Archive for the ‘Hormone Clinic’ Category

When Tyler Wilson came home after his deployment in Afghanistan in 2005, he was paralyzed from the waist down. He had been shot four times and still had a bullet lodged in his spinal cord.

Ten years later, when he and his wife, Crystal, decided to start a family, they needed medical assistance. But insurance didnt cover their surgical or hormone treatments. Neither did the Veterans Administration.

They basically said, thank you for your service, Tyler said, but youre on your own for this one.

When they got the bill for the first round of treatment, it was $40,000. Four rounds of treatment, and thousands of dollars later, they have two boys Matthew, 3, and 6-month-old Michael.

The Wilsons now are trying to make sure other people dont have to struggle so hard financially to start a family, working with lawmakers and other individuals to get The Colorado Building Family Act passed at the state Capitol.

House Bill 1158 would require insurance companies to cover the most effective treatment for infertility, called in vitro fertilization (IVF) where the egg and sperm are fertilized in a lab then transferred into the uterus. The expanded coverage would also include the harvesting and freezing of eggs and sperm for people undergoing medical treatment that threatens fertility, such as chemotherapy.

Income should not be a barrier for becoming a parent, said Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat who is helping lead the charge on the bill. The treatment is out there, we just have to make it accessible and affordable.

The bill passed unanimously in the House Health and Insurance Committee on Wednesday, after hours of testimony from individuals and couples including the Wilsons who struggle with infertility, and the hefty costs associated with its treatment.

No one spoke out against the bill, though a handful of insurance companies are monitoring the bills outcome.

Amanda Massey, executive director of the Colorado Association of Health Plans, a trade group that represents insurance companies, says her organization is neutral on the measure, but warned that the expansion of coverage will likely increase insurance premiums.

We are really just here to remind legislators that this has a cost, Massey said, adding that this bill would impact approximately one third of Colorado health plans.

A data analysis done by Californias Health Benefit Review Program for Californias State Legislature last year estimated that including IVF treatment in insurance coverage would increase individual monthly premiums by $2.76 for the state plan and $3.72 for the small group market.

But similar data appears to be lacking for Colorado.

Since the 1980s, 16 states have passed laws that require insurers to cover fertility diagnosis and treatment, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In Colorado, insurance companies are required to cover X-rays and diagnostic lab procedures related to infertility. Insurance must also include coverage for artificial insemination, with the typical procedure being intrauterine insemination (IUI) where sperm is inserted directly into the uterus by a doctor.

A woman under 35 has only a 25% chance of getting pregnant from IUI, after three rounds of treatment. For women over 40, that drops down to a 15% chance, according to Dr. Sara Barton, an infertility expert at the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine.

So its largely an ineffective treatment, but its the one that insurance companies will cover, Barton said during testimony. IVF, she said, has a 65% success rate on the first round of treatment.

So I definitely understand the fact that premiums may go up a little bit. However, what I want to educate people on is the fact that, because insurance is not covering it, there are long-term, downstream costs that are causing riskier health decisions for both moms and babies, Crystal Wilson said.

The bill also aims to help individuals undergoing medical treatment like chemotherapy have biological children in the future by preserving eggs and sperm.

If this was covered by insurance, I would have been able to have kids, said Carley Rutledge, a 25-year old film producer based in Denver who spoke in support of the bill. Rutledge was diagnosed with bone cancer when she was 16, but was unable to preserve her eggs before receiving chemo.

Around 2,000 people in Colorado between the ages of 15 and 44 are diagnosed with cancer each year, according to Dr. Leslie Appiah, a doctor who specializes in infertility and reproductive health problems at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

For males under 18, 66% of them will experience difficulty with testicular function after cancer treatment. And 40% of women from ages 18 to 39 will be less likely to conceive after cancer treatment.

For state Rep. Kerry Tipper, a Democrat from Lakewood who is also sponsoring the bill, the topic is deeply personal.

Tipper and her husband have been trying to get pregnant for over four years.

Weve always envisioned being parents. The house we bought, the life weve built everything has centered around us building a family, Tipper said. And to know that that might not happen was devastating. But we have hope, because the majority of people that get treated have success and we are really good candidates for the treatment.

Last session, Tipper had three artificial inseminations. And so far this session, shes had two more. She says her experience has been hard to talk about and it has left her feeling isolated.

