Her Shade of Blue: Women's Brand of Depression

Hormone imbalance in certain stages in the course of women's lives is a key source of their blues.

Last March 24, the world was shocked by the Germanwings plane crash that killed 150 people. Lufthansa, the operator of the Airbus A320 airplane that slammed part of the French Alps, admitted that the plane's co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, struggled with depression. The mental illness was instrumental to prompt him to crash the plane deliberately, killing himself and he rest of the 149 people onboard.

As shown above, depression is a serious mental condition that could lead to tragedy. If left untreated, it is the leading cause of suicide. Around 90% of people who committed suicide clinical depression or another diagnosable mental disorder. Although clinical depression alone is not enough to kill one’s self, it is often attributed as a key factor for committing such heinous act.

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Depression brings out the worse in our outlook in life and our health. More than feeling down in the dumps, it has other symptoms such as:

• Problems in falling asleep or sleeping too much

• Finding hard to concentrate or to accomplish tasks that were easy before

• Feeling hopeless and helpless

• Cannot get rid of your negative thoughts

• Loss of or increased appetite

• Becoming grumpier or more aggressive than usual

• Excessive drinking of alcohol or doing other unmindful acts

• Nagging thoughts that life is worthless and loss of interest in ordinary activities

Although statistics shows that women are less prone than men to commit suicide, they are more prone to depression than men because of their biology. Depression is often caused by a hormone imbalance that affects their mood and outlook in life. Female hormonal imbalances occur particularly during these life stages:

Before menstruation. Hormonal fluctuations that take place during a woman's monthly period cause them mood swings during this stage. Worse, some women suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or its more severe form—premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) that brings physical and psychological pain to women.

During and after pregnancy. While being a source of joy for most women, pregnancy can also bring depression to would-be and new moms. According to the US Department of Health and Social Service, about 13 percent of pregnant women and new mothers have depression. In another statistic, this time by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), around 14 to 23 percent of women will experience a few depression symptoms during pregnancy. After birth, women are prone to "baby blues," the least severe form of postpartum depression, a range of mental conditions that needs medical attention.

Before, during and after menopause. Starting from as early as the age of 30, women experience a gradual loss of ovarian function leading to low hormone levels and infertility. Depression is one of the symptoms of hormone imbalance during the menopause transition years (perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause).

But don't lose heart. With a combination of a healthier lifestyle, more supportive social relations, as well as medications such as nutritional supplements and hormone replacement therapy (during the menopause transition years), women can cheer up and keep the blues at bay.

Men-Oh-Pause!

Your partner may be complaining of your erectile dysfunction every time you have romantic moments. You may also be worried about why you are experiencing such low sex drive these past few days, which may sometimes lead to hot flashes or mood swings, and may take a toll on your relationship with your partner. You may also be confused about why you are experiencing these symptoms where, in fact, these are common to women.

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Pause and let me help you understand these “changes” in your body.

How important is your Testo?

Testo, or commonly known as testosterone, is an important male hormone. You may probably think that this is just one of the hormones usually secreted by your glands. Well, think twice because the production of testosterone plays a vital role in your manhood.

This hormone is produced by your testes, as well as your adrenal glands. The peak season of its production is during your early childhood or adolescent stage.

This male hormone plays a vital role in your development as a man. Your physical features were developed with the help of testosterone, such as the deepening of your voice, appearance of hair on your face, armpits or genital area.

As you age, testosterone plays an important role in maintaining your sex drive. This is also a big help in the development of your male organ in terms of its size. Your testosterone is also responsible for the production of your sperm and muscle strength. But as you age, you may experience symptoms that are usually experienced by women.

Andropause or Male Menopause, is it real?

Have you heard of male menopause? You may think this is just a myth. But yes, andropause is real.

Andropause is commonly known as male menopause experienced by men as they grow older. This is usually the decrease or loss of testosterone. The production of their testosterone decreases gradually unlike women where the production of their hormones drops suddenly as they age.

Usually, some of the common symptoms of male menopause are fatigue, depression, irritability or mood swings, low sex drive or low libido, erectile dysfunction, hot flashes, sleep difficulties, and osteoporosis. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may be in the stage of male menopause.

Is there a cure?

If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may consult your doctor and have your testosterone checked by undergoing a blood test. Your doctor may advise you to take treatments such as replacement of testosterone in your blood, treatment in a form of skin patches, gel, capsules or injections that may increase your testosterone level.

You may also change your lifestyle by switching to a healthier diet, exercising regularly and lessening the stress in your daily routine.

Pause and see your doctor.

There’s No Stopping Women: Putting a Pause on Early Signs of Menopause

Majority of us women lose our vigor and excitement for life as we age. We start to observe different kinds of physical and psychological changes in us as we reach our 50s. Most of these unpleasant changes we experience are brought about by menopause. We can’t let menopause put a pause in our daily activities.

Here’s how we can put a pause to menopause:

Be educated.

Know that menopause is an inevitable stage in the life of every woman. It is not a disease, but a normal and natural occurring event we have to undergo. It is a time of transition when the number of female hormones such as estrogen starts to decline and the function of the ovaries ceases. On the average, women start to reach menopause at the age of 51. However, women already start to experience hormonal changes earlier in their 30s to 40s.

Recognize the signs.

Menopausal symptoms vary in women. Women may begin to experience symptoms anywhere between the ages of 30 to 35. The main and most common symptoms of menopause include irregular periods, hot flashes, insomnia, emotional changes, joint and muscle aches and pains, vaginal dryness, and urinary incontinence.

Other symptoms include low energy levels, weight gain, decreased sex drive, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, and the like.

