Hormone Loss And The Natural Cures To Ease Menopause

The Dangers of Hormone Loss
By the time a woman enters menopause, she may have already experienced two decades of hormonal imbalance and estrogen dominance. After menopause, when all hormone levels decrease significantly, aging women are at increased risk of major diseases, including the following:

Heart disease. Rates of heart disease in postmenopausal women gradually climb until they equal the rates typically seen among men. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading killer of American women (American Heart Association 2004). A number of negative changes in cardiovascular health are provoked by menopause, including elevations in blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. At the same time, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels drop significantly. Elevated levels of homocysteine, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 (an inflammatory cytokine) are all associated with estrogen deficiency (Cushman 2003; Davison et al 2003; Dijsselbloem et al 2004)

Osteoporosis. Hormone deficiencies are clearly associated with bone loss and osteoporosis, beginning even in the third decade of life. By the time women reach 50, they are at significantly increased risk of an osteoporotic bone fracture. Estrogen deficiency results in increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which cause increased bone breakdown and inflammation (Lian et al l2001). Estrogen and androgen therapy increases bone mineral density (BMD), and estrogen/androgen replacement therapy has been shown to increase BMD more than estrogen therapy alone (Notelovitz 2002).

Alzheimer's and dementia. Loss of hormones is associated with neurodegeneration and increased risk of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (Danilovich et al 2004; O'Suilleabhain et al 2004). Deficiencies in pregnenolone and DHEA, which are both neuroprotective hormones, are also linked to reduced memory and brain cell death associated with Alzheimer's disease (Yao et al 2002). These two hormones play an important role in regulating neurotransmitter systems that are involved in learning, stress, depression, addiction, and many other vital functions (Maurice T et al 1999).

Some women may be able to support their body's natural production of estrogen and progesterone levels and relieve some symptoms of menopause by consuming Life Extension products that are specially designed to address these needs. These products include the following:

Natural Estrogen, a product containing


Genistein 25.81 mg


Daidzein 24.97 mg


Glycitein 4.69 mg


Black cohosh extract: 20 mg


Dong quai extract: 12.5 mg


Licorice extract: 12.5 mg


Vitex extract


Postmenopausal women can take it every day. Premenopausal women can take Natural Estrogen cyclically: three weeks on and one week off, beginning on the fifth day of the menstrual cycle. Do not take Natural Estrogen if you are pregnant or lactating or have a history or high risk of estrogen-dependent tumors. Always consult a physician before embarking on any hormone restoration program.

Mega Soy Extract with genistein 51.6 mg, daidzein 50 mg, and glycitein 9.4 mg. One capsule twice daily can be taken with meals.

Pro-Fem Cream, a natural progesterone cream. Pro-Fem Cream can be massaged into soft tissue areas such as the breast, underarm, abdomen, buttocks, and inner thighs and applied to a different area every application to avoid saturating the skin or fat cells in a particular area of the body. Discuss proper cycling and dosage with your physician.

Supplementation with additional hormones, including pregnenolone, DHEA, and testosterone, should be based on the results of blood tests. Women seeking more information on blood tests or who wish to speak to a knowledgeable health advisor can call 1-800-544-4440, or go to a special web site at www.lef.org.