But these are issues that can be overcome a lot of the time, she said. And a lot of times, its just an issue of cost. And to me, its unfathomable that you have someone with a medical diagnosis and they cant access a cure because of the cost. And we know that in other states thats not an issue.

To help pay for their infertility treatment, the Wilsons created a GoFund me account to pool money from friends, family and sympathetic strangers. And they applied to a handful of grants, two of which they received. But still, the fertility treatment for their first son cost them $14,000 out of pocket. To conceive their second child, it took three more rounds of treatment.

Read more health stories from The Colorado Sun

Tipper says she and her husband havent encountered the cost barriers that a lot of people face. They have health coverage through her husbands company, which is based in Massachusetts, where insurance companies are required to cover infertility treatment.

And even though we have insurance, we still pay a lot of money out of pocket for it, she added.

What I realized early on is that what people do when they dont have insurance coverage is they go into debt. They get second mortgages on their house. They max out their credit cards. They work three jobs. All so they can have a family, said Tipper.

Which adds a lot of stress, and makes it even harder to get pregnant, she says.

Infertility is also still a really stigmatized topic, Tipper said. We dont talk about it a lot, and it can be so isolating for people.

She said when she started drafting the bill, she was overwhelmed by how many individuals reached out to share their difficult fertility stories.

Weve had [legislative] aids telling their representatives that theyve struggled with this issue and representatives who have shared in confidence with us that they struggle with this too, Tipper said.

There are so many people, even in this chamber, that have been impacted by this issue.

The Wilsons frequently speak about their struggles with infertility and the lack of insurance coverage for such. In 2016, they traveled to Washington to lobby Congress to include IVF treatment in military insurance coverage.

The VA now covers some infertility treatment, but the criteria couples have to meet is stringent, Crystal said. The Wilsons were denied and had to appeal their case nine times before they finally received assistance from the VA for treatment to have their second son. But the IVF failed, and they had to do the process again at a different clinic.

We want to make sure that anybody that is diagnosed with infertility after us dont have to fight like we did, Crystal Wilson said. We dont want other people, years or generations down the line, to have to fight the same fight.

Crystal said that the conversation at Colorados Capitol on Wednesday felt different.

The fact that every single representative on the committee voted in favor of the bill was, honestly, to my recollection, has never happened in any other state, and in D.C., it definitely didnt happen, Crystal Wilson said.

Rep. Perry Will, a Republican from New Castle, choked up while trying to express his support for the bill. My grandkids are the most important thing that God gave me, he said.

Later, he shared with The Colorado Sun that his daughter struggled for years to get pregnant. And fertility treatment helped give him a grandchild. Now he has three.

Infertility is a bipartisan issue, Will said. It impacts everyone. Its about family.

The bill now heads to the House Appropriations Committee for its next hearing. If signed into law, the legislation would take effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

Updated at 8:05 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2020: This story was updated to correct attribution of a quote. Dr. Sara Barton, testifying about the effectiveness of artificial insemination techniques, said So its largely an ineffective treatment, but its the one that insurance companies will cover.

An earlier version of the story also misidentified the home cities of two lawmakers, Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat from Denver, and Rep. Perry Will, a Republican from New Castle. Also, the status of House Bill 1158 was described incorrectly. It next heads to the House Appropriations Committee.

This reporting is made possible by our members. You can directly support independent watchdog journalism in Colorado for as little as $5 a month. Start here: coloradosun.com/join

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One in eight people struggle with infertility. Colorado lawmakers want insurance to cover treatment - The Colorado Sun

So many noticeable things happen when you lose weight your clothes fit better, you have more energy and you may even feel more confident. But what is actually happening inside your body when the scale ticks down?

The benefits of losing 10 pounds go far beyond appearance.

Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

Well, quite a lot, as it turns out. And these positive changes might start sooner than you think. In fact, when you lose just 10 pounds especially if you're overweight it can kickstart a whole host of bodily shifts toward better health.

To fully understand the biology of weight loss would take the equivalent of 30 semester hours. To save you the trouble of enrolling in university, here's a brief explanation of what's really happening in your body during the early stages of weight loss and the benefits of losing 10 pounds.

You gain weight when you eat more calories than your body needs to support its basic functions think: respiration and digestion and energy output, including exercise. Your body converts these excess calories to fat and stores it in your fat cells for later, just in case there's a shortage.

