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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
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Menopause |
St. John`s Wort, PhytoEstrogen, or Pempro?01/30/2000 |
I am 43 years old and I am suffering severely from hot flashes. I had this same problem two years ago and because of my age I was afraid of HRT, so I began taking St. John`s Wort and the hot flashes subsided. After about two years, I discontinued the St. John`s and about two months ago I started having periods, hot flashes, and I cannot sleep. These symptoms make me so miserable that I cannot function. I had read about estrogen and decided it wasn`t for me, but now I am not so sure. Both of my physicians tell me it is a wonderful drug, but again, I think I am too young to take it.I have started the St. John`s Wort again, and my friend recommended PhytoEstrogen, a dietary supplement by Solaray. Is it safe to take these two herbs together? What are the dangers of the PhytoEstrogen and/or should I just give up and start on estrogen? I am not overweight and have no family history of breast cancer.
St. John`s Wort (SJW) is thought to be most like an antidepressant rather than something specific for hot flashes. At age 41 your hot flashes may have stopped with or without the SJW. I`m not sure if your periods also stopped then. At 43, and after stopping SJW you are again experiencing periods, hot flashes, and can`t sleep. These definitely seem to be menopausal symptoms, that can occur at age 41 (or even before), and for several years. Phytoestrogens are a group of plant substances that do decrease hot flashes in some women, but there are many types, and I an not sure exactly what is in Solaray. They are also in many foods, such as soy, but also fruits, berries, and beans. Because there are very few studies about phytoestrogens, however, we do not really know about any specific dangers of taking them, with or without SJW. As for estrogen--you wrote Pempro, but I assume you mean Prempro, which is estrogen and progestin--it will help relieve the hot flashes. You apparently have discussed this with your doctor, but it sounds like your main concern may be your age, so you should talk with your doctor about that also.
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Linda A Bernhard, PhD, RN Associate Professor Adult Health and Illness College of Nursing The Ohio State University |
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