Category Archives: Hormone Replacement Therapy

Osteoarthritis a disease of joints is reported more among women than men. According to experts, fluid in the knee holds clues why women are more prone to it. They have found in the synovial fluid of this joint, clear differences in the messages cells are sending and receiving via tiny pieces of RNA, called microRNA, in males and females with the common and debilitating condition osteoarthritis. The differences may help explain why the disease is more common in women as it points toward a more targeted way to diagnose and treat this wear and tear arthritis, said Dr. Sadanand Fulzele, bone biologist in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Osteoarthritis, which affects more than 30 million Americans, is fundamentally a destruction of the cartilage that provides padding between our bones. In the past, obesity has also been considered a factor. Its a huge problem, says Dr. Monte Hunter, chair of the MCG Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and a co-author of the study in the journal Scientific Reports. Todays treatment addresses symptoms, like inflammation and pain, and the bottom line for some patients is knee replacement. Synovial fluid is known to provide clues … Continue reading →

Basically, my soul is like male, JakeZyrus told Oprah Winfrey in 2014, then identifying as a lesbian. But Im not going to go through that stage where I change everything. Three years later in June 2017, Zyrus changed his name to Jake Zyrus online and officially came out as transgender. The change brought about massive support across the internet for the formerGlee star, as Zyrus joined the ranks of such transgender celebrities asJanet Mock, Ian Harvie, and Laverne Cox. Of course, Zyrus isnt alone by any means. Trans celebrities are on the rise, and theyre more prominent thanever. Thats because transgender representation is increasing in media, and there are plenty of trans actors, musicians, comedians, and entertainers out there making their work known. Other times, transgender people find themselves thrust into the spotlight thanks to their extraordinary stories. Take Chelsea Manning, Americas most controversial whistleblower in the nations history. Being a transgender woman most certainly changes the mainstream discussion on her actions and treatment in prison. Of course, there are too many trans celebrities out there to list. But here are a few out, open, and proud activists you should know about. Screengrab via Janet Mock/Instagram Janet Mock is one … Continue reading →

The Most Recent Advances in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction Impotence is one of the most common forms of male s*xual dysfunction. In fact, one in every 10 men has a problem achieving and/or sustaining an erection at some point or another. If you have struggled with this yourself, its worth seeking out medical help. Due to advances in this area, there are multiple treatments available that you may find effective. Counseling It is estimated that up to 90 percent of erectile problems have a psychological cause. This encompasses everything from relationships difficulties to performance anxiety even more complex psychological issues. An experienced counselor or therapist can help. You can learn techniques to decrease your anxiety and stress that you may associate with s*x. Your partner may also learn how to help with these techniques. Lifestyle Changes to Eliminate Underlying Causes Erectile dysfunction (ED) is linked to several lifestyle habits that you can modify. ED can be the motivation it may take for you to address these. These changes will reduce your health risks even if you opt for other forms of treatment. Stop smoking. Smoking causes circulatory problems that affect the ability to achieve or sustain an erection. Reduce … Continue reading →

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Breast cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide, and the most common in women. In the United States, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, after skin cancer. Now, new research finds evidence of a link between use of certain hair products, such as dyes and relaxers, and raised risk of breast cancer in women. The study led by researchers from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey is published in the journal Carcinogenesis. In the study, data on 4,285 women taking part in the Womens Circle of Health Study, was analyzed. Of the 4,285 total number of women studied, 2,280 had breast cancer (1,508 black and 772 white women), and 2,005 did not (1,290 black and 715 white women). The womens ages ranged from 20 to 75 years. When they analyzed the data, the researchers found some significant links between raised risk for breast cancer and use of hair dyes and chemical relaxers, or straighteners, and that the patterns of risk differed between white women and black women. For example, for black women, they found that use of dark shades of hair dye was linked to an overall higher risk of breast … Continue reading →

