Smoking After Menopause May Increase Sex Hormone Levels

A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that postmenopausal women who smoke have higher androgen and estrogen levels than non-smoking women, with sex hormone levels being highest in heavy smokers…

Smoking after menopause may increase sex hormone levels: Elevated sex hormone levels associated with chronic disease …

A recent study found that postmenopausal women who smoke have higher androgen and estrogen levels than non-smoking women, with sex hormone levels being highest in heavy smokers.

Your Bilateral Ovarian Cysts

The ovaries are organs that are a part of a woman’s reproductive system. They are bilateral which means there are two of them with one on each side of the uterus. Sometimes, women develop cysts on one of their ovaries and occasionally, cysts will form on both ovaries at one time. Bilateral ovarian cysts can be different types of cysts just like single cysts.

Like all ovarian cysts, bilateral ovarian cysts can be as small as a pea or larger than a grapefruit. They can be either the same type of cyst or two differing ones. A selection of the common types of cysts are;

• Corpus Luteum Cyst – these types of cyst are the most common. They are fluid filled sacks that appear towards the end of your cycle and then usually disappear without further treatment.
• Hemorrhagic Cyst - This cyst is like the corpus luteum cyst, but instead of being filled with clear fluid, it is filled with blood. Most hemorrhagic cysts burst on their own and the only symptom may be a burning feeling as the content of the cyst leaves the body.
• Dermoid Cyst – This type of cyst contains cells and may be filled with fat or other tissues like hair, bone, and cartilage.
• Theca lutein cysts – these are a rare form of bilateral ovarian cysts that develop during a pregnancy when there is an excess of growth hormone, usually caused by a multiple pregnancy or an excess of the steroid androgen. In rare cases it can also be an indicator of an abnormality within the placenta or development of the fetus.

No one knows exactly why any of these cysts occur and the only difference between other cysts and these is that the bilateral ones occur on both ovaries. When you have more than one cyst on your ovary it is called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – PCOS and this too can be bilateral. These can affect your menstrual cycle, your ability to have children, hormone levels, your cardiovascular system and even your appearance due to the high levels of male hormones that can accompany the condition.

Risk

The majority of unilateral or bilateral ovarian cysts are not cancerous and are actually quite common. Women of any age can get bilateral ovarian cysts ultrasounds have even shown them on female neonates and post menopausal women. But at particular risk are women who are childbearing age. Monitoring the cysts is the only requirement for the majority of cases although some whose cysts have grown particularly large will need to undergo surgery.

While nearly all types cysts are benign and vanish on their own, some types can put at risk your ability to have children. Bilateral ovarian cysts of this type can mean damage occurs to both ovaries and reduces the likelihood of reproducing.

Further testing;
For those that are worried about a possible cancer risk regular blood tests can be used to determine if the protein that is detected in ovarian cancer, CA-125, is detected. However, this test is not specific for cancer and can be positive for ovarian cysts and other illnesses. Depending on the size of the cysts, their appearance on a scan, and whether they change over time may indicate to your physician that other safeguards or tests may need to be made.

Treatment of Bilateral Ovarian Cysts

Conventional medicine says that because the majority of unilateral and bilateral ovarian cysts will disappear on their own within a few months. Unfortunately the majority will reoccur, however, since nearly all of the cysts are benign, there is little concern for the majority of cases.

However there is a natural cure for ovarian cysts that is proven to work with all women and all sizes of cyst. It works to reduce your pain instantly and literally shrink your cyst in 8 weeks. The best part is that it is a permanent solution. Go to Natural Cure for Ovarian Cysts for more information.

A Guide in Surviving Male Menopause for Men and Women

The male menopause or andropause is a condition that all men will go through once they reach a certain age. It is something that everybody should know how to deal with, especially men and their spouse.

This condition is very similar to female’s menopause condition where there are also related symptoms. The cause of andorpause or male menopause is the decline of hormones as they age.

If you think men are spared from menopause, you should think again. The andropause condition or the male menopause condition will eventually affect all men once they reach a certain age. This particular condition is associated with the decline of male hormone levels that occurs at certain age, usually when men reach late 40’s or early 50’s.

The main symptoms of andropause are erectile dysfunction or failure to achieve erection, mood changes, night sweats, constant fatigue or tiredness, and also irritability and depression. Some even said that when men are suffering from andropause, they become more motherly than fatherly. They tend to be focused more on family and friends rather than the natural focus of men on money, career, and power in the early life before the andropausal stage.

Surprisingly, the change isn’t always noticed by men who are going through the andropausal stage. The men’s spouses do notice it and have constantly said that their husbands are going through the menopause.

There will also be physical changes associated with andropause, such as loss of hair in the armpits and axilla, shirking of the testicles, lessening of muscle mass, and also decreased muscle strength.

This change is due to the loss of androgens in a man’s body. Androgen’s is known to be the basic ingredient that makes up masculinity and because of the loss of this ingredient, physical change occurs.

Andropause may cause depression in men and because of their irritability; it may also cause depression in their spouses. This is why it is important for women to know how to deal with andropause and teach their husbands to know how to deal with it too. Here are some ways women can teach their husbands to cope up with the inevitable changes that andropause can cause: