Are you at that age when things are changing down there? An older female patient asked my opinion about using vaginal estrogen cream because she is experiencing dryness and intercourse is not fun.
Naturopathic Gynecology
Second Nature Care for older girls
Before I give my answer to her question I want this audience to know that sex hormones are essential for the integrity of the vaginal tissues, the vulva, lower urinary tract and supporting structures. During our child-bearing years, these tissues are plump with estrogen. Sex hormones, both estrogen and testosterone, are responsible for blood flow to the genitals and you need blood flow for lubrication and sexual arousal.
When estrogen falls in perimenopause and menopause the vagina becomes more alkaline, it gets dry, tissues shrink and we're more prone to yeast overgrowth, vaginal infections and urinary tract infections. Our vaginal microbiome changes and we lose vaginal lactobacilli. Even your cells change from epithelial superficial cells to parabasal cells. This decline is now classified as genitourinary syndrome of menopause or GSM just in case you needed a diagnostic code.
The great hormonal fall leads to irritation, itching, increased risk of infections, pain with penetration and vaginal dryness. Those symptoms dominoe into not wanting to have sex, difficulty with getting aroused, lessened sexual satisfaction and that leads us to relationship issues.
Yes, Virginia's vagina needs estrogenization to thicken and revascularize the tissues, make the vagina more acidic and bring back the lactobacilli.
Make your appointment with Dr. Enzenbacher and get your conjugated estrogen cream to use twice a week. While you're there check out our ozone machine. Book an ozone inhalation treatment before or after your gyn visit.
There is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease with early menopause and or premature menopause. Taking hormone replacement in this situation only has benefits unless there is strong family history for cancer or history of stroke or thromboembolic event.
Estrogen has a positive effect on the heart and your lipid profile. When you reach menopause you lose those cardiovascular benefits. Women gain weight especially in the middle. We can discuss your overall health concerns: weight loss, physical activity, nutrition www.personalogix.com and portion control. Go to www.personalogix.com from any device and fill out the questionaire. Use my passcode SECOND NATURE and GUGGENHEIM to get a detailed report with your individualized health plan.
If you have been advised to get a hysterectomy do not get your ovaries removed. The American College of OB/Gyn are not recommending ovarian removal at the time of hysterectomy because of an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. One in three women die of heart disease; the same as men.
Besides vaginal estrogen cream, I recommend DHEA hormone as a precursor for estrone and testosterone production. DHEA cream applied vaginally was studied and within one week, women had a decrease in their vaginal pH, cell maturation improvement and DHEA levels restored to premenopausal range. DHEA did not adversely affect other sex hormones. Vaginal DHEA is another promising treatment for a youthful vagina.
Second Nature Care for younger girls
Do you have painful periods? Cramps that are disabling? This is the most common gyn complaint from young women that creates temporary disability with school and work absences.
Researchers studied the effects of ginger, zinc sulfate and placebo in 150 high school students. One group got ginger capsules, second group got zinc sulfate and the third group got a placebo. All of the girls started their medication one day before their period till the third day of their cycle. Pain was checked every 24 hours using a pain visual analog scale. Girls who took the ginger and the zinc sulfate had much better pain relief during the intervention.
We know that menses pain is caused by uterine prostaglandins or chemicals that cause inflammation and smooth muscle cramps. If you stop the production of prostaglandins then you can control the pain. Standard prescribed medications have a 20% failure rate and can cause diarrhea, stomach aches and nausea.
Ginger is natural anti-inflammatory and in a recent study proved that it decreased the intensity and duration of primary menstrual pain. Ginger may be as effective as ibuprofen and mefenamic acid. I like ginger because it is inexpensive and accessible in root form. It can be made into tea, I like to add peeled ginger root to many dishes and can be used in poultice form.
Zinc, a mineral, is an immune booster, anti-inflammatory and a strong anti-oxidant. Zinc deficiency is linked to burning mouth pain and pain is relieved with zinc replacement therapy. Zinc may also reduce the production of prostaglandins in the uterus.
I hope that both olders and youngers learned something new. Enjoy being female.
