Female Hormones Before And After

How Menstruation Might Feel

Many people feel uncomfortable, tired, and have a negative mood during menstruation. Fortunately, there are lots of medicines and foods that can help with this.

Some people who have intense cramps during their period often use pain-relieving medication. Others apply heating pads on their lower back and abdomen to ease cramping pains.

Your period might last longer than average or be more intense. This is typically nothing to worry about, but its a good idea to talk to a health care provider about it to confirm that there arent any health issues affecting your periods. Dietary changes can help compensate for the loss of nutrients from heavy bleeding.

Usc Doctor Searches For Truth About Hormone Therapy For Women

Hodis is conducting more studies into why hormones might fight brain fog, inflammation and other changes that happen alongside menopause. His newest investigation tests a combination of conjugated estrogen and bazedoxifene, which isnt a hormone but works like one in the body. Hodis believes it could protect against uterine and possibly breast cancer. Participants in the Advancing Postmenopausal Preventive Therapy trial are women aged 40 to 59 within six years of menopause. Half will get the medication, and the other half will receive a placebo. The researchers will follow them for three years and see if the medication reduces atherosclerosis and cognitive decline.

Hodis is hopeful that the results will back up his timing theory and change minds about the benefits of hormone replacement therapy for heart health. Before the Womens Health Initiative study in 2002, 25% of U.S. women were on the treatment. Today, its only about 4%.

53% of U.S. women die from cardiovascular disease.

That has implications for quality of life and longevity, given that 53% of U.S. women die from cardiovascular disease. Hormone therapy also helps prevent bone loss, which is critical for older women. One in 10 women who break their hip after age 70 die.

Week 1 Day 1 To Day : Estrogen Rises

During your Week 1, estrogen starts out at its lowest point and begins a steady climb. For the first day or so of this cycle week, the low level of this hormone combined with period-related aches and fatigue may make you a bit quiet and have you preferring to stay close to home.

However, as estrogen rises throughout this cycle week, this hormone will be boosting your mood, energy and patience and ratcheting up your desire for adventure and to socialize.

You become more and more optimistic and motivated, your verbal skills and memory improve and its easier to absorb new facts and learn new skills.

For some women, these hormone-fueled benefits kick in quickly for others it takes a few days or longer. It depends on your personal sensitivity to hormone fluctuations as well as if youre eating enough iron-rich foods to make up for iron loss as you bleed during menstruation.

Some other effects to look forward to in your Week 1: You have more interest in romance and your libido climbs steadily. As a result, you may seek out ways to meet new people or spend more time with your current partner.

Youre also building more muscle and building it faster when you do resistance exercises, such as lifting weights or using resistance bands, due to rising estrogen.

Rising estrogen also has a slight appetite-suppressing effect, which makes it a bit easier to eat smaller portions and opt for healthier foods.

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Transgender Health Before And After Mtf Hrt

Understanding Physical and Emotional Changes Related to Hormone Replacement Therapy for Transgender Patients

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health provides essential guidelines for the treatment of gender dysphoria in the Standards of Care document.

For some transgender patients, the ultimate goal is plastic surgery. However, this is not the goal for all individuals struggling with gender identity. Instead, most seem to be content with gender affirming hormone therapy.

Regardless of the ultimate goal, what is absolutely essential is to understand what treatments are available and when are ideal times to begin these treatmentsbearing in mind that starting feminizing hormone therapy later than usual is still an option, the same for surgical treatments.

What we hope to achieve with this article is a deeper understanding of the types of changes that can be explicitly expected in relation to feminizing hormone therapy for transgender patients. This can be either for transgender women, gender expansive, or non-binary individuals who seek to feminize their bodies that were assigned male at birth.

Study Selection Quality Assessment And Data Extraction

Each study was initially categorised based on its design and examined for quality in line with the Effective Public Health Practise Project tool. This is a generic tool used to evaluate a variety of intervention study designs and is suitable for use in systematic reviews, having content and construct validity. Based on the EPHPP, six domains are evaluated: selection bias study design confounders blinding data collection method and withdrawals/dropouts. Each domain is rated as strong , moderate or weak , and domain scores are averaged to provide the overall mean rating. Based on the overall mean rating, studies are rated as weak , moderate or strong .

For longitudinal studies, data were extracted to examine changes in LBM, CSA, strength and Hgb/HCT in transwomen taking GAHT. In cross-sectional studies, data in transwomen were compared with data from both cisgender men and cisgender women. The study authors were contacted if there were any questions regarding the presented data. In this regard, authors of the nine studies carried out by the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence were contacted regarding potential overlapping participants and another author was contacted to clarify graphical data content.

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Predicted Hrt Timeline For The Physical Effects Of Hormones For Trans Mentestosterone Timeline: The Changes For Ftm Trans Men

Masculinising hormones induce physical changes that are more in line with a patients gender identity. Transmasculine patients can expect the following physical changes in their HRT timeline:

• growth in facial and body hair
• cessation of menses

The degree and rate of the HRT timeline on physical effects depends in part on the dose, route of administration, and medications used. These are selected in accordance with a patients specific medical goals. and medical risk profile.)