When that shortage doesn't come, and when you continue to exceed your calorie needs, more and more fat is stored in your fat cells, which begin to grow larger and larger. This is the reason your pants seem to get smaller and smaller.

But when you start to lose weight, the opposite happens.

"Dieting produces a condition of negative energy balance, where energy in is less than energy expended. The body must then use stored energy to survive, which primarily comes from our fat cells," Joseph Houmard, PhD, director of the human performance laboratory and professor of kinesiology at East Carolina University, tells LIVESTRONG.com. "With this 'stress' of negative energy balance, hormones in the bloodstream magnify the ability of the fat cells to release stored fat to be used for energy in other tissues."

As this happens, your fat cells shrink and your pants seem to get bigger and bigger.

This doesn't happen immediately, though. According to authors of a research review published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in March 2014, during the early stage of weight loss the body is primarily burning stored carbohydrates and protein as well as a considerable amount of water.

This early phase lasts several days or weeks, until the body shifts to burning fat for energy. You can expect your fat cells to start whittling away by the time you reach the 10-pound mark, though, which means you'll start noticing changes in the mirror.

A drop in blood pressure is one of the positive things that happen when you lose 10 pounds.

Credit: annebaek/iStock/GettyImages

Beyond being able to wear skinny jeans, one of the most important reasons to lose 10 pounds or more is heart health.

Being overweight increases the volume of blood your body must circulate through your blood vessels, which increases strain on the arteries, according to the Mayo Clinic. Over time, high blood pressure can lead to a narrowing and hardening of the arteries, affecting their ability to carry fresh, oxygenated blood to the heart. This increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease.

The good news is that your blood volume decreases quite quickly when you start to lose weight. "The efficiency of weight loss is quite remarkable, with as little as 2 pounds of weight loss producing a one point drop in blood pressure," Dr. Houmard says. "Thus, relatively modest amounts of weight loss in the range of 4 to 8 pounds can decrease blood pressure by 3 to 8 points, which is significant in terms of reducing risk for heart disease and other conditions."

Just how weight loss reduces blood pressure is complex. According to Dr. Houmard, it has to do with a combination of changing hormones, better kidney function and a decreased strain on the heart.

Other mechanisms behind decreasing blood pressure and blood volume involve terms like "natriuretic peptides" and "renin-angiotensin-aldosterone." But by now you get the basic idea without going into full-on geek mode.

Hormones are your body's Uber. They carry chemical messages through your bloodstream and tissues that affect things like your metabolism, growth and development, reproduction, sexual function and mood. But excess body fat can affect the normal functioning of hormones, according to Harvard Health Publishing, and the processes they affect that are crucial to health.

A wealth of research, including a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in July 2012, has shown that being overweight or obese can increase a woman's risk of hormone-receptive breast cancer. According to BreastCancer.org, the association isn't fully understood, but it's likely due to increases in hormones, including estrogen, that occur with excess weight.

"Estrogenically active fat is linked with breast cancer. If the fat a woman lost was fat that produced estrogen, then hormonal levels will decrease when that fat is lost. This is why weight loss is recommended to reduce the risk of breast cancer," explains Denise Pickett-Bernard PhD, RDN, LDN, a certified practitioner with the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Losing weight can help normalize hormone levels pretty quickly. In the 2012 Journal of Clinical Oncology study, the women lost 10 percent of their body weight, on average, during the 12-month trial, and markers of several estrogen-like hormones, as well as testosterone, decreased by between 10 and 26 percent.

Interestingly enough, whether the women lost the weight via diet only or by a combination of diet and exercise affected the results. Women who both dieted and engaged in regular exercise had much greater decreases in the potentially risky hormones.

It's not all good news, however. While potentially dangerous levels of some hormones change favorably, other unfavorable hormonal changes may take place, and these can affect your ability to lose 10 pounds and then keep the weight off. "Humans are hardwired to store body fat in case of a famine," says Pickett-Bernard. As explained in a research review published in the International Journal of Obesity in August 2015, our bodies tends to adjust to a calorie deficit in an effort to maintain homeostasis and hold onto fat stores.

To maintain status quo, levels of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin increase, while levels of appetite-suppressing leptin decrease. These hormonal changes can persist even after you've reached your goal, making it difficult to sustain your weight loss.

