Monthly Interview
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Feature Interview & Website for July 2000
Welcome Dr. Joesph Collins and
Your Menopause Type.com
Question:
How did the website and book, "What's Your Menopause
Type?" come into existence?
Dr. Collins:
In the early 90's the symptoms of my patients and
a review of the literature prompted me to request
testosterone as an add-on to the saliva hormone
tests, which were only looking at estradiol &
progesterone at the time.
The significant differences in the symptoms of
individual women experiencing menopause were quite
noticeable. A review of symptoms and lab results
revealed different menopause types. Years later,
after being recruited by different diagnostic
laboratories, I was able to make testosterone a
routine part of salivary menopause testing. In the
mid-nineties I was also able to introduce progesterone
to estradiol ratio analysis (P:E ratio) into saliva
testing as well. Prima publishing had seen my work
and approached me with a request to write a book -
thus "What's Your Menopause Type?" came in existence.
The website is a project my wife, Ann, and I have
taken on to provide readers with an automated form
of the Menopause Type Questionnaire, an ongoing
Questions & Answers section, and a means for women
to connect with physicians and pharmacists in
their community.
Question:
Women face great challenges in finding effective,
low side effect hrt or nhrt and appropriate testing,
what can we do as consumers to help change this?
Dr. Collins:
The changes that are needed in the management of
menopause can all be summed up in two words:
"Redefine Menopause."
I believe women must all make a conscious effort
to redefine menopause - there are twelve types of
menopause, and recognizing the type will determine
which therapy to choose. Women must make it clear
that the "one-size-fits-all" approach to menopause
is no longer acceptable. By pointing out that
estradiol, progesterone and testosterone work
together to maintain optimal health, a woman can
change the way in which she is tested, and the
way she is treated.
It is important to always test all three hormones.
The old myth that hot flashes and depression mean
that a woman needs estrogen has given way to the
fact that a deficiency of testosterone in women
can cause hot flashes and depression. And low
progesterone has also been associated to hot flashes.
Women should never allow any hormone to be promoted
as completely safe for all women, because in truth,
no hormone replacement therapy is without risks. By
adopt an educated and unbiased approach to HRT &
NHRT we can avoid the mistakes that were made
forty years ago when women were told estrogen was
completely safe for all women.
Do not settle for second rate lab tests. Hormones
always fluctuate a bit from day to day. A single
blood test of all three hormones is only useful
if sex-hormone-binding-globulin (SHBG) is also
tested. Single saliva tests are clinically
useless. Choose a lab that tests estradiol,
progesterone and testosterone once a day on at
least three different days. I would never base
hormone replacement therapy on a single saliva
sample, or a blood test without SHBG.
Instead of using a larger dose of one hormone,
women can do better on lower dosages of mixed
hormones. In the recent past if a woman on
estrogen still had hot flashes she was given more
estrogen until her symptoms went away.
Now there are combination hormones that include
lower dosages of both estrogen and testosterone.
The increased availability of compounding
pharmacies allows even greater customization.
Support local health care professionals. Work with
local physicians and pharmacists. Encourage your
friends to use physicians and pharmacists who
recognize that there is more than one type of
menopause. Encourage those physicians and
pharmacists to sign up for free on
Let loyalty to these professionals be their reward
for taking time to treat women as individuals.
Question:
Where can we purchase your book?
Answer:
To really support local community health care I
would advise asking local bookstores and
pharmacies to make the book available. If you
can not find it locally, go to the website
www.yourmenopausetype.com and click on the
link below the book to take you into an
on-line bookstore.
I wish You Well,
Dr. Joseph. J. Collins
Email:
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opinions or recommendations with respect to
your symptoms or medical condition.
Created: 06/15/00
*Disclaimer-This information is not intended to be
a substitute for professional medical advice. You
should not use this information to diagnose or
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consulting with a your health care provider.
Please consult your health care provider with any
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© 2000 Jeannah McElroy. Copyright
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Your Menopause Type-Dr. Joe Collins
June 2000 Interview-Woman's Diagnostic Cyber-Dr. Rick Jelovsek
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