There is no current evidence that response to hormone therapy with the possible exception of voice deepening in transmasculine individuals can be reliably predicted based on age, body habitus, ethnicity, or family appearance. All other factors being equal, there is no evidence to suggest that any medically approved type or method of administering hormones is more effective than any other in producing the desired physical changes.

The degree and rate of physical effects depend in part on the dose, route of administration, and medications used, which are selected in accordance with a patients specific medical goals and medical risk profile.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Update

To learn more about women’s health, and specifically hormone replacement therapy, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health started a large study in 1991 .It was called the Women’s Health Initiative . The hormone trial had two studies: the estrogen-plus-progestin study of women with a uterus and the estrogen-alone study of women without a uterus. Both studies were concluded early when the research showed that hormone replacement did not help prevent heart disease and it increased risk for some medical problems.

The FDA states that hormone therapy should not be taken to prevent heart disease.

These products are approved therapies for relief from moderate to severe hot flashes and symptoms of vaginal dryness. Although hormone therapy may help prevent osteoporosis, it should only be considered for women at high risk of osteoporosis who cannot take non-estrogen medicines. The FDA recommends hormone therapy be used at the lowest doses for the shortest duration needed to achieve treatment goals. Postmenopausal women who use or are considering using hormone therapy should discuss the possible benefits and risks to them with their healthcare provider.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers the following suggestions for women who are deciding whether or not to use postmenopausal hormone therapy:

Always see your healthcare provider for more information.

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Week 2 Day 8 To Ovulation : Estrogen And Testosterone Rise Till They Peak

Estrogen continues to rise all throughout your Week 2 and, as it does, it revs all the positive effects you experienced during your Week 1: Your mood, energy and patience continue to increase, you crave adventure and new experiences and youre happiest when surrounded by lots of people and engaged in conversation.

High estrogen also makes you braver, more confident and ready for a challenge. Youre thinking quickly and learning new facts and skills more easily.

During this cycle week, youre more coordinated and have faster reaction times, your verbal skills peak and youve got a sharper memory.

High estrogen triggers a greater output of pain-masking endorphins in the brain, which means uncomfortable activitiessuch as going to the dentist or getting a flu shotwill hurt less this week than during other weeks of your cycle.

The high level of this hormone is also making you more self-assured about your appearance. In fact, estrogen is actually boosting your attractiveness by prompting subtle shifts in soft tissue that make your facial features slightly more symmetrical.

You tend to be a bit less hungry due to rising estrogens slight appetite-suppressing effect. During ovulation, research shows your appetite drops even further, leading to eating less than during any other time in your cycle. Youll find its also easier to opt for lighter, healthier foods since estrogen increases willpower and revs your motivation to reach good-for-you goals.

What Is A Hormonal Imbalance

Hormones are chemicals produced by different glands and tissues, forming a part of the endocrine system.

Hormones travel to all of the bodys tissues and organs through the bloodstream. They give messages to these organs, letting them know what function to perform and when to do it.

Hormones help regulate a lot of processes in the body. Hormones manage appetite and metabolism, sleep cycles, heart rate, sexual function, general mood and stress levels, and body temperature. Because they affect so many functions, imbalances in certain hormones can lead to uncomfortable symptoms.

A hormonal imbalance occurs when a person has too much or too little of a certain hormone, such as insulin, cortisol, thyroxine, androgens, estrogen, or progesterone. Even slight changes can have a significant effect on your body.

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Hrt For Gender Nonconforming People

Hormone therapy is not only reserved for someone wanting to transition from male to female. In addition, there are options available for those who are gender nonconforming.

With any hormone therapy, clinicians are expected to sit down with their transgender patient and establish the extent of changes that are expected for their gender identity and then come up with a plan for hormone therapy based on these expectations along with the mental health conditions and medical history that the individual faces. In addition, there are some cases where there might be restrictions on what hormone therapy can be administered due to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, blood clots, etc.

Practical Guidelines For Transgender Hormone Treatment

Adapted from: Gardner, Ivy and Safer, Joshua D. 2013 Progress on the road to better medical care for transgender patients. Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity 20: 553-558.

KEY POINTS

• In order to improve transgender individuals access to health care, the approach to transgender medicine needs to be generalized and accessible to physicians in multiple specialties.
• A practical target for hormone therapy for transgender men is to increase testosterone levels to the normal male physiological range by administering testosterone.
• A practical target for hormone therapy for transgender women is to decrease testosterone levels to the normal female range without supra- physiological levels of estradiol by administering an antiandrogen and estrogen.
• Transgender adolescents usually have stable gender identities and can be given GnRH analogs to suppress puberty until they can proceed with hormone therapy as early as age 16.