When you lose 10 pounds via exercise, your muscles and calorie burn will change along with your weight.

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If you lose 10 pounds with the help of exercise, your body will adapt, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the beginning of a new workout regimen, you're more likely to see fast results in muscle gain and fat loss. Your body is less conditioned, so you have to work harder, and you'll burn more calories than someone who is more conditioned doing the same activity.

The good news is you're getting fitter; the bad news is that you'll have to gradually progress the intensity, duration and/or frequency of your workouts to continue to achieve results.

Being overweight increases your chances of having a sleep disorder, and having a sleep disorder increases your chances of being overweight, say the authors of a March 2013 review in Nature of Science and Sleep. Talk about a double-whammy.

The good news is that losing 10 pounds can improve your sleep along with your risk factors for obesity. In a 2012 study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 77 volunteers who were either overweight or obese and who reported a variety of sleep disorders were divided into two intervention groups a weight-loss diet or a weight-loss diet plus exercise.

After six months, both groups had lost 15 pounds and 15 percent of their belly fat. As a result, both groups improved their overall sleep score by approximately 20 percent. Based on those findings, losing even 10 pounds is likely to help you sleep a lot more soundly.

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What Really Happens to Your Body When You Lose 10 Pounds - LIVESTRONG.COM

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Maybe the winter blues have you feeling down, or youre wondering if your crappy month could actually be depression. So you pull out your phone, Google mood boosters, and cross your fingers that youll get better suggestions than bubble baths and homemade face masks.

The truth is, your happiness is influenced by a whole mess of factors. Brain chemicals and hormones make a big difference. Take serotonin, for instance. This tiny chemical is a whole mood.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found in your brain, blood, and digestive system. It ships messages feel-good, stabilizing ones between nerve cells. Thats why its been dubbed the happy hormone or happy chemical.

Serotonin helps you sleep, controls cravings, and keeps your digestion regular (which is a low-key mood booster on its own, amiright?). Studies are still unclear on whether serotonin is directly responsible for good vibes or if it simply plays a critical role in regulating your nervous system.

Since serotonin is basically your wellness ride-or-die, bad things happen when it gets too low. Some of this is theoretical its not like we can stick a needle in your brain to check the serotonin level, and there are no blood tests yet. But the theory has yet to be proven wrong.

Symptoms of a serotonin slump include:

Weve all heard the jokes about tryptophan, the mystical amino acid in turkey that puts you into a food coma. Research has also linked tryptophan-heavy diets with feeling happier and calmer.

Sure, tryptophan makes you sleepy, but your body also uses it to create serotonin. Some of the strongest evidence for the serotonin theory comes from studies that show low intake of tryptophan is linked to depression.

+ = =

More tryptophan equals more serotonin and more good vibes all around.

Upping your serotonin isnt as simple as smashing turkey legs on repeat. Your brain has an uber-protective covering called the blood-brain barrier, and good ol tryptophan has to wait in line to be admitted just like everyone else.

Good news: Research suggests that pairing tryptophan with carbs bypasses this issue.

Pro tip:

Since carbs tell your body to release insulin, and insulin speeds up amino acid absorption, eat your tryptophan-rich meals with 2530 grams of carbs.

Some people need supplements or even antidepressants to get their serotonin flowing. But there are a few natural ways to boost this brain chemical.

Your mission is to load up on tryptophan, which your body can convert into happy, healthy serotonin. But eating one trypto-laced turkey leg wont make much difference in your serotonin levels.

Instead, a steady diet of tryptophan-rich foods paired with carbs could raise your serotonin levels over time.

Here are some of the best tryptophan-heavy foods to fill up on.

Eggs specifically the yolks are packed with tryptophan. Theyre full of amino acids and antioxidants like tryptophan, tyrosine, choline, biotin (great for hair, skin, and nails!), and omega-3 fatty acids.

Pro tip: For all the benefits without extra cholesterol, go for hard-boiled instead of fried. Remember to pair it with a carb for maximum effect. Toast or oatmeal, anyone?

Pineapple is a triple threat when youre feeling drained or sick. It has tryptophan, a bit of serotonin, and lots of bromelain an enzyme proven to reduce inflammation.

Pro tip: Pack two tryptophan powerhouses into one meal with a Hawaiian-style chicken and pineapple dish served over rice (dont forget the carb!).

