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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mandy on January 17, 2003, at 12:33:00
I have had severe depression for years, sometimes dx as bipolar. I am on lexapro and seroquel and klonopin. I would like to hear from anyone who is menopausal and has used estrogen supplementation. I am on the estrogen patch(actually dr has me using double patches) and got a testosterone pellet inserted but when I started progesterone cream, I became more depressed and weepy and periods started again. I am 56 and so confused. Does anyone know of any good info on hormone supplementation for depression? I want to just stop the progesterone but everywhere I read states must use to prevent cancer. I guess I am rambling but mostly would like to hear other's experience with use of estrogen and what works and doesn't work. Thanks.. P.S. The testosterone was supposed to help energy but I do not think it is doing much
Posted by IsoM on January 17, 2003, at 16:33:51
In reply to Does estrogen help menopausal and depressed?, posted by Mandy on January 17, 2003, at 12:33:00
Mandy, I'll offer you my experiences & if you can glean anything of benefit to you, all the better.
I'm 53, supposedly in the middle of menopause. I say supposedly as in 1986 I had my uterus & 1 1/2 ovaries removed. I have had no indications at all of being menopausal except for LSH & FSH levels indicating such.
You've probably heard about the estrogen-like activities of certain soy compounds. For almost 30 years, I've eaten soy in the form of soy flour added to all my breads & baking plus soy beans in baked beans, bean salads, & dips like hummus (I use 2/3 chick peas & 1/3 soy beans). I'll also snack on soy nuts which I love, but you need to be careful as they're high in fat! The amount of active compounds in soy milk & tofu is fairly low as they're mostly water.
I attribute no menopausal symptoms to the estrogen effects of the soy in my diet. I'm not certain how beneficial adding soy to someone's diet who's already suffering from symptoms would be. There's conflicting data - perhaps it's due to how much is added or how severe symptoms are. I know my Mom suffered a lot, so my symtom-free menopause isn't something I've inherited.
In fact, about 4 years ago when I went back to university, I didn't have the time to do as much cooking & baking as before & my soy intake dropped. It was then I started noticing some changes such as moods a little more variable, drier skin, beginnings of colds (I never get sick otherwise). When I starting adding soy again, the symptoms disappeared.
After I had my hysterectomy in 1986, I got a post-op infection & my 1/2 ovary shut down completely temporarily. The sudden severe depression I felt was unreal. I'd just crumble over anything, sitting curled in a corner, sobbing uncontrollably. Hormones do have a very strong effect on moods.
In stores (not just health food stores), you can buy soy isoflavones capsules. Why not give them a trial for the time it takes to use a bottle? After that time, you'd get an idea of whether it would help you. What I like about plant estrogens is they have protective properties against many forms of hormone related cancers. I don't know if the capsules have everything the actual soy beans do, but soy beans also have testosterone-like compounds too that have proved helpful in protecting men against prostrate cancers & other testosterone linked cancers.
This is the end of the thread.
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