11 Comments
Sep 8, 2023Liked by Dr. Jen Gunter

I appreciate this article so much! Thank you for addressing this topic.

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Sep 8, 2023Liked by Dr. Jen Gunter

Thank you 🫶🏼

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You mention there’s a lot of variability in symptoms. Is it common for there to be almost no symptoms in the transition, but for hot flashes & night sweats, brain fog, anxiety etc to begin 3-4 years after a final period?

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author

Hot flashes and night sweats can start after menopause for many women. 3-4 years is a little on the late side, but certainly not impossible. I'd want to look for other causes as well, such as medication side effects, sleep apnea, and thyroid conditions. Brain fog is more typical of the menopause transition, so again, I would want to look for other causes. However, if someone is sleeping poorly because of hot flashes, that could definitely be a factor. Also, it is important to screen for depression. Anxiety can be related, because it can go along with hot flashes, or could be a separate issue.

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What are your recommendations on liver support and HRT? I was taking a supplement with milk thistle, fennel powder and artichoke for a long time, ( had viral hepatitis with unknown etiology 8 years ago). My LFT’s have been normal for years but I continued to take it. I’ve read mixed things on line whether I should continue taking it or not and my provider was not sure.

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I don't know of any supplement recommended to support the liver, and most liver specialists I know recommend against supplements that make those claims. Supplements are a leading cause of liver damage, so I encourage anyone with liver issues to discuss supplements with their liver specialist.

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*sorry I meant would they have a diagnosis of POI if their FSH x2 6 weeks apart was HIGH (not low as previously stated)

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FSH > 30 mIU/l and estradiol < 20 pg/ml are the typical diagnostic criteria for POI. So if those are the labs, then that would be the diagnosis, and any bleeding wouldn't be menstruation. If those aren't the lab results, then I would look for another cause of the symptoms.

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If a 39 year old has classical symptoms of low/fluctuating oestrogen like hot sweats, dry vagina but regular bleeds would they have a diagnosis of poi if their FSH x2 6 weeks apart is normal? If their FSH is normal in the context of these symptoms what category would they fall in? Thanks!

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I had no idea that this product was on the market. Boy! -- what an easy way for a company to make money! Unfortunately, too many women are going to fall for the bait.

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There are so many non hormonal products as well on the market that strongly suggest that menopausal and post menopausal women will be without any symptoms at all. Good information thanks.

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