The Male Perspective of Female Menopause
I think it’s beneficial to “get out of our own heads” once in a while and see the world through different eyes. So let’s shift our perspective to look at menopause through the eyes of a man. Read more
The Three Hormones
Have you ever realized how applicable fairy tales are to real life?
Cinderella was a good person whom others treated badly. But she ended up living happily ever after with the prince.
The slow, steady, methodical tortoise won the race against the inconsistent, impulsive hare.
The Wicked Witch of the West ended up melting to death when she tried to get pretty Dorothy and Toto.
One of my favorites is the story of The Three Bears.
As a nerdy gynecologist, that fairy tale warms my heart because it depicts the real life situation of hormones.
The great thing about that story is that every bear had his or her own thing.
Papa Bear had his own bed, his own chair, his own porridge.
Mama Bear had her own bed, chair, and porridge.
Even Baby Bear had his designated bed, chair, and porridge.
It all just seems so fitting that each bear had tailor-made furniture and bowls that were just the right size. And, obviously, no one else’s things would have sufficed for any of the other bears.
Papa Bear would not have fit in Baby Bear’s bed or chair. And he’d have been hungry with Baby Bear’s portion of porridge.
Mama Bear would not have been as comfortable in Papa Bear’s bed or chair. And she would have felt stuffed to the gills with Papa Bear’s porridge.
And Baby Bear wouldn’t have been as snug or happy in Mama Bear’s or Papa Bear’s bed or chair. Nor would he have liked their porridge.
So you might wonder why The Three Bears reminds me of hormones.
Well it’s because, when it comes to the sex hormones, there’s a hormone for every member of the family.
Papa Bear has testosterone. It’s the male hormone. It makes him strong, hairy, and masculine.
Mama Bear has estrogen. It’s the female hormone. It makes her soft, calm, and feminine.
But wait! Mama Bear has progesterone, also! Does that mean Mama Bear gets two hormones while Papa Bear gets only one?
That’s not fair!
The fact is that progesterone isn’t for Mama Bear. It’s for Baby Bear.
Mama Bear produces progesterone specifically and exclusively FOR Baby Bear.
“Progesterone” literally means “Hormone in support of pregnancy.” (Pro = in support of, Gest = pregnancy, One = hormone)
And the only reason Mama Bear produces progesterone is because she’s the one who gets pregnant with Baby Bear.
So, just like The Three Bears, each of whom had his or her own bed, chair, and porridge, everyone in the family has his or her own hormone.
Estrogen belongs to women. Testosterone belongs to men. Progesterone belongs to babies.
Ahh, fairy tales! There’s a reason they always end up happily ever after.
How to Tell Your Kids About Menopause
Parents often find talking to their kids about puberty a bit awkward or difficult. Likewise, talking to them about menopause can be even more off-putting. But, face it: Most parents want to “have a little talk” before the onset of puberty so that their child knows what’s happening when puberty begins. And wouldn’t it be nice if your kids knew what was happening to you when menopause began?
How to Apply for a Job After Menopause
The fact is that the workplace is inhospitable to menopause. When you think about it, it’s really atrocious. I mean, here we have a situation in which female baby boomers are more numerous than any other age group. They constitute a generation that is the hardest working the world has seen. Read more
Don’t Buck Your Billion Beat Bonus
Have you ever thought about exactly what determines the normal lifespan of an animal? Not on an individual basis, but as a species? I mean, why do dogs of a certain species have a predictable lifespan? And why do rodents live for only a couple of years while elephants and whales live for about 80 years?
“How Am I Supposed To Find ‘Lumps’ In My Already-Lumpy Breasts?”
Sometimes I’m shocked by things that sound like an absolute oxymoron to me. And yet, other people seem to be unfazed by them. I wonder, do they simply fail to really consider how ridiculous the statement is, or do they read between the lines and understand some hidden meeting that is lost on me? Read more
Which Bone-Sparing Substance Wins The Wishbone Contest: Estrogen or Calcium?
What comes to mind when someone mentions the need to prevent osteoporosis? I’ll bet the first thing you think about is calcium. And why is that? I know; it’s because you see commercials and advertisements everywhere about the osteoporosis-preventing effects of calcium. It’s what all your girlfriends talk about. Read more
Menopause As A Hormone Deficiency State
I’ve discovered that I’m not normal. And, as an abnormal person, I don’t always accept things as they normally are. I contemplate lots of things … things that most other people just accept. But I question everything, especially things that don’t make sense to me. Read more
Your Menstrual Life Determines Your Breast Cancer Risk
Breast cancer is one of the greatest fears women have. And they worry about all sorts of things causing breast cancer. Some are within your control; others aren’t. The list of risk factors is long … longer than most women realize. And one of the risk factors about which most women are completely unaware is their “menstrual life.”
“Natural” versus “Synthetic” Management Options for Menopause
Have you ever noticed how people talk about “natural” things? There’s usually an air of superiority associated with that term. It’s as if “natural” things are better than the alternative. And what is the alternative to “natural” anyway? Is everything that’s not natural “unnatural” or “artificial” or “synthetic” or “faux”?
