Many women are trying to avoid traditional drug therapy when treating menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, depression, sleeplessness, and dry vagina. Hormone replacement therapy with either synthetic or bio-identical hormones can significantly reduce these symptoms however are not without side effects. IF you have female diseases that are reliant upon estrogen like Fibroid tumors, Endometriosis and Adenomyosis [...]
Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy in Women
We recently had a patient in the office who was diagnosed and treated 10 years ago for fibroid tumors and endometriosis. She had experienced early menopausal symptoms of hot flashes and mood swings. At that time her naturopath recommended a bio-identical estrogen supplement. She was told that hormone therapy would NOT have an effect on any [...]
Treating Fibroid Tumors with MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound Therapy
MRgFUS is a relatively new technique in treating fibroid tumors. The MRI technology is used to locate the tumor and ultrasound beams are passed through the skin to ablate or destroy the fibroid. This is a minimally invasive procedure, however long term effectiveness is still being determined. The concern is whether the entire tumor can [...]
Hysterectomy Side Effects
As we approach the end of this decade, I am sad to report we are still performing almost 700,000 hysterectomies annually; 500,000 are for non-cancerous diseases like Fibroid Tumors, Endometriosis, and Adenomyosis. Many side effects associated with hysterectomy are irreversible and/or negative like: bladder incontinence, constipation, hormone imbalance and sexual dysfunction-no desire or feeling, as well as emotional and [...]
Endometriomas and their Symptoms
Endometriomas are pelvic masses or cysts that arise from the ovary. They are often blood filled and have a thick dark chocolate consistency, hence their name “chocolate cyst.” They are made up of abberent endometrial cells that bleed during the monthly cycle, as a result of hormone changes. These cysts are often seen in conjunction with [...]
Alternative Therapies for Womens Health
This past week in the LA Times there was an article in the Health Section regarding the increased reliance upon alternative therapies ie accupuncture, herbs, supplements, massage therapies etc. These therapies can be excellent for treating many ancillary symptoms but often do not get to the core problem behind the diagnosis. Always keep in mind, treating the [...]
Dietary effects on Fibroid Tumors
We have many women come to office asking if there is an association between what they eat and the symptoms related to their fibroids. The answer is absolutely!! Sadly, many of our foods are processed with the use of hormones to enhance growth. These hormones are directly absorbed into the body and become an additive to [...]
INFERTILITY and ADENOMYOSIS
As previously posted, Adenomyosis is endometriosis in the uterine muscle or wall. This is a benign or non-cancerous disease that spreads monthly with hormones. As adeno spreads is damages the uterus effecting the contractility of the cells…..as a result, many women experience miscarriage during the late first into second trimester. This damage to the organ [...]
Reccurance of Fibroid Tumors
I recently had a patient in the office with very large fibroids…she had had two previous myomectomies with her gynecologist and she was wondering why her tumors had returned. Sadly, the recurrence rates for fibroid tumors following surgery can be as high as 60%…the well known fact is that most of these tumors have not [...]