Hormone regimes for transgender men

1. Oral

2. Parenterally

• Testosterone enanthate or cypionate 50200mg/week or 100200mg/2 weeks
• Testosterone undecanoate 1000 mg/12 weeks

3. Transdermal

• Testosterone 1% gel 2.5 10 g/day
• Testosterone patch 2.5 7.5 mg/day

i.m., intramuscular.*Not available in the USA.

Monitoring for transgender men on hormone therapy:

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How To Get Started On Hrt

Speak to a GP if you’re interested in starting HRT.

You can usually begin HRT as soon as you start experiencing menopausal symptoms and will not usually need to have any tests first.

A GP can explain the different types of HRT available and help you choose one that’s suitable for you.

You’ll usually start with a low dose, which may be increased at a later stage. It may take a few weeks to feel the effects of treatment and there may be some side effects at first.

A GP will usually recommend trying treatment for 3 months to see if it helps. If it does not, they may suggest changing your dose, or changing the type of HRT you’re taking.

Working With Young Trans People & Families

A Family Court of Australia ruling , the medical practitioner and the young person themselves with regard to:

• The Gillick competence of an adolescent or

• A diagnosis of gender dysphoria or

• Proposed treatment for gender dysphoria

Any dispute requires a mandatory application to the Family Court of Australia as per the judgement of Re. Imogen 20206.

Medical practitioners seeing patients under the age of 18 are unable to initiate puberty blockers or gender affirming hormonal treatment without first ascertaining whether or not a childs parents or legal guardians consent to the proposed treatment. If there is a dispute about consent or treatment, a doctor should not administer puberty blockers , hormones or surgical intervention without court authorisation.

Increasing evidence demonstrates that with supportive, gender affirming care during childhood and adolescence, harms can be ameliorated and mental health and wellbeing outcomes can be significantly improved.

Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for trans and gender diverse children and adolescents 7

For trans people under 18 whose parents, carers or guardians will not consent to starting hormones, the Family Court must be involved. Unfortunately, in many cases where parents, carers or guardians do not consent, this may result in a trans person simply waiting until they are 18 to access puberty blockers and hormones, or seeking to access them outside of medical care and oversight.

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What Are The Treatment Options

Hormone replacement therapy is one of the most common treatments of low hormone levels.

For people experiencing menopause, premature menopause, or primary ovarian insufficiency as well as after oophorectomy or chemotherapy estrogen therapy can offer some relief. Estrogen therapy alone is recommended for those who have had a hysterectomy. You can take estrogen in different forms, generally estrogen pills and estrogen patches.

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy A Quick Overview

Gender affirming hormone regimens are common treatments for transgender women. Hormone therapy is divided into two categories: fully reversible interventions and partially reversible interventions.

Fully reversible interventions can generally start as soon as signs of puberty appear. It is, however, advised that puberty persists to Tanner Stage 2 before puberty delaying hormone therapy is started. The purpose for delaying puberty would be twofold. First, it would give adolescents more time to decide whether they want to undergo gender affirmation therapies and stop irreversible changes from occurring while this decision is being made.

This, of course, means that only puberty delaying hormone therapy can take place during this time, and no gender affirming hormone therapy should begin during this time as some of it is only partially reversible.

The WPATH SOC indicates explicitly that hormone therapy needs to be individualized and adapted for each case, as the needs for each person will vary.

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What Other Information Should I Know

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. You should have a complete physical exam, including blood pressure measurements, breast and pelvic exams, and a Pap test at least yearly. Follow your doctor’s directions for examining your breasts report any lumps immediately.

If you are taking hormone replacement therapy to treat symptoms of menopause, your doctor will check every 3 to 6 months to see if you still need this medication. If you are taking this medication to prevent thinning of the bones , you will take it for a longer period of time.

Before you have any laboratory tests, tell the laboratory personnel that you take hormone replacement therapy, because this medication may interfere with some laboratory tests.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

A Totally Level Playing Field

Roberts said there is no way to remove all of an athletes advantages regardless of their gender identity.

People who got testosterone at puberty tend to have narrower hips. If you’re taller and have narrower hips, that gives you an advantage that’s probably not going to change from testosterone blockers or estrogen, he said. On the other hand, we have a lot of elite female athletes who tend to be tall and thin with slender hips and we’re not outlawing them.

Roberts also noted that physical advantages are not the only advantages that some athletes have over others.

LeBron James’ kids have access to the best coaches and the best facilities with the best equipment. They’re going to have an advantage over somebody, he said. And all of those people are still in the same competition.

The IOC last revised regulations for transgender competitors in 2016, removing a requirement for gender-confirmation surgery and lowering the minimum requirement for hormone-replacement therapy for trans women from two years to one.

Currently, transgender men can compete in mens events without any restrictions.

The guidelines, which are employed by most sports federations, also established that trans female athletes must maintain testosterone levels below 10 nanomoles per liter. Thats on the far low end for most cisgender males but higher than average for cisgender women, whose testosterone typically falls between 0.3 and 2.4 nanomoles per liter.

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