Do Estrogen Inhibitors really work?

[Warrior_Goddess]

I was diagnosed with Endometriosis back in 2001 and have been off/on the pill and ive been off it for good now for about 2-3 years.  My last 3 cycles have been really bad and Ive realized that this is still all tied to my Endo and thinking I do have an estrogen dominance.
Im considering progesterone cream and possibly the EstroX stuff Ori sells on here and wanted to see if anyone has had any success or results with the Estrogen Inhibitors.

Im going to see my family doctor next week to get a physical and hopefully i can persuade him to do bloodwork on my hormone levels and see whats really going on.  I am keeping my fingers crossed he doesnt try to de-rail me with some stupid response like "I dont think its an issue" because I have been researching this and i really do.
i was almost incapacitated for 3 days during my cycle this weekend and it totally destroyed my fitness goals for working out this weekend and i had to cancel yoga. 

Me.... I would prefer to actually KNOW what my hormone levels are which is why im going to the doc, but if he prescribes a chemical drug i would prefer a natural supplement like the EstroX.

If anyone knows that they work please respond and share your thoughts.  Thanks.

[Warrior_Goddess]

Hi all,
Im assuming there are women here reading the AED threads even though I didnt get any public responses... I just wanted to post an update nonetheless.

Went to my Doc today and he has agreed to do a blood panel on Androgens and my other hormones!
Im soo HAPPY!!!  I discussed my issues with him and Im glad he is the kind of doc who wont blindly prescribe BCP to help with menses.

He also recommended learning the Creighton Model method as this would help in charting my cycle to monitor if i have too low progesterone etc.... and handing this data to him to help with diagnosis/treatment, etc...
It looks really interesting and Im excited to learn this so I can read more of my body's natural signals of where i am in cycles.... 

I had thought of taking progesterone cream but im going to try to wait ... as he said if I take it during part of the cycle where it is not produced by the body, it could interfere with during the time when I should be producing it and this could lead to other problems.

Since Ori's work is based on the daily cycle of the human body and the para/sympathetic nervous system in WD, it totally makes sense to understand and interpret the female cycle to see what the body is really saying.

Here is the site for the cycle method.  Its based on family planning but can help with other female issues.

http://www.creightonmodel.com/ask.htm

[Rachel421]

 thanks for the website goddess!   i have some things going on since starting the program. i never even knew that coagulation in your cycle was a small part of a more systemic issue.   i read these posts at times, but try to keep my trap shut when im sure im only going to display my ignorance on a topic if i flog the blog on it      ill be doing some research on that site you provided. ive been having episodic night sweats for years, so i may be heading for the end of it soon. of course that could take many more years of symptoms so its better to be as educated as possible. one thing wd has taught me, ignorance is not bliss.

[Warrior_Goddess]

Hi Rachel,
So glad to be of help!  Im still a big newbie at Ori's diet and work as well but I am no newbie at digging and researching information 
I have to say that my doctor is a Catholic (I go to CHW Healthcare which is Catholic Health Care) and a year ago i asked him to put me back on BCP to help with my cycles and he would not prescribe it and suggested this before but I never followed through.  In a way I have to truly thank the guy for sticking to his guns and promoting a natural method instead regardless because I feel confident that I am going to benefit much more in the end.  Now I will follow through.  You can take a few classes with a certified instructor which is what Im doing.

If you feel you need to get a hormone testing done.... and if getting testing via blood test or any other thing that you request of your doctor is an uphill battle, make sure you state your case firmly to get them to agree to it.  Do your homework on any symptoms you may have for whatever your issues are and list them off.
example would be... "I have been doing some research and I think I have PCOS because i have facial hair, my periods are irregular, PMS, blah bla bla... and i was diagnosed with X several years ago.  I want to get my hormones tested as well to see if that could be the cause"  You have to be active in self-advocacy.

I know that insurances may sometimes decline it and the doc will come back but you really have to push these jerks to do what's right.  My Mom had an issue where she knew she had Osteoporosis and wanted testing done because she was having a hard time with her bones and her doctor was a real ass and he basically thought it was in her head and brushed it off.  After her complaining for many months he finally did it and lo and behold the tests came up positive.  And this was a doc that used to be my primary care.

If im ignorant about something so be it!  lol  I really dont worry about it... im like a sponge and im always learning something new
I hope my blabbing and sharing info is able to help you.

Anohter thing to keep in mind is your age.  Premenopause is between 35-50 and if you are close or near your mid to late 30s it is good to get in the saddle and get a reading on your hormones and really chart your cycles.
here is another website i found while fishing on google.  there is a link to a hormone profile test.

http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/hormoneimbalance.html

Now I dont own the AED book but supplements you should be taking are:
Omega 3s  (fish oil and/or flax oil)
Evening Primrose Oil
B6
B12 (i think)

dont take my word for it and like you said its true ignorance is not bliss... the net is a great place to find answers.
Good luck and if I feel up to sharing, I'll report back.

[Rachel421]

when we are all out here doing our best to keep our health and happiness together, there is blessings in those babbles! thanks a bunch!!  you know i do have two hairs that have sprouted on my face. my periods were never irregular until this month, that shows how powerful changing your diet is, how important what we put in our mouths is. i need to get both the aed and warrior books and study up. the medical proffesion is full of wonders and assistance, but doctors can really be biased, and some can actually be antagonistic when a patient starts being proactive in their assessments. i know its hard to get through medical school without the drive a pretty strong ego but geeeeez.  ill keep you posted on what i find in my readings that pertain. im a firm believer in case studies being a strong tool in self diagonostics.   i am turning 40 in april, so when you say perimenopause can start at 35 it really drives home how ive been barely eeking by in life, pretending to not have these issues , holding ones hands over ones ears and humming will not make the responsibility lessen.  thanks to ori, the board, im going in the right direction finally!

[mrmojorisin]

No, they don't. There are herbal extracts, and formulations like DIM, Chrysin, I3C, etc. that have been shown in vitro to be anti-estrogenic; however they've also been shown to do nothing inside the body. There are things that you can do to lower estrogens.The daily undereating/overeating cycle, good liver/kidney detox, and avoiding estrogenic foods, and chemicals are the best way to eliminate the negative estrogens. Estrogen/estradiol are only one of many hormones; and to think that certain herbs, or formulas will decrease this particular hormone, and yet not affect the balance of another is comical.

[datay]

No, they don't. There are herbal extracts, and formulations like DIM, Chrysin, I3C, etc. that have been shown in vitro to be anti-estrogenic; however they've also been shown to do nothing inside the body. There are things that you can do to lower estrogens.The daily undereating/overeating cycle, good liver/kidney detox, and avoiding estrogenic foods, and chemicals are the best way to eliminate the negative estrogens. Estrogen/estradiol are only one of many hormones; and to think that certain herbs, or formulas will decrease this particular hormone, and yet not affect the balance of another is comical.

Here is a report (from Dr. Ray Sahelian's site) that backs that up:

http://www.raysahelian.com/chrysin.html (http://www.raysahelian.com/chrysin.html)

[Charles]

I am by no means an expert but my understanding is that a saliva test will show bio available hormones and is thus a better indicator than a blood test in which the hormones are bound to proteins but I could be wrong.

[Theo]

http://growth-hormone-steroids.easylifesas.com/factors-that-affect-testosterone-levels/

i did a search and found a good article.

to sum it up guys,

fat ---> elevated estrogen ---> more fat ---> higher estrogen ----> don't wanna be here



get lean ---> less estrogen/less test coverted to est ---> less fat ----> higher testosterone

----> you get your own theme tune, lots of girls and start advertising sports cars.


and yeah, take care of your liver and it'll take care of you.

[datay]

I am by no means an expert but my understanding is that a saliva test will show bio available hormones and is thus a better indicator than a blood test in which the hormones are bound to proteins but I could be wrong.

A fair point, though if you look at the link the study in question was called 'Effects of chrysin on urinary testosterone levels in human males' - I am probably less of an expert than you (considering I have a very active interest in diet & nutrition my understanding of biology is very limited), but would this be more revealing than a blood test? I imagine so from the point about saliva.