Confirm menopause.

Before putting a pause to menopause, women need to seek for accurate confirmation from their respective gynecologists. There are two diagnoses one can undergo to confirm menopause, the physical test or Pap Smear, and the blood test or Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Test.

During the physical test, the gynecologist will ask for the last date of menstruation and the frequency of menopausal symptoms. A Pap Smear can also be done to check for irregularities or thinning in the vaginal wall.

A Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Test or a blood test is done to check one’s hormone levels, specifically looking for the levels of the FSH and the estrogen. During the menopausal stage, a woman’s FSH level increases, and the estrogen level decreases.

Seek for help.

After the confirmation of being menopausal, we have to counterattack the different unwanted menopausal changes in our bodies.

Genemedics Health Institute offers a Natural Bioidentical Hormone Therapy for Women. The idea behind this is to carefully test for any hormone imbalances, then design a comprehensive, personalized program to balance, correct, and restore a woman’s hormone levels.

We can’t skip the menopausal stage, but we can do something about it. Putting a pause to menopause is totally doable and possible. There’s no stopping women now, not even menopause!

For more information about menopause, click here.

Bioidentical Hormones: A Risk Or A Rescue?

As people age, the number of their natural hormones decreases. With it comes menopausal symptoms in women and andropausal symptoms in men. The number of their vital hormones drops and causes them to experience different aging-associated diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, weight gain, osteoporosis, and the like. These health problems may decrease productivity in their daily activities. The discovery of bioidentical hormones could be the solution to their aging problems. But, the question is, is it a risk or a rescue?

Is it a risk or a rescue?

What are Bioidentical Hormones?

Bioidentical hormones are natural medication hormones that contain the same molecular structure as the ones naturally produced by our bodies. Bioidentical hormones therapy are also termed as “natural hormones therapy” because they act exactly like the hormones that our bodies naturally produce. Examples of these bioidentical hormones are estrogens, progestins, micronized progesterone, and combined hormones. Some of these bioidentical hormones are manufactured by DFA-approved companies or special pharmacies that offer “custom-made” hormone preparations.

What are the advantages of these Bioidentical Hormones?

According to Dr. Edward Litchen of Life Extension Magazine, and The Textbook of Bioidentical Hormones, one of the most promising applications of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is in the management of diabetes, especially in men. He also discovered through 30 years of clinical study that the restoration of optimal hormone balance through the bioidentical hormone placement helps alleviate many other common health problems in aging men and women. It helps ease menopausal and andropausal symptoms, osteoporosis, and premenstrual syndromes.

Oprah Winfrey, an internationally acclaimed host, shared the big improvement in her menopausal problems through the use of bioidentical hormones. She was prescribed with bioidentical estrogen when the doctor diagnosed that her hormonal tank was nearing empty. It even helped in regaining her sharp memory. To most men and women in general, bioidentical hormones helped them experience balanced moods, fat loss, higher libido, and better sleep.

Are they safe for everyone?

The use of bioidentical hormones has been considered safer and natural as compared to the use of synthetic hormones. However, it is always safe to consult a doctor whether or not this therapy will be safe or unsafe for you considering your personal body conditions. People also need to take note whether they really are truly deficient in hormones before taking in any kind of these bioidentical hormones. What’s effective for one may not be effective for all. It can be a rescue for one and a risk for another.

If you'd like to get more information about bioidentical hormones, click here.

Losing Your Manly Vigor: Is It A Sign Of Male Menopause?

Shedding light on one of the misunderstood medical conditions

Age does get in the way in terms of reproduction in women as well as in men. It is a well-known medical fact that women will most likely undergo menopause in their 50s. Around this age, a series of biological processes would make females lose their childbearing ability for good. While women are destined to lose their reproductive powers at a certain age, would the same predicament happen to men?

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The medical community is currently debating on whether men menopause in the same manner as women. Some say that it is just a myth because, unlike the case of women, men do not undergo a well-defined physiological process of reproductive decline. Others believe that despite an absence of clear, observable symptoms, aging would take its toll on men's capacity to impregnate, which is loosely termed as male menopause.

Manly pause?

Knowing that there is a debate on male menopause, the next question is which side should we take? Let us shed light on the very nature of what doctors call male menopause.

According to WebMD, a medical website, male menopause is triggered mainly by the gradual decrease in the production of testosterone -- the hormone responsible for reproduction in males. Reduction in testosterone levels happens as men age. According to a study, it falls about 30 percent on average after age 30. The diminished testosterone levels are attributed to cause men to experience symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, depression, and sexual problems.

However, many doctors admit that there is no clear relationship between the above symptoms and the decreased testosterone levels. In fact, other doctors believe these symptoms are caused by other medical disorders or diseases related to aging.

Barely a 'man' thing

Unlike in women wherein part of their physiology is the termination of their ovulation process as they pass their reproductive prime, men's capacity to impregnate never truly ceases -- it is only diminished. Their bodies continue to produce sperm even after the menopausal period of women. To emphasize, Ramajit Raghav, recorded as the world's oldest father, was reported to have fathered a son at the age of 96. 

If male menopause is not a given, meaning a natural ordeal for men, the next question is how common is it? A study, published by the New England Journal of Medicine, stated that male menopause is relatively rare. The paper reported that it only affects 2% of men over 40, while other figures show that merely 5% of all men; nearly 20% of them, after age 70, suffer from low testosterone.

So for men who are worried about their decreased performance in bed, chances are, based on statistics, it is most likely that you have other medical conditions that cause your diminished manly vigor. To be sure, consult a doctor for the correct diagnosis and treatment -- such as testosterone replacement therapy.