Category Archives: Hormone Replacement Therapy

Since the inauguration of Trump, the nation has seen an explosion of progressive involvement in politics, ranging from protest marches to phone calls to congressmen. People have realized that an active role in the policy world is key in achieving their goals around defending human rights, and it's been amazing to witness especially at the state level of government. Watching so many activists enter the realm of policy advocacy reminds me of my own journey,one that included first learning how to testify forhearingsin the Texas Legislature as a college student in 2013. I realize this might bea step that many activists have not yet taken in their own states, so my hope is to providean idea of what this process entails and some best practices for success. Here's a comforting hint: It's easier than you think. Whether we're planning a protest or testifying at a hearing, I always tell folks that the first step of anything isresearch. In 2011, I attended a Lobby Day hosted by Equality Texas that taught LGBTQ Texans and their families how to talk to representatives, senators, and their staffers about legislation that impacted the community. I learned how to use the state legislature's website to … Continue reading →

Becki McGuinness was left infertile by aggressive cancer treatment when she was just 23-years-old. Now 30, she's launching a national campaign to ensure women facing cancer are given all the fertility options she should have had. This is her story... "I was 21 when I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer in my sacrum and spine. Because the cancer was so aggressive, and located around my pelvis, I knew there was a chance my fertility could be affected by treatment. But doctors explained to my mum and I what treatment I'd be having and told us there were no other options for my condition. We took them at their word. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below I went into treatment believing there was no other option, knowing there was a chance I might come out infertile, but also being advised that infertility "doesn't happen to everyone" as a result. I had six months of chemotherapy, with all the stereotypical side effects like my hair falling out, and then six weeks of daily radiotherapy. "I was 23 when the test came back showing that I was infertile" It was during radiotherapy that my early menopause began; … Continue reading →

Today, advanced reproductive technologies provide greater options for two women seeking to have a child together. Reciprocal IVF is an iteration of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process whereby one partner assumes the role of the egg donor, and the other the role of the gestational carrier. Partner #1 undergoes the egg retrieval process and those eggs are then fertilized using donor sperm. An embryo(s) is selected and transferred into the uterus of partner #2, who will carry the pregnancy should the embryo successfully implant. The treatment protocol is routine in cases where an egg donor is involved, and only recently extended its reaches into this socially progressive function. Reciprocal IVF, aka co-maternity or shared maternity, has opened new procreative doors for lesbian couples and pre-transition trans men. Splitting the IVF process into two distinct parts allows both women to participate in the conception and birth of a child, alongside a known or anonymous sperm donor. It also allows trans men to participate in the procreative process should they elect to undergo the IVF process prior to beginning hormone replacement therapy and gender reassignment surgery, and utilize the resulting embryos for treatment with a female partner. Reciprocal IVF is a … Continue reading →

QUEENSBURY Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudsons $2 million clinic opens Monday at 543 Bay Road. The Greater Glens Falls Health Center replaces an aging facility at 135 Broad St., will offer all services previously offered at that site and is adding a series of additional services. An added benefit for both staff and patients is the new location, on a medical cul-de-sac near SUNY Adirondack, with a good deal of parking behind the building. The entrance is also at the rear. At the old site, patients had to park on the street and very often encountered protesters in front of the building. In fact, at one point, the house next door was used as a headquarters for anti-abortion protesters. Everything about it is state-of-the-art, Emma Corbett, the groups director of communications, said of the new facility on Thursday. We are adding some very important pieces to what we have had before. And there is more privacy entering and leaving the building. There are also a number of new programs available at the Bay Road site. Telemedicine will be available as part of an effort to improve access to care through technology. Patients will receive preventive medicine and behavioral health counseling they … Continue reading →

At least three hormonal replacement therapy clinics have opened in Cy-Fair since March. Jason Starr, owner of Mens T Clinic, said the trend could be credited to a growing awareness of benefits. Starr left an 18-year corporate career with Mattress Firm to open Mens T Clinic in Houston in November 2015 and another in Cypress this March after seeing positive results from testosterone replacement. Mens testosterone levels decrease as they age, and thats not new, he said. What is newer is this notion that men no longer have to accept it. Starr, 42, said men and women are having children later in life: He has a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old. In the last five years, pharmaceutical giants have taken notice and invested in hormone replacement gels and injections, he said. Hormone clinics have been opening up because clients are looking for convenience and specialization, Starr said. Men can have blood work done in the on-site lab and see their results in about half an hour. Our medical staff is equipped to deal with a wide array of issues, he said. Weve discovered tumors in people in the short time weve been open. Were not just about injecting someone with one … Continue reading →