Heres one more reason to order the cheese board next time youre out for happy hour.

In a study of 25 healthy people, participants reported significantly better moods during a 4-day diet high in tryptophan than during their subsequent 4-day diet low in tryptophan. And which food made them so happy? Mozzarella, for starters.

Bananas are already famous for their potassium content. But wait theres more! The National Sleep Foundation recommends eating half a banana 1 hour before bedtime because of the fruits tryptophan content. Since fruit is already full of good carbs, its a perfect pairing.

You know where this is going. Yep, salmon is full of tryptophan too. Aside from fueling your serotonin reserves, salmon floods your body with omega-3 fatty acids, which have been found to reduce the risk of fatal heart disease.

Tofu is the best serotonin-boosting food for vegans and vegetarians. Its also one of the proteins Cleveland Clinic recommends dishing out to cure the winter blues.

Pro tip: Look for calcium-set tofu for a meal that will help you feel happier and stronger.

Remember the first time you heard the word tryptophan? It was probably on a long-ago Thanksgiving. We all know turkey has tryptophan. And now you know tryptophan is good for more than summoning Mr. Sandman it also unlocks your serotonin potential.

Good news for snackers: Every nut and seed you can think of contains tryptophan. Bonus points for nuts because studies show that a handful a day may help keep the oncologist and cardiologist away!

Pro tip: Round out your good vibes snack with dried fruit (good carbs!) instead of chocolate for healthier noshing.

Eating your feelings isnt always the best path to happiness. Keep your serotonin flowing with these lifestyle tweaks too:

H2O keeps your brain and the rest of your body running smoothly. Next time youre feeling low, try downing a big glass of water. Rinse and repeat.

Aerobic exercise releases tryptophan and endorphins into your bloodstream.

Research suggests serotonin levels dip in winter. Sunshine seems to jump-start your bodys serotonin production.

Theres more research to be done, but this serotonin-and-sunshine connection could explain seasonal affective disorder (SAD). On a related note, get your level of Vitamin D checked and take a supplement if indicated.

A happy, healthy diet goes beyond tryptophan-rich foods. Recent studies indicate that eating a balanced diet could help protect against depression.

Processed foods full of artificial sweeteners and food coloring can screw with your gut bacteria, which affects your mood and overall wellness.

Some research suggests that massage lowers cortisol, which is the ying to serotonins yang. In a 2012 study of pregnant women with depression, two 20-minute massages a week decreased anxiety and increased serotonin after about 4 months.

Sometimes eating all the turkey and getting all the sunshine still doesnt lift your spirits. If youre here for serotonin boosters because day-to-day life feels like a struggle, you might be depressed.

Talk to your doctor about antidepressants, supplements, and therapy options.

Some people have naturally lower levels of serotonin. This brain chemistry imbalance might feel like a permanent cloud over your head, a lack of motivation, or even intense irritability.

Doctors sometimes prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for people who have chronically low serotonin. SSRIs prevent your happy chemical from being reabsorbed too quickly, so serotonin sticks around longer, prolonging good vibes.

Here are some common SSRIs used to treat depression:

In the last few years, SSRIs have gotten some criticism. One article in 2015 even called them the marketing of a myth. Why? Because even though SSRIs have been in pharmacists rotation since the 1980s, research still hasnt totally backed up their effectiveness.

The pills do boost serotonin in the bloodstream, but the jurys still out on whether they do the same in the brain. A 2014 study of mice suggested serotonin might not factor into depression at all. In 2015, another study linked serotonin with vulnerability to stress.

Serotonin also has an anti-inflammatory effect, and research has shown that people with depression have higher indicators of inflammation in blood tests.

So whats the verdict? SSRIs seem to help people with depression, but the reasons are more complicated than a simple low serotonin = bad mood equation.

You could fill up on tryptophan with turkey, cheese, and nuts or you could pop a few tryptophan pills. Just remember to check with your doctor before downing any new supplement.

Its important to know if supplements will interact with your prescription meds, over-the-counter meds, vitamins, or even herbal remedies.

Be sure to research where your supplement was manufactured and buy it from a reputable source the FDA doesnt monitor the quality and safety of supplements.

Pro tip:

Never buy a supplement from a brand you cant easily research and verify. Its important to know whether the product youre buying is pure and high-quality.

