Hormones Depression and PMS

Total Health | February 15th, 2010

Senior gynaecologists have expressed concern that older women my often be prescribed antidepressant drugs for depressionFeelings of sadness, hopelessness and a loss of interest in life, combined with a sense of reduced emotional well-being that is in fact caused by a change in 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. levels and in circumstances when hormone treatment would be more appropriate. Why, then are so many women treated with anti-depressants when they really require hormone treatment? One possible reason for this is a failure by GPs to look beyond the symptoms, which is exacerbated by continuing fears surrounding the safety of HRTAbbreviation for hormone replacement therapy, the administration of female hormones in cases where they are not sufficiently produced by the body.. However, Professor John Studd Dsc MD FRCOG points out that the latest medical evidence supports the use of HRT, “There are now many randomised controlled trialsStudies comparing the outcomes between one or more different treatments for a disease (or in some instances, preventive measures against that disease) and no active treatment at all (the placebo group). Study participants are allocated to the various groups on a random basis. May be abbreviated to RCT. showing that transdermal oestrogens in a dose of 200 mcgs twice weekly is an effective way of treating this sort of depression”.

Professor Studd points out that this simple medical adjustment can spare so many women so much misery and has transformed women’s lives. He says that patients are often a casualty of the ‘turf war’ caused by psychiatrists insisting that they know best.

The benefits of modern HRT do not stop there, the hormone adjustment will also:

  1. Increase bone density and prevent osteoporotic fractures
  2. Stop hot flushes and sweats
  3. Treat lack of libidoSexual drive. and vaginal dryness
  4. Protect the spine
  5. Reduce risk of heart attackThe death of a section of heart muscle caused by an interruption in its blood supply. Also called a myocardial infarction.
  6. Improve skin texture

For further information – see HRT 10 reasons to be happy.

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Expert articles

Top 10 reasons to be happy about hormone replacement therapy

By Professor John Studd, Consultant GynaecologistContact
  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

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

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

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

There have for about 30 years been a few women's health specialists like Studd and Greenblatt who gave testosteroneThe main male sex hormone. to women for various psycho sexual and mood problems. This was in the form of implants as that was the only preparation licensed for use in women. There are now gels licensed for men which can be used off license in a smaller dose for women and at last a testosterone patch has recently received a license for use in women who have had a hysterectomyThe surgical removal of the uterus (womb). and bilateralOn both sides of the body salpingo oophorectomy.

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