Rene Ray De La Cruz Staff Writer @DP_ReneDeLaCruz VICTORVILLE A young cancer fighter recently braved the salon chair as she had a portion of her long, dark-blond hair cut for chemo patients. Sitting inside Bella Mia salon in Hesperia on Tuesday, 16-year-old Paije Grissom held up her freshly-cut braided ponytail as she laughed and exclaimed, I didnt know I had that much hair. Diagnosed six years ago with a rare form of malignant chordoma cancer, Grissom is a smiling, outgoing teenager from Victorville who told the Daily Press she wants to donate her long, luscious hair while she still can. Ive been through a lot of cancer treatments, but I still have my hair, Grissom said. I figured Id donate my hair to someone who lost their hair to chemo or radiation. Grissom, whose life has been filled with radiation treatments, surgeries and chronic infections, has suffered partial hearing loss in her right ear, is starting to lose sight in both her eyes and deals with chronic fatigue and several other ailments, which prevents her from attending classes at Victor Valley High School. Grissom, who lives with her grandmother, Monette Holmes, said her best friend, Nadia Castillo, 12, has been … Continue reading →

For Amanda Keller, her service as the director of the Magic City Acceptance Center for LGBTQ youth in Birmingham, Alabama, embodies the sincerest tribute to her late father. The 32-year-old first began working with the Birmingham Aids Outreach (BAO) organization, which founded the Center, on World AIDS Day in December 2009. She had wanted to become involved with local HIV/AIDS advocacy following her father Roberts death from AIDS-related illness in November 2003, in her native Cleveland, Ohio. I wanted to educate myself and others, and this was the best way that I knew [so that] I could remain connected to him and give back to the community, she says. The presence of Keller and activists like her is vital in Alabama, a state better known for homophobic bogeymen like former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who fought tooth and nail against a judicial decision striking down Alabamas ban against same-sex marriage in February 2015, and then later fought local compliance with the Supreme Court decision in June of that year that brought marriage equality across the country. Alabama is also the home state of Senator Jeff Sessions, now the attorney general, whose record on standing against anti-LGBTQ equality is long. … Continue reading →

ATLANTA - As an OBGYN with Piedmont Physicians in Newnan, Dr. Tia Guster gets asked a lot about what works for hot flashes. "It's a little bit of trial and error," Dr. Guster says. "S you have to pack your patience hat on that one." That's because the triggers are different for each woman, Guster says. For some, drinking alcohol or caffeine can turn up the heat. For others, stress, eating spicy food, just being in the heat can trigger that sweaty, flushed feeling. So, Guster says, start by paying attention to what you're wearing. "So keep it kind of loose, with flowing maxi-dresses, if you can, at all, wear that as a fashion trend," she says. And try turning down the temperature at home. For severe hot flashes, Dr. Guster says, ask your physician whether you're a candidate for hormone replacement therapy, also known asHRT, and what the risks and benefits are. Your doctor may also prescribed non-hormonal medication to ease your symptoms. And, Guster says, soy also works for some women. "Legitimately, soy-based products are helpful, because they act essentially as estrogens in your body," she says. "And we've got those over-the-counter." Steer clear of soy and soy … Continue reading →

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Back Pain? Credit: iStock Aging is associated with an increased risk for low back pain caused by lumbar disc degeneration in both men and women. A recent study from China suggests that lower estrogen levels after menopause are associated with more severe disc degeneration in women and that hormone replacement therapy, also called HRT or HT, may help. Several studies have shown a strong link between estrogen levels and disc generation. This study is the first to include men in the comparison group, according to an article published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). The researchers documented disc degeneration measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan) in men and women as they age. They discovered that younger, age-matched men are more susceptible to disc degeneration than premenopausal women, but postmenopausal women have a significant tendency to develop more severe disc degeneration than men of the same age. Sourced from: The North American Menopause Society Credit: iStock After heart attack or stroke, aspirin therapy can be lifesaving because it helps reduce the risk of additional cardiovascular events. But aspirin also raises the risk of abnormal bleeding. Although the benefits outweigh the risks … Continue reading →

(WXYZ) - Menopause is often an annoying part of aging for many women. But essential oils may provide some relief. Essential oils have been utilized in folk remedies for many generations. They may lessen the uncomfortable effects of menopause and are beginning to be recognized in mainstream medicine for their benefits. Menopause marks the end of a womans reproductive years and symptoms leading up to it can range from mildly annoying to debilitating. You may experience changes in sleep habits, low libido, anxiety, depression, weight gain, irregular menstruation and bone loss. Research shows the oil called Vitex agnus-castus, more commonly known as chasteberry, may help with irregular periods and mood swings. Lavender oil can promote healthy sleep and may reduce hot flashes, headaches and heart palpitations. And rose oil may regulate your cycle, improve mood and reduce hot flashes. Phytoestrogens which are plant based estrogens may also support hormone balance. Try clary sage, fennel, cypress and coriander oils. Parthas RX 1. Speak to your doctor before starting any treatment as some oils are toxic for ingestion and dangerous when used in high doses or over long periods. 2. Follow manufacturers recommendations as oils can vary significantly in concentration. Contact poison … Continue reading →