Diamond Research Foundation a non-profit 501(c)(3)

Building your Vocabulary for Menopause

Vocabulary to Help You Talk About Menopause

Menopause can be a confusing time because words and phrases like hormone replacement therapy or HRT and menopausal hormone therapy or MHT have multiple meanings. Here is list of words to help you understand menopause and help you get the treatment you want and deserve.

Bio-identical Hormones

Hormone preparations which contain hormones that are identical in chemical structure to the hormones that the human body produces. Like all other hormones for use, they are FDA approved and are available pre-packaged and compounded (hand made by a pharmacist into cream, drops, etc.)

Gold standard

The best and most effective treatment for a specific ailment or illness. The most effective treatment for gonadal failure is gonadal hormone replacement.

Gonads

Gonads are endocrine organs, ovaries for a woman, testes for a man. The loss or failure of the gonads affects women and men equally. The gonads are equally important to a man’s and a woman’s health and well-being.

Gonadal failure

Failure of the gonads, ovaries for the woman, testes for the man. Gonadal failure creates menopause.

Gonadal hormones

The gonads make many hormones. Here is a partial list: testosterone, progesterone, estradiol, dhea, and oxytocin. The gonads produce the same hormones in women and men.

Gonadal hormone replacement

Replacement of the gonadal hormones to pre-menopausal levels. Gonadal hormone replacement results in improved, long term health. Gonadal hormone replacement is the most effective treatment for gonadal failure (menopause).

Hormone therapy (HT), hormone replacement therapy (HRT), menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)

These terms are very loosely used to describe different treatments for profound hypogonadism (menopause). It is not recommended to use these terms as they have no set meaning and mean different things to different people. When seeking treatment for hypogonadism, a better term is gonadal hormone replacement.

Hypogonadism

Is the name of the illness that is a result of below normal levels of gonadal hormones. Usually begins at about age 30 in women and men when levels of testosterone and progesterone begin to decline.

Symptoms of hypogonadism

Symptoms are identical for women and men. Loss of sleep, intimacy, muscle tone and stamina, and periodic episodes of profuse sweating, etc.

Menopause

Begins as the ovaries fail or when they have been removed. The medical name for menopause is profound hypogonadism.

Non-physiologic replacement

Hormone preparations that do not contain bio-identical hormones, are not delivered in the healthiest way, and not in the same amounts the body once produced. An example of a non-physiologic hormone preparation is Premarin®.

Peri-menopause

This usually begins at about age 30 when levels of testosterone and progesterone begin to decline.

Physiologic replacement

Replacing hormones in the same amount, in the healthiest way, and with the same chemical structure as the body once made. This is the gold standard of treatment and how insulin, thyroid, growth hormone, and most other hormone deficiencies are replaced. Examples are: creams, patches, drops.

Profound hypogonadism

Complete gonad failure. This is the medical definition of menopause.

Women's Health Initiative (WHI)

National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored clinical trial which tested the effectiveness of Premarin® in the prevention of heart disease. Premarin® is a non-physiologic, non-bioidentical hormone preparation. Premarin® does not result in improved long term health and therefore cannot be considered therapy for the treatment of profound hypogonadism.

Things to remember when you are working with your healthcare provider

• The pre-packaged products are not designed for replacement regimens and compounded products may be necessary.
• Once you start on ovarian hormones you should work with your doctor to adjust your dosage until you are comfortable with the improvements in your sleep, intimacy, thinking, and moods etc.