Hormone Therapy

For many years, Hormone therapy has been used to ease the symptoms of menopause. However, it has also been widely prescribed for preventative purposes in the belief that it would help protect women against future heart disease, weak bones and dementia. In July 2002, the women's health initiative (WHI) ended its research on combinations of estrogen and progestin therapy after it showed that women who underwent this treatment would have a substantially increased risk of breast cancer, heart attacks and stroke. In 2004, the WHI also halted a portion of the study for estrogen only therapy. This was done after finding that the hormone did not offer any protection against heart disease, but instead increased the risk of stroke and blood clots.

A recent survey has shown that most women are not aware of the research that was carried out that the WHI, or the disturbing information that it contained. Although the number of prescriptions had initially declined by 38% in 2003 and 2004, it had increased again and has almost reached previous levels. Drug companies claim that these hormone therapies are safer than the previous versions and doctors continue to prescribe it.

How well do our doctors actually understand the dangers of prescribing hormone therapies? Can we as patients truly trust that they know what they are doing? For years, doctors told menopausal woman that taking a pill made from extracts of horse urine would help prevent hot flashes, heart disease and osteoporosis. More than that, it would greatly extend a woman's youthful years. What was found however is that all that the pill did was to prevent hot flashes. There was no other benefit. This was known for many years. However, aggressive marketing had convinced women and their doctors that this was still the best way to go.

This leads to serious questions that have to be asked. How many of these treatments are actually effective in replacing hormones where the body's natural hormones are deficient. What is the difference between synthetic hormones, plant hormones and hormones that derived from horse urine? Surely there has to be a danger of taking hormones from an animal and transplanting them into a human being. If compatibility is not an issue, what other dangers do they pose? More importantly, how do injecting extra hormones impact on the functionality of our glands and the hormones that they produce?

The Negative Inhibitory Feedback Loop (NIFBL) is a system that controls hormone levels in the body. For example, when the brain detects that the sugar levels are too high, Insulin is produced to process the sugars. When sugar levels drop below a certain level, insulin production is stopped which allows sugar levels to rise again, and so the cycle continues. How does the NIFBL perform this function, and how does hormone replacement treatment affect the NIFBL? Understanding how the endocrinal system works and how hormones are regulated is imperative if we are going to avoid the high risk of serious danger posed by hormone replacement therapies. It is always best to find information that is easy to understand and logical as well as to discuss with your medical practitioner before embarking on any therapies.

Endometriosis is a medical condition in which tissue that typically lines the uterus grows elsewhere such as around the ovaries, bowel, or around the pelvis. In rare cases, endometrial tissue may grow outside of the pelvic region. The condition can be very painful. The main symptom is pelvic pain during the menstrual period. Pain during intercourse may be present, as well as during bowel movements or even during urination. Other signs of this condition include excessive bleeding and infertility. Many turn to medical procedures and treatments such as hormone therapy or surgery to treat this condition, although some find pain relief through acupuncture.

Many women with endometriosis who desire to become pregnant but experience infertility as a result of the condition turn to acupuncture instead of certain medicine treatments and surgeries. Medications to treat the condition may affect the ovaries, and while surgery may remove endometrial tissue, it may recur in the future. Acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments may be helpful in relieving this condition. One study published in late 2002 in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine notes that of 67 women with painful periods due to endometriosis, half were given ear acupuncture as treatment, and 81% noted less painful periods following treatment.

So why does acupuncture work? Experts do not fully understand why acupuncture is successful, but some speculate that it could have something to do with the promotion of blood circulation as well as the regulation of the endocrine system, which involves hormones. Many couples have found success through acupuncture, and hearing success stories of others may inspire some couples or individuals to give acupuncture a try to overcome infertility or endometriosis, or both.

One woman, whose story is relayed at Endo-Resolved.com, notes her success through acupuncture after four laparoscopic surgeries over a four year period. "He's been treating me for the Endometriosis for a little over 3 months and I am completely pain free! This September will be one year since my last surgery and I am going to celebrate! It's such a relief to be out of the constant pain, but even more of a relief because I'm able to move on with my life."

One activity that some recommend is speaking with others who have been through, or are going through, the same thing as you to exchange stories, tips, and support. Relieving stress can be helpful when trying to become pregnant, and can even help to promote overall well-being. This is a good way to get rid of a little stress.

Hormones are a great proven way for women to cause their breasts to enlarge. Hormones can be reacted in a similar way to how women grow their breasts in puberty and pregnancy to cause them to enlarge.