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)-Augusta Pride Weekend 2017 has arrived. This is the eighth annual pride celebration in Augusta, and this year, organizers are hoping between 12,000 and 15,000 people attend the weekend of celebration. Alyssa Fredericks of Thomson came to Beats on Broad, the Friday night celebration at the common, with her girlfriend, andshe says she feels the CSRA is a pretty welcoming place for the LGBTQ community. Its good to be out here with everybody, Fredericks said. Its like a community as one. Even though its a party, some groups are taking advantage of the celebration to offer important health services, includingfree HIV testing. We caught up with a volunteer from the Equality Clinic of Augusta, which is a free student-run clinic for uninsured and underinsured people. A lot of our patients are from the LGBTQ population, said Matthew Luo, who is treasurer of the Equality Clinic of Augusta. Luo says about 70 percent of their patients are transgender people seeking hormone replacement therapy. He says they are one of the only clinics in the region that provides that service to those in need. We have people coming from Charleston, from Mississippi from like Kentuckyall over the Southeast to come, … Continue reading →

The risk of heart attack, stroke or breast cancer due to hormone replacement therapy has been overstated, and that has scared away some women who could benefit from it, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada said at its annual conference in Ottawa this week. The SOGCsays HRT is not the scourge it was once considered to be. "I do think that a generation of women were denied the opportunity to have better health," said Dr. Robert Langer, who spoke at the conference. For decades, HRT was the go-to treatment for women experiencing symptoms of menopause that can include night sweats, insomnia, depression, anxiety and hot flashes,and was even thought to have a protective effect against bone density loss and heart disease. In 2002, however, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) prematurely ended a massive study involving thousands of women when it was discovered HRT failed to protect against heart disease andincreased the risk of heart disease as well as blood clots, stroke and breast cancer. Shirley Weir, founder of the Menopause Chicks website, says most women dont have anyone to talk to about menopause (Shirley Weir/menopausechicks.com) That finding "seemingly turned the world upside down," said Langer, medical … Continue reading →

Brooke Baxa Photo: Human Rights Campaign, via YouTube. The Human Rights Campaign has released a video highlighting the important role that Planned Parenthood plays in providing culturally competent health care to the LGBTQ community. The video, which was launched Friday, is in response to a provision in the Senate version of a Republican-led health care reform effort that would prohibit Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid dollars. Because Senate Republicans plan on using reconciliation to pass the bill, the defunding of Planned Parenthood would only last one fiscal year, as opposed to a permanent ban. But the damage likely forcing several Planned Parenthood clinics to close would be done by the time the prohibition expired. Brooke Baxa, a 22-year old non-binary transgender healthcare advocate, is featured in the video explaining how they were able to get medical treatment through Planned Parenthoods clinic in Denver, Colo. Baxa says they first met other transgender people living authentically through a Planned Parenthood youth conference, which aided them in coming out as transgender and non-binary. In the fall of 2015, after seeking medical care from Planned Parenthood, Baxa began taking hormones, including testosterone, to help with their transition. Baxa also discovered that Planned Parenthood was … Continue reading →

23 Jun 2017 Of all the diseases that afflict people in old age, people fear Alzheimers most. How can they protect themselves? A report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) acknowledges some possible steps, but stops short of issuing concrete recommendations. They base their report on a thorough review of the literature that finds modest but inconclusive evidence that cognitive training, blood pressure management, and regular physical activity prevent or delay cognitive decline. However, the data are still too weak to issue specific guidelines to the general public, wrote the committee of senior scientists led by Alan Leshner, CEO emeritus of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Story Landis, director emeritus of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders andStroke. The evidence has not yet matured to the level that would support an assertive public health campaign, the authors wrote. However, the report does identify those interventions, supported by some evidence of benefit, that should be discussed with [people] who are actively seeking advice on steps they can take to maintain brain health as theyage. Its a very balanced report that truly reflects the level of evidence currently available, said Edo Richard, Radboud University, … Continue reading →

When we age, the body can naturally undergo a gradual decline in some of the hormones it produces, and sometimes we experience a faster reduction when we have underlying health problems. For these health problems, doctors might suggest hormone therapy if safe for you. Usually, women consider hormone therapy treatment after they go through menopause in order to combat the symptoms they endure. Although hormone therapy isnt the right option for everyone, women should consult with their primary care provider in order to find out if its right for them. You may not be entirely knowledgeable about what bioidentical hormones are, and thats okay. Without getting too technical about how theyre made, bioidentical hormones are derived from plants and maintain the same chemical function as natural human hormones. They just come from a different manufacturer, thats all! The same enzymes in your body that process or break down the hormones as part of normal metabolic function can do the same thing for the bioidentical hormones because theyre designed to achieve the same biological responses as natural hormones. When you have hormone therapy that incorporates bioidentical hormones as part of the treatment plan, the proper balance is personalized for you. If … 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 →