Thank you for requesting my eBook Estrogen and Progesterone – How to take it, which one to choose. It explains about HRT, low estrogen, high estrogen, what is estrogen, where can I get estrogen and more. As a bonus, you automatically will receive our monthly newsletter with practical advice you can implement right away. Please feel free to contact us at info@doctorseibel.com.
Click here to download your FREE eBook
I have been extremely HOT since 38 yo. I will be 63 next month and have not changed. I went on estrogen at 44 daily. Tried to get off 3 times. One time as long as a year, but one hot flash after another all day/night long. I am so embarrassed around people sweating and being totally miserable. I have to take a fan to any job I go to and everyone thinks I am crazy. All doctors I have addressed this to say they don’t have an answer. Do you have an answer for me Dr. Seibel. P.S. My mom is 85 and still on estrogen. Se started at 37 yo. Thanks so much for your help.
Sorry you are having such a problem. About 40% of women have difficulty coming off of estrogen and their symptoms return. The best way to come off of it is very gradually. It can take months to do it and you have to work with your doctor closely. Exercise, meditation, yoga and alternatives to estrogen can be helpful. You can find more about that in my eBook the Menopause Handbook or in my book The Soy Solution for Menopause. Choosing the right foods and lowering stress and getting enough sleep also help.
The good news is that if you have been on it for as long as you say and keep the dosage as low as you can tolerate it, there might not be a strong need to come off of it. Talk with your doctor about your concerns and if it is safe for you to stay on it.
Mache Seibel, MD
Dr Seibel. Please I need some studies on Coronary heart disease and HRT I’m 57 and having hot flashes like crazy! I had heart attack 7 years ago and a 5 way open heart bypass. My cardiologist says absolutely no to HRT. Primary care doc says no. gynocoligist and sleep doc (because I hardly sleep at night) say yes – that HRT outweighs the risks whe I’m having such a miserable hot flashing life and can’t sleep. Can you point me to some studies? Also what is your opinion ?
Hi Cathy,
You have a very challenging situation. The doctors who know you are likely in a better position to comment on the risk/benefit of taking HRT for you. There is an increased risk of heart attack with HRT in general. But there are things you can do that often help reduce the hot flashes for many women. One simple thing is to ask your doctor to check your vitamin D level (get a 25-OH vitamin D). Low levels are very common and if yours is low, it can increase your risk for heart disease, breast cancer, brittle bones and hot flashes. You might feel much better correcting that by simply taking a supplement. There are videos on this at http://www.doctorseibel.com/menopause/. Other non HRT approaches include drinking plenty of water daily (8 glasses or more); getting daily exercise (walking 30 minutes is great); getting into a yoga class; learning to meditate and doing that daily – even 1 to 5 minutes at first and work your way up to longer. Stress reduction is another great non HRT way to reduce hot flashes. Avoid caffeine, spicy foods and alcohol. Carry a cool wipe. Herbal approaches include black cohosh and soy (50 to 100 mg of the soy isoflavones in a capsule or 25 to 40 grams of the protein in a smoothie or in your food. iCool is a non soy isoflavone. Flaxseed 1-3 tablespoons on cereal in the morning. There are also prescription meds that are not HRT such as the SSRI antidepressants [Effexor, although there is also evidence showing that paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR) and fluoxetine (Prozac) can be effective in controlling hot flashes], the anti-seizure medication Neurontin (gabapentin), and the antihypertensive medicine clonidine (catapres) have all been used in situations like yours. There are many alternative options in my book The Soy Solution for Menopause from Simon & Schuster. Also, women who are thinner have less hot flashes than women who weigh more. All of these approaches have helped different patients who either cannot or will not take HRT and have low estrogen. Talk with your health care providers and get them to work with you find what will work for you.
I hope this is helpful to you.
Mache Seibel, MD
I have been using bioidentical continuous HT in the form of cream for the past 4 months. The results have been good. I am wondering what length of time is safe for HT treatment?
Thank You for making this information available.
Hi Monique,
If a woman has a uterus, it is necessary to take progesterone for 10 days along with estrogen, even if it is bioidentical estrogen, at least two to four times each year. If a woman does not have her uterus (had a hysterectomy)) she does not need to take progesterone along with the estrogen. In that case, it is important to talk with your doctor to see how long to stay on the estrogen. Most studies suggest that up to 5 years does not increase the risk for medical problems. But it depends on a person’s personal history as to whether these general statements are accurate and how safe it is to stay on the estrogen for a longer window of time.
Glad to hear you are getting good results.
Mache Seibel, MD
Dr. Seibel,
Thank you in advance for commenting on my concerns.