There are four main hormones that are great breast enlargement hormones. They are estrogen, progesterone, the growth hormone and prolactin. Increasing your levels of estrogen is the first step because it is the most effective hormone in breast development. Estrogen also causes your testosterone level to lower which is not only another positive for breast growth it also causes you to gain a more feminine figure.

Another great breast enlargement hormone is progesterone. Progesterone is a great hormone in particular for men who are going through a sex change to grow breasts. It also works in promoting breast growth for women too and has many great properties.

The growth hormone is also involved in breast development. The growth hormone is made in great amounts by females during puberty and assists with the growth of the entire body, including the breasts. Using this hormone to get bigger breasts is very effective and can cause you to have large perky breasts.

Prolactin is another breast enlargement hormone which is naturally produced by teenage women during puberty. This hormones job is to help the development of the mammary glands and to increase fat storage in the breasts.

The most common forms of available hormone treatment with these types of hormones that are designed to increase the breast size are used in breast enlargement pills and creams. The creams and pills cause the hormones to react making your breasts bigger and firmer. These pills and creams can be bought online on certain websites. Although it is a good idea when buying these breast enhancing products that you shop around and read reviews so you can see what will suit your needs best. Results using hormones can vary from woman to woman but results generally tend to show around the first month of using breast enlargement hormones.

There are many Hormone therapy's available and they are used simply to enact breast growth. Hormones will generally work to increase breast tissue, but it is advised to consult your doctor as there are health risks to using breast enlargement hormones. They can cause a variety of significant health issues including organ failure. If used safely they are a great alternative to having breast enlargement surgery.

Perimenopause is a period of 2 to 10 years before Menopause actually sets in. Menopause is said to have begun if you miss your period for a full year or more straight.

Perimenopause and menopause are inevitable parts of a life if you are a woman. It doesn't have to be as dreadful as some have made it out to be. All women go through them but not all of them will have the same symptoms and neither will the intensity of the symptoms be the same. As one woman, your symptoms can vary from month to month and in intensity.

Signs of Perimenopause - Menopause

Weight gain could indicate early menopause and can occur for two reasons. One reason is due to an increased appetite and a decrease in exercising. The second reason could be due to the body's retention of water.

Mood swings can be associated with the fluctuating hormone levels which can be very erratic in many women. Depression, anxiety, and irritability may accompany mood swings.

Fibroid cysts in the breast and/or uterus may form. These are benign growths that can be surgically removed. They are not life threatening but could cause some discomfort. In the uterus, they may reduce your chances of becoming pregnant. Vaginal dryness and a less intense libido may also be signs of Perimenopause, menopause.

Hot flashes and night sweats are very common signs of perimenopause, menopause. Night sweats are hot flashes that occur at night. Many complain that the night sweats wake them up and their night clothes and bedding will be damp or wet. After they cool down and get back into bed, the bed may feel very cold because of the dampness. This could be avoided if the damp bedding were changed. A nice, dry bed is so comforting.

Insomnia or sleeplessness is another reported problem. You might have trouble getting to sleep or you may have trouble staying asleep. You might not be able to sleep long enough to be rested. Sleep problems could lead to fatigue/exhaustion.

Treatment Options

Option 1 - Pharmaceuticals can include over the counter medications and supplements as well as prescribed medications. There are two prescribed medications that are in common use: HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy where the depleting levels of estrogen and progesterone are kept at a stable level. This is to hopefully relieve symptoms for many women. Anti-depressants are often prescribed to help relieve the depression many women feel during perimenopause and menopause. Unfortunately, there are some very serious side effects and these include ovarian, breast, and uterine cancers. This is why many women search for more natural and safer treatments.

Option 2 - Natural treatments particularly herbal supplements are much safer and have far fewer if any side effects. It is strongly recommended that you discuss adding herbal supplements to your regimen because some of the herbs can affect the performance of any medication you may be taking for other health conditions. Your doctor should be a good source of information.

Herbal supplements are not standardized as most known medications are by the FDA. This leaves room for the manufacturers to put as little or as much herbal contents that they want in their supplements. Some companies have gone so far as to list ingredients that are not in the supplement at all.

Many manufactures though are working to create the most effective, safe, and high quality herbal supplements they can make. There are a few things to note that will help you choose a high quality supplement. They use only standardized herbal extracts because this helps to ensure that the same amount of product is in each capsule and from bottle to bottle.