These are the most tried-and-true supplements for bumping your mood into a happy place:

Tryptophan supplements are waaay more potent than turkey, salmon, or tofu. That means these high doses of tryptophan are more likely than food to cross the blood-brain barrier. You can buy tryptophan supplements online.

This funny-sounding supplement is actually a flowering plant. Its been touted as a mood booster for years, but research is mixed.

Proceed with caution:

St. Johns wort doesnt play nice with some prescription meds including birth control and cancer drugs. Also avoid taking it with antidepressants or other serotonin-boosting meds.

You can buy St. Johns wort supplements online.

Eating more probiotics could boost your tryptophan levels (and you know what that means: more serotonin!).

The beauty of probiotics is that theyre available in so many forms. Lets count the ways: kombucha, tempeh, yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and oh yes, probiotic supplements.

In 2013, a small study suggested that 5-HTP could be just as effective as antidepressants for mild depression. Further research hasnt been as promising, but its still possible this supplement has the power to enter your brain and kick-start serotonin production.

You can buy 5-HTP supplements here.

PSA:

You can have too much of a good thing! Serotonin overdose is real. Dont mix supplements with SSRIs. Chat with your doctor before switching supplements or changing your SSRI dosage.

If you feel sad or sluggish all the time, it might be time to call a doctor or make an appointment with a therapist. Mood disorders are complex. It takes more than a supplement, a massage, or half a banana at night to treat depression.

After an appointment with a healthcare provider, you might start taking an SSRI or another antidepressant. Or you might be prescribed a different kind of therapy or treatment. Only a medical pro can give you a personalized plan for managing depression.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found in several parts of your body. Its best known for making you feel happy and healthy. There are natural ways to boost serotonin, but that doesnt mean you have to do it alone.

If you think you might have depression or another mood disorder, dont hesitate to call your healthcare provider and ask for help.

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Serotonin FTW: How to Boost Your Happy Hormone - Greatist

FARMINGTON As a medical student at the University of Arizona, training to go into family medicine, Karren Seely watched as the curriculum circumnavigated or fully avoided topics relating to the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.

There were no more than three classes over three years that covered LGBTQ issues and most focused on HIV/AIDS, she said. When she moved to Maine for the Maine Dartmouth Family Residency Program in 2011, it got worse.

The residency was actually more lacking than medical school, oddly enough, even though there were LGBTQ staff, Seely, 43, said. That was one of the disappointments. Any training that got done, I had to instigate. It just wasnt a priority and thats understandable because theyre trying to teach so much and the regulatory bodies that manage the education of students werent requiring residencies to teach that.

The knowledge she acquired was through conferences she sought out and her own lived experiences as a transgender woman.

Barriers like this, far from unique to the Maine Dartmouth program, illustrate one side of a problem many Mainers know well: Quality healthcare for members of the LGBTQ community is hard to come by. Not enough providers are informed enough to administer proper care, and even where there is good service, accessing it can be tough. Patients often face long waitlists or must travel far distances. Some avoid medical appointments altogether out of fear of mistreatment because of their orientation or identity.

About 67,000 LGBTQ people are living in Maine currently, roughly 6,000 to 12,000 of whom are transgender, according to Quinn Gormley, executive director of Maine Transgender Network.

Seely is one of just 22 medical practitioners in Maine and one of two in central Maine who are part of the only national network of providers dedicated to caring for the LGBTQ community, the GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality Provider Directory. She works at Farmington Family Practice, under the Franklin Community Health Program of MaineHealth. The second is Maia Pinsky, of Gardiner Family Medicine, who was on maternity leave at press time but will be back in mid-February.

The directory can reveal some surprising statistics. Massachusetts, for instance, has five times the population of Maine, but 13 times the number of LGBTQ-friendly providers. In context, Maine is more rural and Boston is home to one of the countrys leading LGBTQ health care, education, research and advocacy groups, Fenway Health. Still, Maines most rural neighbor, Vermont, has less than half the population, but three quarters the number of providers on the directory. There is definitely a shortage of providers in Maine, Gormley said.

The LGBTQ community is one of the major underserved populations, Seely said. For example, lesbian women are more likely to have breast cancer, and were not sure why.

