of treatments for menopausal symptoms that include a placebo control.

“Like most herbal remedies, there is no clear evidence that it is effective at reducing menopause symptoms,” said Silvina Levis, who specializes in geriatrics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida but did not take part in the study.

Previous research has found that soy supplements and red clover extract, which also contain phytoestrogens, are not effective at reducing menopause symptoms such as hot flashes.

The current study was funded by German herbal supplement maker PEKANA, which also supplied the supplements.

Currently, only hormone therapy — medications containing synthetic estrogens — is approved for the treatment of hot flashes in the United States.

In a study, DHEA appeared to ease the severity of menopause symptoms, including one of the most frustrating: decreased sexual appetite.

For some women going through menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can mean the difference between unbearable and manageable symptoms. but HRT has been getting a lot of negative press recently, as studies have shown increased risk for cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Some women, wary of these risks, may be looking for another option. now there could be one. the adrenal hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) appears to ease the severity of menopause symptoms, including a particularly frustrating one for many women: decreased sexual function. in women and in men, DHEA serves as a precursor hormone from which other reproductive hormones, like estrogen and testosterone, are synthesized.

The new study followed 48 women who had been suffering from menopause symptoms for a year. the women were divided into four groups. one group took low-dose DHEA; one took standard estrogen-progesterone HRT; one group took a synthetic hormone called tibolone, which has previously been suggested to improve menopause symptoms; and the last took a vitamin D supplement.

At the end of a year-long period, the women in the first three groups — that is, those taking hormones of any sort — had significantly improved menopause symptoms compared to the women who had been taking vitamin D supplements.

Singling out sexual function, the researchers observed that women taking DHEA and HRT reported significantly more interest in sex and more sexual activity than before beginning the hormones. the women taking tibolone also reported better sexual function, but the difference was not as great as for women taking DHEA or HRT. There was no change in the women taking vitamin D.

Because it is a precursor hormone, DHEA may work by increasing levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, all of which could play a role in sexual function. the results of the study sound promising, and they could well be, but the study was very small, with only about 12 women in each experimental group.

“This is an interesting result,” said Climacteric journal editor Anna Fenton in a news release, “although we must bear in mind that this is a pilot study with a small sample. nevertheless, it does indicate that DHEA has potential as a therapy to help women deal with the physical discomfort of the menopause, as well as helping them sexually.”

Larger clinical trials will of course be needed before any solid conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness, safety, and dosing of DHEA. Longer-term studies will also have to determine whether DHEA given over a period of years has any adverse effects. it is important to point out that products advertising that they contain natural DHEA, like yam or soy products, are misleading, since the body cannot actually synthesize DHEA from these chemicals. it will be interesting to follow the clinical research as it develops, and determines whether DHEA might be an effective alternative to HRT.

The research was carried out by a team at the University of Pisa, and published in the December 2011 issue of Climacteric.

Image: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.

This article originally appeared on TheDoctorWillSeeYouNow.com, an Atlantic partner site.

• Itchy Vagina
• Apr 11,2011
• In: vagina itch

Women most typically comprehend they’re approaching menopause the instant they start experiencing modifications within of the menstrual cycle. modifications all by applying the quantity and time-span of menstrual periods could be the finish off away final result of decreased producing utilizing the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. This tactic toward menopause is identified as perimenopause and for just about any great offer of women, will possibly be the time the instant they start to uncover a assortment of other indicators or indications or symptoms of menopause.

Menopause is clinically defined to possess arrived when a lady has ceased to possess a menstrual time period of your time for twelve consecutive weeks devoid of the individual additional underlying cause. the method typically does not consider area all at when like flipping a switch, but instead needs area steadily greater than time. the ovaries may create an egg just one month, but not the next, indicating an inconsistency in hormone production.

Some girls information the 1st indicators of perimenopause as earlier as age 35, near to one other hand the common age for the onset of menopause is in in between 45 and 55 (the common age is 51).

When it arrives to menopause signs, the onset, severity and time-span could possibly be split into thirds:One-third of girls declaration no indicators or indications or symptoms earlier erratic periods that culminate all by applying the finish off away of menstruation. just one additional 3rd declaration experiencing mild to moderate indicators or indications or symptoms the remaining 3rd declaration significant symptoms

Unfortunately, the 3rd of girls who declaration significant indicators or indications or symptoms also declaration lengthier time-span utilizing the correct menopausal phase, from start to finish. There appears to acquire to develop to be no method to predict the severity of menopause indicators or indications or symptoms a lady may information apart from heredity; it appears most possibly the fact that indicators or indications or symptoms will possibly be comparable for the girls within of your loved styles who have gone earlier to you.