Standardized herbal extracts is also where the most active ingredients of the herbs are found. The ingredients are extensively tested. The metabolic pathway of the ingredients is studied at the molecular level and how the ingredients' interact is observed.
High quality herbal supplements are made to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. All of this guarantees you that what is on the product label is actually in the supplement and that you have a safe, potent, effective product.

Option 3 - Lifestyle changes, just basic ones could help your body work at relieving your menopausal symptoms. Reducing the amount of alcohol that you drink may help to relieve hot flashes or night sweats. Alcohol makes you feel warm and make your skin appear flushed, most likely worsening the symptoms of hot flashes/night sweats.

Quit smoking! Smokers have problems with lung function due to the inhaled smoke blocking oxygen production. If you are a smoker, you could have far less stamina (endurance) for physical activity. As your heart and lungs work harder to give you as much oxygen as possible, you become winded and that's why you may huff and puff after physical activity.

A healthy diet and getting regular exercise will not only help to build your stamina, help you to lose weight, and benefit your over all health; they can also help to boost your libido. Your body will work more efficiently as well.

Conclusion

The signs of perimenopause, menopause includes hot flashes/night sweats, mood swings, and Depression to name but a few. These symptoms will be experienced by every woman to a greater or lesser degree. Each woman will have the symptoms affect her differently from month to month.

The good news is that there is a variety of treatments available that help to relieve or get rid of the most bothersome symptoms. Hormone Therapy Replacement and other medications are very effective but have serious side effects. Herbal supplements are available that are specifically made to deal with menopausal symptoms. Your pharmacist, doctor, or a Naturalist Pharmacist can help direct you to the best quality supplements available. There is relief and it has much fewer, if any side effects. They may also benefit your over-all health.

Are you a man over 40? Have you been troubled by the symptoms of andropause lately? Andropause, in which many men experience negative effects resulting from changes in hormone levels during aging, can cause irritability, fatigue, decreased sex drive, and loss of memory.

Although Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) serves the same purpose as synthetic hormone replacement therapy, it utilizes supplemental doses of hormones which are molecularly identical to endogenous hormones that your body produces naturally. The naturalness of the hormones has led advocates to consider BHRT as a great therapeutic option for symptoms associated with andropause. It is widely believed that patients do not experience the harmful side effects associated with synthetic hormone replacement therapy. There are a number of hormones, which are used in BHRT. Most are available in FDA-approved manufactured products and as pharmacy-compounded products too. Scientists at the Gerontology Research Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Baltimore, Maryland restored sex hormone levels to those of younger people and found a marked improvement in physical and psychological functions.

To begin Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, you will need to consult a physician for expert advice on the best anti aging treatment. Once your physician determines that you are experiencing a decline of hormones, you would be ready to begin a static treatment plan. Your hormone levels are approximated and you would be advised the necessary treatment. There are a number of forms of therapy and you can only find the best one for your needs upon consultation with a BHRT expert. The therapy has helped improve physical, mental, and emotional energies in men experiencing andropause symptoms. Increased libido and sexual performance, control over anxiety, fatigue, and irritability, improvement in body mass, reduced sleep disturbance, bone growth, improvement in skin elasticity and decrease in potential risk of heart disease are the other proven benefits of BHRT.

Bioidentical hormones are natural plant based hormones, and can be administered only after the levels of hormones are measured. They are formulated in a convenient and effective form and can be individualized when compared to synthetic hormone therapy. More benefits and fewer side effects- if that's what you want out of your hormone replacement therapy, you should try BHRT. When you have restored your body's normal balance of hormones with the help of BHRT, you will feel more healthy, energized, stronger and definitely happier!

It is common knowledge that acne is caused by oily skin but few people know what causes that shine on your face and especially the T-zone. The oil is due to high levels of a hormone named androgen.

However, since a normal secretion of androgen gives a healthy skin, therefore it cannot be completely done away with either. The hormones are most actively produced during puberty, hence the oily skin and acne. Now the question that arises is how to balance ones hormones to help with acne.

Now hormones in our body can be balanced by different methods like having a balanced diet, avoiding stress and getting enough exercise. However, external methods include some treatments that may help to correct the imbalance as well.

Information that you need

There is a disparity in your body when the superfluous hormones and toxins from your body do not drain out. This function is usually performed by the liver and kidneys and what aids these organs to do so are a balanced diet that gives the essential nutrients. These nutrients regulate the glands and hence help you get a blemish free skin.