After vising a doctor for pelvic pain, I was told I had sufficient Estrogen but no Progesterone. He referred me back to my primary after finding no cancer, but an inflamed vein.
They gave me the results but made no suggestions. I have been self medicating with Progesterone cream. I feel great and at 57 and one year without menstruating have very minor and occasional hot flashes and no other symptoms.Is this safe. I follow Dr. john Lee’s recommendations.
Hi Michelle,
It sounds like you are doing very well on what seems to be an over the counter progesterone cream. So that is good. Those creams have very low levels of Progesterone and in general are believed to be safe. What I cannot comment on is what is causing your pain or what is the significance of “an inflamed vein.” The best bet is to call the doctor who told you that and get a better understanding of what it means and its significance.
Been on HRT (Premarin .625 mg.) for about two-three months due to atrophic vaginitus, according to a recent ultrasound at my OB/Gyn. I tried to do this over a year ago,using Estrace from same doctor and found the Estrace(.01mg) better tolerated.With the Premarin I get itching, and one or two hives about 24 hrs. after I take a bi-weekly dose…I only quit the Estrace first time because it was so expensive!(I have no health insurance and only Medicare A, retired, 67 yrs old). Now I’m faced with refilling the current RX and I’m hesitating, again,due to finances and the slight reaction. Would like to switch to a progesterone cream I used for hot flashes in my 50′s and also return to use black cohosh, which I tolerated quite well. What would be your take on this, and how can I taper off on the new RX to the herbal way? Thanks for your website. It has been most helpful.
Hi Patricia,
I’m a bit unclear about your comment. I’ll assume you are using the Premarin as cream in your vaginal area and not pills by mouth. The oral route is good for hot flashes but not so good for atrophic vaginitis. But people usually don’t need an ultrasound to see atrophic vaginitis. It can be seen and often a pea sized bit of premarin cream or estrace cream to the outer vaginal area and/or a similar amount inside will make a huge difference taken 2-3 times/week. Some women use Estrace pills in the vagina for this purpose. A tube of estrogen cream should last a long time. For the hot flashes, talk with your doctor about how to taper off the premarin if it is oral.It can take 2-3 months. Progesterone cream and black cohash can and does work for some women. Work with your doctor to find a “recipe” that is good and affordable for you. Also over the counter Replens cream helps many women. No hormones. Use daily for 10 days then 2-3 times per week.
Glad the website is helpful. Let your friends know about it if it would help them.
I’m only 43 but hot flushes have been stalkering me since I was 39. I really enjoyed your book because it explained a lot of things about this phenomenon. I wish I could have an online version of your book, can I download it using winrar download free ?
hi how are u?…I’m Jocelyn A.41yrs old..i had already a tubal ligation since 2003…I heard about estrogen,but I’m afraid to take this medicine because of what Ive seen in you tube…some say that this is cancerous and some says this is good for your body and sex drive……but I’m interested in this medicine because I watch in you tube also she said that your breast will increase and your body also will gain weight…I’m thin and have small breasts…I’m afraid to go surgical for my breasts to increase….i hope you can help me…and if what is synthetic estrogen and right estrogen i will take?…Can you please send me message….really i want to take this estrogen to increase my body and breast…..
i would really appreciate your help…..
thank you so much…
Respectfully yours;
Jocelyn A.
I’m 45 years old and have had night sweats for years. No changes in monthly cycles, really, other than lately they are coming about a week early and about twice a year I have an extremely painful very clotty one. About two and a half years ago I starting having an extreme itch in the genital area. It sort of came and went. I thought maybe it was a sudden allergy to feminine hygiene products but after trying different kinds and chemical free with no relief I’ve pretty much ruled it out. Over the last couple of months it’s gotten unbearable. It’s a pretty much constant very persistent tingly sort of itch that reminds me of the eczema that I get. It’s impossible to ignore and very difficult not to scratch bloody raw. Of course, no health insurance and being currently unemployed are keeping me from a doctor’s office. I’m wondering if there is something natural/herbal that could help. I’ve tried hydrocortizone, apple cider vinegar and thinking it was dryness, Vaseline.
That would be hydrocortizone, not hydrochloride.
Hi Dr Seibel, I was so happy when I came across your information on vaginal dryness. I am having such a hard time with intercourse for a while now and it is very fraustrating for me. My husband of 23 years is so sweet and caring, but I am going nuts. I went to see my doctor a few weeks ago because I had enough of hot-flashes(10 yrs) she prescribe for me ESTRADIOL to help combat my hot flashes. Can I also use Replens and another lubricant with this medication? I really need to get my sex life back.