Even then indicators or indications or symptoms may differ as your method adjusts to decreased producing in hormones and differ broadly in between girls in occurrence, time-span and severity.Fatigue. the complete quantity just one complaint reported by menopausal girls is insufficient energy. troubles sleeping. some girls information insomnia or information troubles dropping or staying asleep. cozy flashes. you can undoubtedly really feel each of the sudden undoubtedly hot, acquire to develop to be flushed or finding to perspire devoid of any alter in space or oxygen temperature. center palpitations. some girls declaration sensation their center racing or finding mindful belonging toward center beat from time to time. Mood swings and irritability. comparable to what some girls information earlier to their periods and all by applying pregnancy, other males and girls information all by applying menopauseÃ?¢ÒÂEURҔsudden, inexplicable irritation or mood swings which have no relation to correct events. anxiousness and depression. you can information mild to moderate anxiousness for which there’s no rational cause. feelings of main despression symptoms may assortment within mild circumstance utilizing the blues to significant instances that warrant the support belonging toward professional. Inability to concentrate/loss of memory. some girls uncover that their ability to concentrate on hold out is diminished or have troubles remembering factors like by which they positioned their car keys. decreased libido. you can information a reduced in and even the deprivation utilizing the should possess sex. modifications in organically made vaginal lubrication. a common warning of menopause is a complete great offer much less organically made vaginal lubrication, which could make sexual intercourse painful. troubles reaching orgasm. collectively with decreased vaginal lubrication, an extraordinary offer of girls also declaration atrophy of vaginal muscle tissue which have an effect on their ability to attain orgasm. the deprivation of epidermis elasticity. decreased estrogen quantities can slender epidermis and finish off away final result within of the the deprivation of elasticity.Menopause warning Relief

Depending near to toward assortment and severity of your symptoms, you have an extraordinary offer of options in relation to producing menopause a tad a complete great offer much less complicated to bear even although an extraordinary offer of girls are in the place to proceed by utilizing menopause devoid of specialized treatment.

Lifestyle changes. some girls information relief from producing modifications to their diet, which consist of the inclusion belonging toward great provide additional fruits, veggies and complete grains, bypassing foods that are really cozy or spicy and supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids. Staying hydrated, acquiring enough specific actual exercise and producing other intuitive life-style modifications can provide enough relief for just about any great offer of women.

Natural hormone replacement. in between possibly one of the most typically prescribed treatment choices for girls experiencing moderate to significant menopausal indicators or indications or symptoms is hormone replacement. the treatment is made not merely to replace the the deprivation of hormones, but stabilize the quantities of hormones nonetheless present all by applying the body. girls who no lengthier have their uterus may only be prescribed estrogen, but if you actually really have your uterus, you’ll be prescribed a mixture of estrogen and progesterone to retain besides undesirable buildup utilizing the uterine lining which could be attached to an multiplied danger of developing uterine cancer.

There are natural, equine and artificial hormone choice therapies, so be particular to preserve out your evaluation and find guidance apart away from your health care wellbeing practitioner concerning the benefits and dangers attached to every earlier to producing a assortment to pursue it.

Topical estrogen creams. different prescription ointments are supplied which provide tiny doses of estrogen for the vagina devoid of raising the quantity of estrogen all by applying the bloodstream stream a extraordinary deal. these ointments may ease indicators or indications or symptoms like for vaginal dryness and muscle atrophy.

Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants. at identical time to easing any discomfort attached to sexual intercourse, vaginal moisturizers and lubricants could also relieve any other element effects, like itching, that finish off away final result within reduced in organically made vaginal fluids.

Uterine fibroids are very common in women of child-bearing age. They are non-cancerous tumors in the uterus that often go unnoticed. the appearance of these tumors have no association with an increased risk of uterine cancer and rarely develop into cancer.

The information about the causes of fibroids is still rather scarce. however, there are some factors that have been associated to the development of these tumors.

Fibroids have been observed to contain higher amount of estrogen and progesterone than normal muscle cells in uterus. That is why they have been suspected to promote the growth of fibroids. Besides these two hormones, other tissue maintaining substances are suspected to be the factors of development of fibroids.

It is very common that uterine fibroids don’t cause any symptoms. That is why most women don’t even know that they have fibroids. in those cases, when their existence doesn’t cause any harm, it is unnecessary to plan and carry out any treatments.