If you notice carefully you will see that too much stress can also cause an unexpected outbreak of acne. This is because stress triggers the production of hormones that cause the pimples. One easy way to relieve oneself from stress is of course exercise, and the added advantage is that it is also good for the rest of your body.

External treatments for balancing hormones that people can opt for can be allopathic as well as alternative medicine like an herbal treatment. Once the doctor has determined that the acne caused is due to a hormonal imbalance he/she might recommend birth control pills for women as they restrain the androgens. However, if the problem is acute then the doctor might also suggest corticosteroids.

Many herbs like black cohosh, evening primrose, red clover, chaste berry, licorice etc can be used both on males and females to balance their hormones. However, personal experimentation is advised against and the patient should always consult a doctor before starting this treatment.
Finally this treatment is only possible if you get a thorough checkup of your hormone levels, and people who have an acute acne problem should go for a regular checkup to see the condition and improvement. Hormone level testing can be done by saliva testing and blood testing. There is also the option of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. However, balancing your hormones the natural way is always much more desirable.

Human growth hormone therapy has long been associated with painful shots, frequent doctor visits and exceedingly high doctor bills.

Finally, has science found a better alternative? Today, is there a human growth hormone (HGH) alternative option that doesn't cost a small fortune - and isn't painful?

Yes, it's true. Science has at last discovered a better alternative to the pain and misery of prescription injections. But before we dive into that, let's discover why HGH is so important to your overall health and well-being. Then we'll take a look at the medical and scientific community's new forms of HGH therapy.

Human growth hormone (HGH) is an essential component of our bodies. It is vital to the growth, development and functioning of almost all of our organs. In fact, HGH is regarded as a necessary chemical compound in our body that actually keeps us alive. According to many anti-aging experts today, it is one of our master hormones.

So what happens to HGH as we age? Well, as we get older, HGH production slows down. This unfortunately results in what we've come to know as the aging process.

And as HGH levels in our bodies decline, we see a loss of muscle mass, lessened immunity, and a longer healing time after injuries. In short, our bodies show what we've come to regard as "normal" aging.

As long as people have been aware of their own eventual death, they've searched for anti-aging options. And since HGH is known to be linked to the symptoms of aging - have we at long last found the cure?

While no one has discovered the elusive Fountain of Youth, those who can afford it have been visiting their doctors, paying expensive fees, and taking shots to increase their HGH levels.

And for years, people have dealt with the drawbacks such as painful injections, frequent trips to the doctor along with hefty fees - all because there was only one form of HGH therapy.

Now however, recent medical discoveries have changed all of that. There is now a safe and easy-to-use alternative for everyone.

Trans-D Tropin ® is that alternative.

Trans-D Tropin is a convenient and highly effective lotion used to increase your body's own HGH. It is correctly termed an HGH releaser. And when used on a consistent daily basis, this cream stimulates your pituitary gland into naturally releasing your own HGH.

As your body increases its own human growth hormone, you'll see a decrease in body fat, an increase in your physical strength, more sexual vigor, and a boost in your immunity levels. Plus, you may also gain more lean muscle mass, and an ability to heal injuries more quickly, along with deeper sleep patterns.

In short, your body will begin to feel younger and healthier by simply rubbing a lotion into your skin just a few times every day - without having to visit the doctor for painful and expensive shots.

You've seen how important HGH is to your body, and to your aging process. Trans-D Tropin is the safe, convenient and easy-to-use alternative for you to consider in the realm of human growth hormone therapy.

As you will remember, I wrote about my wife beginning Bioidentical Hormone Replacement therapy. Our decision for her to do this, came about because my wife and I are both dealing with her perimenopause. This process for her has been an ongoing research for 10 years. It seemed that every time we learned something useful there would be some improvement, but still we could not get her feeling and acting like herself. It has always been in the back of her mind that she had the symptoms of hypothyroidism. But, curiously the symptoms of perimenopause and thyroid low function are nearly identical. She has been considering Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) for 2 years, but putting it off due to the fact that she was unsure if she had learned enough about it.

She has found the medical group that she wanted. They specialize in BHRT. She started treatment two weeks ago.

The way we got here, was through the belief that the blood tests that our primary physician was looking at for her were showing a normal thyroid. But it was in the very low normal range. Therefore the doctor did not look at other hormone levels. We understand the doctor's actions, but we disagreed. We wanted to know what her HORMONE levels were. Well this new medical group added the full range of hormone levels to their very comprehensive blood tests. My wife was completely out of wack on 9 out of 10. She signed up for their program and began it immediately.

