Bitten by a wolf: observe Lupus Awareness Month with Lunch4Lupus

Total Health | October 3rd, 2011

Lupus is an uncommon autoimmuneAny condition caused by the body’s immune response against its own tissues. disorder with a variety of symptoms including skin rash, fatigue, swollen joints, muscleTissue made up of cells that can contract to bring about movement. pain and headaches. It has a number of related symptoms and complications including miscarriageThe spontaneous loss of pregnancy. and depressionFeelings of sadness, hopelessness and a loss of interest in life, combined with a sense of reduced emotional well-being. The NHS states that 90% of sufferers are female and between the ages of 15–50, with Afro-Caribbean being the most likely to develop the condition.

October is Lupus Awareness Month in the UK and Lupus UK is encouraging the public to ‘Lunch4Lupus’with the aim of collecting donations for the society from your family and friends. Hospitals around the country are being ‘adopted’ by Lupus UK who will be posting leaflets and manning information stalls.

Lupus can be triggered by a number of factors including puberty, menopauseThe time of a woman’s life when her ovaries stop releasing an egg (ovum) on a monthly cycle., childbirth and sunlight; indeed, avoiding sunlight can be a treatment for some kinds of lupus. Other treatments include NSAIDsA group of drugs that provide pain relief and reduce inflammation., corticosteroidsA group of hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys. and immunosuppressants.
 

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Expert articles

HRT: The Breast Surgeon's Perspective

By Professor Kefah Mokbel, Consultant Breast SurgeonContact
St George's Hospital, The Princess Grace Hospital

It is my opinion that women with breast cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. should avoid using HRTAbbreviation for hormone replacement therapy, the administration of female hormones in cases where they are not sufficiently produced by the body. (except vaginal oestrogenA hormone involved in female sexual development, produced by the ovaries. creams) for at least two years after diagnosisThe process of determining which condition a patient may have.. The development of new drugs to reduce the risk of bone loss or osteoporosisA condition resulting in brittle bones due to loss of bony tissue. (such as bisphosphonatesA family of drugs that prevent the break down of bone by cells called osteoclasts. and raloxifene) and treat hot flushes (such as venlafaxine and gabapentin) should minimise the need for these women to use HRT.

Taking care of early pregnancy

By Mr Colin Davis, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

Early pregnancythe period from conception to birth is a critical time in a woman’s life when many changes occur. It is a time of uncertainty with reassurance of a normal pregnancy of paramount importance.

Top 10 reasons to be happy about hormone replacement therapy

By Professor John Studd, Consultant GynaecologistContact
London PMS & Menopause Clinic
  1. HRTAbbreviation for hormone replacement therapy, the administration of female hormones in cases where they are not sufficiently produced by the body. will stop your hot flushes and sweats
  2. Oestrogens will treat vaginal dryness and many causes of painful intercourse and lack of libidoSexual drive.
  3. HRT increases the bone density and prevents osteoporotic fractures
  4. HRT protects the intervertebral discs
  5. HRT does reduce the number of heart attacks
  6. Oestrogens help depressionFeelings of sadness, hopelessness and a loss of interest in life, combined with a sense of reduced emotional well-being in many women
  7. HRT improves libido
  8. HRT improves the texture of the skin
  9. "I am a nicer person to live with"
  10. HRT is safe

Expert advice on hormone replacement and HRT

By Professor John Studd, Consultant GynaecologistContact
London PMS & Menopause Clinic

A nightmare of the future is that postmenopausal women with hot flushes, depressionFeelings of sadness, hopelessness and a loss of interest in life, combined with a sense of reduced emotional well-being, sexual problems and low bone density, who need oestrogens perhaps with testosteroneThe main male sex hormone., will be given a SSRIAn abbreviation for selective seratonin re-uptake inhibitors, a relatively new class of drug used to treat depression and bisphosphonate combination.  PROFOX , a Frankenstein combination of PROzac and FOsamaX. As these two drugs are now available as cheap generics they are already being prescribed together. 

Why women need HRT

By Professor John Studd, Consultant GynaecologistContact
London PMS & Menopause Clinic

There has been much controversy about hormone replacement therapyThe administration of female hormones in cases where they are not sufficiently produced by the body. Abbreviated to HRT. (HRTAbbreviation for hormone replacement therapy, the administration of female hormones in cases where they are not sufficiently produced by the body.) since the initial publication of a Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study in 2002. This study linked HRT with an increased risk of heart disease, strokeAny sudden neurological problem caused by a bleed or a clot in a blood vessel. and cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body..  However, in later publications by the same authors it is clear that they realise methodological errors. These errors were around the over dosage to older asymptomatic women (women with no symptoms), and they have as a result retracted much, but not all, of the bad news. The major reported side effects occurred in the 22% of women over the age of 70. 

Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy FAQs

By Professor John Studd, Consultant GynaecologistContact
London PMS & Menopause Clinic

The menopauseThe time of a woman’s life when her ovaries stop releasing an egg (ovum) on a monthly cycle. is a term that merely refers to the cessation of periods, for most women this occurs around the age of 51. The first important time is the five or ten years around the time of the menopauseThe time when a woman's periods permanently cease. when the worst of the symptoms occur. This is known as the ‘transition’ years leading up to the cessation of periods. After the transition years there are then often problems of vaginal atrophyWithering or weakening of a body tissue due to disease or disuse., painful sexual intercourse (dyspareuniaPain experienced by a woman during sexual intercourse.) and of course loss of bone tissueA group of cells with a similar structure and a specialised function. (osteoporosisA condition resulting in brittle bones due to loss of bony tissue.).

Women on Testosterone

By Professor John Studd, Consultant GynaecologistContact
London PMS & Menopause Clinic

There is often a delusion amongst patients that testosteroneThe main male sex hormone. is a male hormoneA substance produced by a gland in one part of the body and carried by the blood to the organs or tissues where it has an effect.. It is a normal female hormone but it is not always understood that in healthy young women it is present in 10 times the level as oestradiol. Similarly there are many more Androgen receptor sites in the female brain than oestrogenA hormone involved in female sexual development, produced by the ovaries. receptors. Androgen levels begin to decline at the age of 20 and by the time of the natural menopauseThe time of a woman’s life when her ovaries stop releasing an egg (ovum) on a monthly cycle. the levels are much reduced. Everyone is aware that oestrogen levels fall with the menopauseThe time when a woman's periods permanently cease. but there is also a 50% fall of testosterone after a natural menopausalRelating to the menopause, the time of a woman’s life when her ovaries stop releasing an egg (ovum) on a monthly cycle. and a 75% fall in testosterone after bilateralOn both sides of the body oophorectomy.

Recent news

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Sex hormones raise risk

Total Health | October 24th, 2011

Post-menopausalRelating to the menopause, the time of a woman’s life when her ovaries stop releasing an egg (ovum) on a monthly cycle. women with elevated levels of oestrogenA hormone involved in female sexual development, produced by the ovaries. and testosteroneThe main male sex hormone. have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. 

Does curry bring on labour?

Published October 14th, 2011 | Last updated October 14th, 2011

The scientific evidence on the theory that curry induces labour is sparse to say the least. Numerous methods of inducing labour have been suggested over the years but do they have any basis in fact or are they all a coincidence?

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