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The Book

Managing Your Menopause Type^® Educational Class

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Session One - Redefining Menopause

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Menopause Redefined

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The inherent dangers and failures of a one-size-fits-all model for menopause are evident.

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When we take into account the fact that each woman is unique, with unique biochemistry, unique metabolism, and a unique family history, we are forced to reject any hope of finding a one-size-fits-all therapy that can indiscriminately applied to all women.

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To be fair, some women do quite well on the heavily marketed estrogen tablets, or the heavily

marketed progesterone creams, and some will do well on the up-coming hype to promote testosterone. Yet equally as true is that fact that many woman are harmed when they are subjected to an "estrogen pills for all women", a "progesterone cream for all women" or a "testosterone gel for all women" philosophy.

Looking back, we are troubled to find that women taking estrogen tablets years ago who reported abnormal vaginal bleeding were told to increase the dose. The ability of estrogens to induce endometrial hyperplasia was largely ignored years ago - and cancer was the consequence.

Today I am troubled when I hear women tell me "The progesterone cream was making me fatigued and depressed and I was just told to take more of it." The ability of progesterone to induce insulin resistance (which can lead to diabetes), or depress the nervous system is largely ignored today. What will the consequences be?

Likewise, as important as testosterone is in women's health, we must not allow that hormone to be elevated to the point to which we ignore the fact that it may increase the risk for breast and endometrial cancer, or cause insulin resistance.

The "one hormone for all women" did not work when we tried estrogen. We are already seeing that it does not work for progesterone and can expect the same for testosterone. To expect different calls to mind an old saying:

"One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over,
and expecting a different result."

Sane, compassionate health care requires that every one-size-fits-all model be rejected. By rejecting a one-size-fits-all model of menopause we are left with a new definition of menopause and a wider range of therapies. Even beyond hormones we realize that each woman has a need and a right to determine how she will manage her menopause. Her choices may include lifestyle choices, nutrition, herbs, homeopathy etc. By recognizing that each women has a different hormone needs, as well as different nutritional needs, we redefine menopause and the management of menopause as follows:

"Menopause is a transition that may show up in many different ways.
There are actually 12 different menopause types."

"Treat each woman according to her own menopause type.

Treatment choices must include lifestyle, nutrition,
herbs, hormone precursors and natural hormones."

How much can menopause vary from woman to woman?

In menopause we now recognize that some women may have low estradiol, while others continue to always have adequate amounts of estradiol. We also recognize that while some women truly are deficient in progesterone, other women continue to always have adequate amounts of progesterone. We also realize that while some women have testosterone deficiency, and others have adequate amounts of testosterone, there are some women who have excessive testosterone levels. These various patterns can persist into the seventh decade of life and beyond.

The 12 Menopause Types^®

Therefore, in menopause there are a number of possibilities:

Estradiol & progesterone are both adequate.

Estradiol is deficient.

Progesterone is deficient.

Estradiol & progesterone are both deficient.

Add to those four possibilities the fact that Testosterone may be normal, low, or high and we can understand why there are twelve types of menopause ¹.

The Twelve Menopause Types^®

Normal Testosterone

Low Testosterone

High Testosterone

Adequate
Estradiol,

Adequate
Progesterone

Type 1

Adequate Estradiol,
Adequate Progesterone,
Normal Testosterone

Type 2

Adequate Estradiol,
Adequate Progesterone
Low Testosterone

Type 3

Adequate Estradiol,
Adequate Progesterone,
High Testosterone

Estradiol
Deficiency

Type 4

Estradiol Deficiency,
Normal Testosterone

Type 5

Estradiol Deficiency,
Low Testosterone

Type 6

Estradiol Deficiency,
High Testosterone

Progesterone
Deficiency

Type 7

Progesterone Deficiency,
Normal Testosterone

Type 8

Progesterone Deficiency,
Low Testosterone

Type 9

Progesterone Deficiency,
High Testosterone

Estradiol
Deficiency,

Progesterone
Deficiency

Type 10

Dual Deficiency,
Normal Testosterone

Type 11

Dual Deficiency,
Low Testosterone

Type 12

Dual Deficiency,
High Testosterone

What this means to you

Based on you Menopause Type^®, you may have a unique group of symptoms and unique risks for certain diseases. A deficiency of estrogen, progesterone or testosterone may contribute to osteoporosis or heart disease. An excess of testosterone may contribute to heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Imbalances among the hormones may also be responsible for a wide group of symptoms including hot flashes (flushes), decreased libido, insomnia, or fatigue.

Understanding your Menopause Type^® will help you make informed choices that you can make to enhance the quality of your life and decrease the risk of diseases associated with menopause.

Healthcare Professionals trained in the Management of Menopause Types^® will assist you in enhancing the quality of your life and decreasing the risk of diseases. Use our search page to Find a Healthcare Professional who is Menopause Type^® Certified.

Though your Menopause Type^® is for the most part based on the deficiency of estradiol, progesterone or testosterone, or excess of testosterone, it is also affected by nutrition deficiencies and other lifestyle factors. These other factors will also be presented within this educational class.

What's Next?

This session will now review how hormones may change due to menopause and the various actions of these hormones. It will start with a slide that shows the changes that occur with the hormone estradiol (the most important estrogen).

The Managing Your Menopause Type^® Educational Class is provided to the public without charge. This information is provided for educational purposes only, and is not intended to prescribe treatment. Consult a physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your symptoms or medical condition.

This public education class does not provide physicians, pharmacists or other healthcare professional with the extensive training and ongoing education provided within the Management of Menopause Type^® Program.

The extensive Professional Management of Menopause Type^® Seminar is available to healthcare professionals as a component of the Management of Menopause Types® Program.

Menopause Type^® is a Registered Trademark of YourMenopauseType.com.

Table of Contents

Reference:

[1] - Burger HG. The menopause: when it is all over or is it? Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 1994 Jun;34(3):293-5. Review. [PubMed]

The Twelve Menopause Types®