Her first treatment included a B-12 shot, which she will continue weekly for some time. There was an immediate energy boost that was mirrored by a reduction in fatigue. At the same time she had some very small capsules (the size of a grain of rice) in a time release configuration implanted just under the skin of her buttocks.

The tests had showed she was way off of the scale on: Estradiol; FSH; Progesterone; TSH; Testosterone; Vitamin B12. No other physician had tested for these. Yet, these are some of the supplements she is being given now. I will find out more about each and write another article on the progress next week.

The daily changes were subtle but noticeable and all positive. But, each day I could not be sure that it was not just my perception of change since that was what I was looking for.. But the "overall changes" during the entire two weeks are noticeable and dramatic. She is waking up earlier. Making a lot more jokes. Laughing harder and working harder. It is my initial judgement that the balancing of hormones is real and it is working. In the next week she will go in for an evaluation. I expect it to be positive.

We still have not found out how much of the cost is covered by our insurance, which is Blue Cross Blue Shield. But, we expect to hear soon and I will include this in the next article.

I'll let you know how the evaluation goes too. Expect to hear from me next week again.

If you want to share your experience, or ask questions you can visit the website mentioned below.

Modern medicine has turned menopause into a disease.

Doctors offer hormone therapy during perimenopause and menopause for symptoms such as hot flashes and mood swings because this is all they're taught and all they know.

Sad.

Sad that we take advice from anyone who wants us to take potentially harmful chemicals into our bodies on a regular basis, rather than investigate natural menopause solutions first. If you've ever agreed to 'try' hormone replacement and taken a good hard look at the information sheet from the pharmacist, you know the list of frightening side effects associated with adding hormones to your body.

Many women delay taking action for mood swings or night sweats at the start of menopause, when it would be most beneficial. Unfortunately for them, they've ignored what seems to be a law of the Universe that it's better to prevent a problem, than to treat it after it becomes bigger, more noticeable and more disruptive. Many women seek help with distressing menopause symptoms only after they've become intolerable and they demand immediate relief. Hormone therapy usually provides faster results than herbs at the crisis point, but how much better to take herbs or homeopathy or use an energy medicine method such as Emotional Freedom Techniques, that work with the body, rather than force it into an artificial state where it has been fooled rather than respected.

You may not know that hormone therapy is usually a long-term solution, that when it ends, can bring back the same problems it was intended to solve. That's what happened to my mother who was on HRT for 20 years. She, like millions of other women, was scared off HRT in 2002 when a large clinical study found that HRT increased the risk of heart disease and cancer. She went off the hormones and went right back into hot flashes and night sweats - somewhat ridiculous and definitely stressful for a woman in her mid-70s.

Call it hormone therapy or HRT or hormone replacement or bioidentical hormone replacement - it's all the same thing. You're putting hormones into your body that your body did not create. With the addition of these so-called 'bio-identical' hormones, your body will stop producing hormones of its own, when if left alone, it would continue to produce a small measure of its own hormones. Your own hormones could help your body transition to its permanent post-menopause state of fewer hormones than during all of your life since puberty. Your own hormones could protect your body from osteoporosis and heart disease.

Why do we give away our power to anyone who thinks the answer to a natural life transition involves chemicals? It doesn't make sense.

Now, of course, at this point I've got to agree that hormone replacement almost assuredly has a role to play in our stressed out, toxic world for some people. People who would choose to take a pill every day rather than take a supplement or herb that would nourish their bodies; people who waited too long to seek help and are in a very troubled state of health by the time they show up in their doctor's office wanting a prescription. God love you and protect you ladies. You really let this one get ahead of you didn't you?

And how about the woman who had a hysterectomy for whatever reason and finds herself in a hellish situation because her body has been shocked into premature menopause? My dear, get thee to a doctor for some hormone replacement. You've been through enough already.

As for the rest of us...let's slow down.

Take time to examine your options. Find yourself a practitioner - naturopathic doctor, holistic health practitioner, herbalist, homeopathic doctor, doctor of traditional Chinese medicine - someone you trust who can advise you on your journey through menopause.