Sometimes fibroids do cause discomfort so that it influence for the quality of life. in that case, a surgical operation may become an option. This approach can be used to shrink or even remove the fibroids.

Some women do experience fibroids symptoms. the most common symptoms associated with uterine fibroids include heavy menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days, pressure or pain in the pelvic area, frequent urination, difficulty urinating, constipation and backache or leg pains. although, they are not considered serious, you should contact your doctor if you notice any symptoms as you will want to rule out more serious conditions that may produce similar symptoms.

Sometimes fibroids are painful when they start to die due to lack of blood circulation. the substances released from the dying fibroid can cause some ache. again, if the symptoms are intense, you should meet a physician.

If the fibroids develop inside of the uterus they can cause increased and prolonged bleeding during menstrual periods. these fibroids can also cause difficulties to get pregnant. when the fibroids are outside of the uterus they can cause for example constipation, difficulties to urinate, increased need of urination, and pain in lower back, depending on their location.

It is important to seek medical attention if you have pelvic pain that doesn’t go away, have unusually long and heavy periods, spotting or bleeding between periods, painful intercourse, difficulty with urination or difficulty with bowel movements. it is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention if you suddenly experience sharp pelvic pain or heavy bleeding.

Seeing that women approach midlife and menopause one of the things to be searching for is depression. While menopause is not regarded as a cause of depression the 2 can occur concurrently. what is considered to be a cause of depression is changes in estrogen concentrations which occur during menopause. it is identified that women are suffering from depression over twice about men and that your family history connected with depression can thing into this as well.

The symptoms regarding depression and menopause became similar and contain sleep disorders, scorching flashes, fatigue, anxiety, and irritability. many women associate these symptoms while using changes that menopause deliver, but they is often a sign of depression that they are understood and managed. There is not any reason women have to suffer from major depression duing menopause. It’s important that they acknowledge the physical changes happening to their bodies during this time around and work with their doctor to mitigate the symptoms regarding menopause, but its alaso important that they realize that depression and menopause may be mutually exclusive and both might be dealt with.

As women method menopause their menstrual cycles begin to change and place to become unpredictable. This unpredictability of their monthly cycle may be a sign of unreliable ovulation. Erratic ovulation will cause unpredictable releases of the hormones estrogen and progetserone resulting mood swings, forgetfulness, hot flashes and all the other symptoms associated with menopause.

Most women dealing with menopause feel likely loosing control of these bodies when in actual fact it is just their natural reaction to the aging process. This feeling of loss in control can result in symptoms of depressive disorders. As the signs or symptoms of both menopause plus depression worsen they place to feel that the is nothing they could do and a sense of hoplessness drops over them. This feeling of hopelessness is often a major part of depression and left untreated can lead to severe depression.

Untreated depression is really a major health chance. Researchers have determined that depression is caused by an increased risk of heart problems and occasionally it can lead to bone deterioration raising the likely cover of osteoporosis and also broken bones.

The particular treatment for dperession plus menopause can observe a two pronged approach. it is crucial to treat not solely the depression along with antidepressant medications and counseling but to treat the symptoms of menopause also. Menopause can be treated with hormone alternative therapy where synthetic sorts of estrogen and progesterone are utilized to even out and about the woman’s hormone amounts.

If you is a woman approaching midlife and menopause be aware that depression can be an exceptionally real side affect belonging to the changes that may happen to you. If start to see the symptoms of depression far better talk to a family doctor about what treatment plans may work effectively for you.

Symptoms of Depression
Menopause and Depression

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Breast cancer rates among U.S. white women have stopped falling, U.S. researchers said on Monday, suggesting that the fallout from a 2002 study linking hormone replacement therapy to breast cancer was short lived.

They said breast cancer rates among white women fell 7 percent in 2003, a year after a large study showed taking hormone replacement therapy raised the risk of breast and ovarian cancers and strokes in older women.

But those declines stabilized between 2003 and 2007, said Carol DeSantis, a researcher at the American Cancer Society whose study appears online in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

"We have fully felt the effects of the Women's Health Initiative study and now rates have leveled off," DeSantis, who led the study, said in a telephone interview.

Sales of U.S. market leader Wyeth's combined estrogen plus progesterone pill Prempro have fallen by about 50 percent from 2001 just before results of the study were released to around $1 billion a year. The study prompted women to stop using the therapy.

Wyeth is now owned by Pfizer.

DeSantis and colleagues studied data on invasive breast cancers from a national database between 2000-2007. They found the sharp drop in breast cancer in white women between 2002 and 2003 did not continue from 2003 to 2007, the most recent year for which data are available.

