PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome) refers to a group of physical and emotional symptoms that a woman may experience in the week or so leading up to the beginning of her menstrual cycle (when she starts menstrual bleeding) and subsides within a few days of menstruation.  

There are two types of estrogen therapy, local estrogen therapy and systemic estrogen therapy.

When it comes to hormone balance, the goal is to achieve “Goldilocks” hormone levels ~ that is, not too much, not too little, just right levels of hormones.  Each woman is unique, which means she will thrive and feel best when hormones are at her own unique “Goldilocks” levels. 

80% of women will experience hot flashes, flushing, and night sweats as they transition through the menopausal years. The medical community refers to these symptoms as vasomotor symptoms or VMS.  The hypothalamus triggers hot flashes and night sweats in the brain to release heat built up in the body in response to a surge of adrenaline, one of our stress hormones.  While the sudden drop in estrogen is thought to be the primary trigger of the cascade that causes a hot flash, high cortisol, low cortisol, low progesterone, or low serotonin can also be drivers for hot flashes.  

Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone modulate different aspects of brain function through several pathways initiated ONLY after hormones bind to receptors on our brain cells.

If you’re going through perimenopause or menopause, you’ve probably heard conflicting messages about estrogen—some that spark curiosity and others that fuel fear. It’s no wonder many women feel uncertain about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), especially if they have a personal or family history of breast cancer. But let’s look at how the “war on estrogen” came to be and why a more nuanced understanding can make all the difference.

Weight changes in perimenopause and menopause are common and the result of several factors

No one knows for sure what causes breast cancer to develop, although cancer stem cells (a kind of cell that has nothing to do with estrogen) are thought to play a role. Cancer causes are multifactorial and related to many issues, including inflammation, stress, exposure to radiation, viruses, chemicals, and other factors.