Meanwhile all of us, at whatever stage of menopause we're at, can make healthy lifestyle choices to manage menopause. We can nourish ourselves with herbal infusions of oatstraw, stinging nettle, red clover, and/or garden sage. We can choose to eat a piece of dried dulse daily and take a fish oil supplement or a vegan equivalent. Take a daily anti-aging supplement that has Vitamin D, CoEnzymeQ10 and Resveratrol - fantastic for the heart health too. We can cleanse our bodies of toxins on a regular basis so our bodies function like they were meant to.

Take care of yourself woman. Your body is all that's between you and eternity, which you will agree, is a very long time.

Don't present yourself passively to your doctor and say 'do me with those drugs ya' got there doc'. It's not right to take hormones because that's what your friends do - it's irresponsible, and downright dangerous! Look at the alternatives. They exist and they're bountiful! Just look for them!

Honey, menopause is coming. Won't you agree that it's better to embrace menopause and take charge of your own health and wellness, than to medicate yourself into a drug-dependent old age?

Would you like to see a cat fight? Just ask two cancer researchers whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) causes cancer. This question certainly provoked several arguments in the medical community this week.

The first feud started once a report in the New England Journal of Medicine linked the decline in breast cancer rates in 2003 to reduced usage of hormone replacement therapy.

After that announcement, the International Menopause Society (IMS) attacked the report's credibility by pointing out shortcomings like "a transient decrease in breast cancer incidence was observed also around 1987-9." And so for the IMS, the ultimate cause of cancer remains questionable-not a definite HRT side effect.

The next tiff to take place over HRT happened once The Lancet unveiled findings from the One Million Women Study. The United Kingdom-based study followed almost 950,000 postmenopausal women for five years to investigate the link between ovarian cancer incidence and HRT usage.

According to the researchers, women who use HRT are at an increased risk of both incident and fatal ovarian cancer.
Then in true fighter spirit, the International Menopause Society discredited this HRT study as well. This time the IMS argued that the Lancet study skewed its numbers and that such ill-derived results, "will inevitably cause further unnecessary distress to the many women who are benefiting from HRT."

It appears the struggles over the safeness of hormone replacement therapy will endure ad infinitum. Meanwhile, should adults continue to use hormone replacement therapy in the mist of possible cancer risks?

If eradicating wrinkles and maintaining your skin's elasticity as long as possible are important to you, then hormone replacement therapy will help you to meet this goal.

For example, postmenopausal women who use hormone therapy for five years or less typically had fewer wrinkles and firmer skin than women who opted not to use the treatment.

Similarly, a study in the journal Dermatology recommended using hormone replacement therapy to counteract the natural loss of facial tissue, or plumpness, which occurs with aging.

Moreover, results from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey discovered the after examining nearly 3,800 postmenopausal women, those using hormone replacement therapy had significantly less wrinkling and skin dryness.

While hormone replacement therapy may sound like a cosmetic redeemer, the battle over the safeness of this controversial therapy continues on a number of fronts. You have your choice of natural, synthetic and bioidentical hormones. Likewise, you have passionate professionals evangelizing the virtues and evils of every variation of estrogen.

Ultimately, the choice to use hormone replacement therapy resides with you the consumer, your health history and your budget. Because, while you are busy browsing over hormones, researchers will still debate whether you are taking cancerous risks or slowing the aging process.

Sources:

Beral, Valerie; Million Women Study Collaborators. Ovarian cancer and hormone replacement therapy in the Million Women Study. The Lancet Early Online Publication; April 19, 2007.

Dunn, LB; M Damesyn, AA Moore, DB Reuben & GA Greendale. Does estrogen prevent skin aging? Results from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I). Archives of Dermatology; March 1997, vol 133, no 3, pp 339 - 342.

International Menopause Society. IMS Reaction to Report on Breast Cancer Incidence in 2003 in US. April 17, 2007.

International Menopause Society. Response to Lancet Paper on Ovarian Cancer in the Million Women Study. April 18, 2007.

Ravdin, Peter M et al. The Decrease in Breast-Cancer Incidence in 2003 in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine; April 19, 2007 vol 356, no 16, pp 1670-1674.

Sator, Paul-G; Jolanta B Schmidt, Thomas Rabe & Christos C Zouboulis. Skin aging and
sex hormones in women - clinical perspectives for intervention by hormone replacement therapy. Experimental Dermatology; December 2004, vol 13, no 4, pg 36-40.

Wolff, Erin F; Deepak Narayan & Hugh S Taylor. Long-term effects of hormone therapy on skin rigidity and wrinkles. Fertility and Sterility; August 2005, vol 84, no 2, pp 285-288.