There was no steep drop in breast cancer rates among black and Hispanic women in the 2002 to 2003 period, and there have been no significant changes in those groups in the 2003 to 2007 period, the team said.

DeSantis said breast cancer rates rose in the 1980s and 1990s as more women got screening mammograms. And she said rates also rose as hormone replacement therapy became more popular as a treatment for the symptoms of menopause.

But rates among white women reversed in 2002 after the Women's Health Initiative study showed that women who took estrogen plus progesterone for five years had higher rates of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, strokes and other health problems.

"there was an increase in the '80s and '90s because of mammography use and hormones," DeSantis said, but mammography screening rates have plateaued and drops in breast cancer from hormone replacement therapy have stabilized.

"It remains to be seen where the trends will go from here without those two factors playing the role that they have over the past two decades," she said.

I have symptoms of too much estrogen and not enough estrogen at the same time. What does it mean? the symptoms are insomnia and night sweats, and rage attacks. I am getting all of these symptoms within an hour of one another. any ideas? thank you.

SEATTLE – There may be an upside to menopausal misery.

A study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that women who have had hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause may have a 50 percent lower risk of developing the most common forms of breast cancer than postmenopausal women who have never had such symptoms.

The protective effect appeared to increase along with the number and severity of menopausal symptoms, according to senior author Christopher I. Li, M.D., Ph.D., a breast cancer epidemiologist in the Hutchinson Center’s Public Health Sciences Division.

Li said in particular researchers found that women who experienced more intense hot flashes – the kind that woke them up at night – had a particularly low risk of breast cancer.

Li and colleagues suspected a link between menopause symptoms and decreased breast cancer risk because hormones such as estrogen and progesterone play an important role in the development of most breast cancers, and reductions in these hormones caused by gradual cessation of ovarian function can impact the frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms.

"while menopausal symptoms can certainly have a negative impact on quality of life, our study suggests that there may be a silver lining if the reduction in breast cancer risk is confirmed in future studies," Li said. "if these findings are confirmed, they have the potential to improve our understanding of the causes of breast cancer and improve approaches to preventing this disease."

As men age they often experience prostate problems, like gettingup several times at night to go to the bathroom. Having to get upat night is a burden that can disturb a restful sleep, for both youand your partner. benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is thenoncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland and is an extremelycommon condition in older men, effecting almost 50 percent by age60. The symptoms of BPH are frequent urination, dribbling,incomplete emptying of the bladder, and a weak stream of urine.

The causes of BPH are not well understood, but aging andtestosterone are believed to be the primary influences on itsdevelopment. Animal studies suggest that as males age theirhormonal balance between testosterone and estrogen (produced insmall amounts) becomes altered due to the decline in production oftestosterone. There are plenty of treatments – both medical andsurgical – but it would be ideal if the condition could beprevented in the first place through diet.

Two of the largest research studies (over 4700 men) looking atthe effects of diet on BPH were recently published in the Journalof Urology and in the American Journal of Epidemiology. to sum up,they found that taking dietary supplements (specificallyantioxidants) has less impact on a man’s risk of developing BPHthan does his overall eating pattern. The risk of developing BPHwas lower among men who followed diets high in protein andvegetables and low in fat and red meat and who regularly consumedalcohol in moderation. They recommend following these four tips tolower your risk for BPH:

* Get high levels of physical activity and reduce “bellyfat”

* Follow a low-fat diet

* Consume five or more servings of vegetables a day

* Consume no more than two glasses of alcohol a day

Translated – a prostate-healthy way to eat lunch may be tochoose salads without fatty mayonnaise-based dressings, fresh fruitand low-fat yogurt, or a wrap sandwich filled with hummus andvegetables. for dinner, opt for fish, chicken, soy or bean dishes,keeping the protein portion of the meal to no more than one-quarterof the plate, keeping starch to one- quarter and filling the restwith vegetables.

Gentlemen take note: a healthy prostate is yet another reason toeat your vegetables, keep fat intake low, exercise and enjoy anoccasional drink. Warning: prostate disorders can only be diagnosedby a physician. if you are experiencing symptoms associated withBPH you should see your physician immediately for properdiagnoses.

As men age they often experience prostate problems, like gettingup several times at night to go to the bathroom. Having to get upat night is a burden that can disturb a restful sleep, for both youand your partner. benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is thenoncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland and is an extremelycommon condition in older men, effecting almost 50 percent by age60. The symptoms of BPH are frequent urination, dribbling,incomplete emptying of the bladder, and a weak stream of urine.

The causes of BPH are not well understood, but aging andtestosterone are believed to be the

primary influences on its development. Animal studies suggestthat as males age their hormonal balance between testosterone andestrogen (produced in small amounts) becomes altered due to thedecline in production of testosterone. There are plenty oftreatments – both medical and surgical – but it would be ideal ifthe condition could be prevented in the first place throughdiet.

Two of the largest research studies (over 4700 men) looking atthe effects of diet on BPH were recently published in the Journalof Urology and in the American Journal of Epidemiology. to sum up,they found that taking dietary supplements (specificallyantioxidants) has less impact on a man’s risk of developing BPHthan does his overall eating pattern. The risk of developing BPHwas lower among men who followed diets high in protein andvegetables and low in fat and red meat and who regularly consumedalcohol in moderation. They recommend following these four tips tolower your risk for BPH:

* Get high levels of physical activity and reduce “bellyfat”

* Follow a low-fat diet

* Consume five or more servings of vegetables a day

* Consume no more than two glasses of alcohol a day

Translated – a prostate-healthy way to eat lunch may be tochoose salads without fatty mayonnaise-based dressings, fresh fruitand low-fat yogurt, or a wrap sandwich filled with hummus andvegetables. for dinner, opt for fish, chicken, soy or bean dishes,keeping the protein portion of the meal to no more than one-quarterof the plate, keeping starch to one- quarter and filling the restwith vegetables.

Gentlemen take note: a healthy prostate is yet another reason toeat your vegetables, keep fat intake low, exercise and enjoy anoccasional drink. Warning: prostate disorders can only be diagnosedby a physician. if you are experiencing symptoms associated withBPH you should see your physician immediately for properdiagnoses.

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First pregnancy is a wonderful experience, as it heralds the impending arrival of your baby. it is important to be able to recognize the first pregnancy sign symptoms. given below are the first week signs of pregnancy, so that you can contact your doctor as soon as you notice them.first pregnancy is a great event that most women look forward to with happy anticipation. however, do you know as to what are the sign symptoms of first pregnancy? most women are aware that a missed menstrual period is indicative of pregnancy, but it could also occur due to several other reasons. The first pregnancy sign symptoms exhibit themselves both on the physical level and on the mental level. in order to gain knowledge regarding symptoms and signs of first pregnancy, you should read books and articles and even go on the Internet. Physical Symptoms of first PregnancyMost symptoms of first pregnancy arise out of the release of pregnancy hormones, estrogen, and progesterone in the woman’s body. these hormones affect the breasts that begin to grow and feel tender. Besides becoming fuller and heavier, the breasts might start to tingle or become sore. Tiny spots begin to appear around the nipples and the breasts change to get ready for producing milk.Non-physical Symptoms of first PregnancyThe first week signs of pregnancy on the non-physical level include the reduction of energy level, resulting in fatigue. The main reason for this condition is that the body has to work harder for producing more blood and hormones, so that nutrients can be carried to the fetus. The heart also has to work more to take care of the higher flow of blood. Progesterone is produced in greater amounts, leading to listlessness and sleepy feeling.Implantation BleedingYou can become aware of first pregnancy, if you find implantation bleeding. This is a first week sign of pregnancy and it occurs due to fertilized egg being attached to the lining of the uterus, due to which blood flows out of the body. This discharge is lighter than menstrual blood and cramping takes place due to the enlargement of the uterus.The symptoms of first pregnancy get complicated, when implantation bleeding is accompanied with morning sickness or nausea. The increase in the production of estrogen causes these first trimester pregnancy symptoms.Other Symptoms of first PregnancyApart from morning sickness, the other symptoms of first pregnancy include the following: Frequent Urination: this is the result of the uterus getting enlarged and pushing on the bladder.

Constipation: Digestion becomes slower, because the food passes through the gastrointestinal tract more slowly.

Headaches: Blood circulation has to increase, due to a higher production of pregnancy hormones and this causes headaches.

Mood swings: in the first trimester of pregnancy, mood swings take place due to hormone-related changes, which might range from deep gloom to elation.

Higher basal temperature: the oral temperature is higher in the morning soon after ovulation and it continues like this until the next period. these are the first pregnancy symptoms and if you start experiencing any of them, you should visit your doctor even if you have not yet missed a period. when you become aware of your pregnancy, you might even become very apprehensive of what is going to happen and how you are going to cope with the same. if you recognize the symptoms of first pregnancy, you can become fully prepared to face the most wonderful event of your life – the birth of your baby.By: Saurabh K Jain