The suicide rate among lesbian, gay and bisexual youth is significantly higher; its nine times higher than the national average for transgender people. Nearly 50% of transgender adults have attempted suicide at least once in their life. Theres a higher rate of smoking and substance use, and this is all largely attributed to societal stigma and the chronic trauma that is associated with that.

While some LGBTQ health needs are specific to the community, like hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery, health professionals familiar with the population, research institutes and advocates say that most care belongs in primary care or family medicine settings. Much of the required care is universal treating sore throats, allergies, infections, pains and sprains or other conditions like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Other needs simply require awareness: knowing that just because a lesbian woman is not having penetrative sex with men, she still needs gynecological exams; that because estrogen is a risk factor for breast cancer, transgender women over 50 who have been taking estrogen for more than five years should receive mammograms; and so on, according to Gormley.

Treating (the LGBTQ community) is not particularly complicated, Seely said. You just need to be familiar with the standards of care and get to know the patients.

Gormley echoed that sentiment.

The view that LGBTQ care is a specialty is unfortunate, because something we hear a lot from doctors we train is that they dont think they have a lot of LGBTQ patients, which means they dont have the right data, said Gormley, who runs dozens of trainings a year in Maine and has educated thousands of medical providers. A lack of education and normalcy in LGBTQ health issues results in a lack of competent care.

A lot of doctors are nervous about being labeled as the queer or trans doctor because very quickly they end up having a practice thats only queer and trans and I dont know why. I think were great patients.

Gormley vividly recalls one of the low moments in her own healthcare history. Seven years ago, she went to an emergency room in Lincoln County after breaking her arm while working at a wood shop.

I sit down at the check-in desk with teary eyes because my arm was broken, and across from me is this girl who was in my homeroom in high school and who I had gone to school since kindergarten with, Gormley said.

She knew exactly who I was. I had just come out, and my ID and insurance card didnt match, and she told me that the emergency room wouldnt provide care for me because my identifications didnt match, and she told me to try another hospital. This was a person who knew who I was and knew why my information wouldnt match. It was a hospital where I had received all my care for 20 years.

Bureaucratic things like that happen a lot, and its incredibly embarrassing and often the excuse for providers and even more often front-end workers who dont want to deal with you because of your orientation or identity or they dont want to solve the problem of someone who doesnt fit through the system easily.

RURAL HEALTHCARE

Nowhere in Maine do the issues of accessible and quality LGBTQ healthcare intersect stronger than they do in its rural areas.

Census data shows that nationwide, people in rural communities are more likely to have low incomes and less likely to have health insurance. LGBTQ populations are also more likely to have low incomesand less likely to have health insurance.

LGBTQ healthcare is an area of inequity everywhere in the United States, Gormley said. I think what makes Maine unique is that the intersection of rural healthcare and poverty is particularly strong for us.

As of 2016, Maine was the most rural state in the country, with 61.6% of its population considered rural.

LGBTQ people living in rural areas are at a statistical disadvantage, Gormley said. Maines rural health system is lacking already these are the people already struggling to meet the basic needs of the communities they serve. Anyone else who isnt going to fit cleanly into expectations of what those needs are is going to struggle.

It is in this realm where providers like Seely are setting an example for the state. While she moved to Maine in part to escape the Arizona heat and in part because she was drawn to the Maine Dartmouth program, she said she decided to continue practicing in Farmington for a reason.

And thats because physicians are needed the most in the rural areas, and I knew that LGBTQ-friendly physicians would be needed even more than just any other physician in rural areas, she said.

Right now, she is the primary care provider for 1,700 patients, about 5% roughly 85 of whom are LGBTQ, she said. Some come to Farmington from smaller towns such as Rumford and others from bigger cities including Bangor, Lewiston-Auburn and Augusta.

Currently at capacity, the only new patients Seely will take on are LGBTQ.

I dont believe weve reached that point, Seely said about having to turn LGBTQ patients away. Were trying hard not to reach that point thats partly why Im only accepting LGBTQ patients at the moment.

Generally it isnt like a floodgate kind of situation. Its more here and there. People come in and then I accept them and get them the help they need. Sometimes I work as a consultant for local providers who just havent felt comfortable or experienced enough to help their LGBTQ patients.

SEELYS APPROACH

Hanging up in the four rooms where Seely sees patients at Farmington Family Practice are lists of resources from OUT Maine, an organization that empowers and educates rural LGBTQ youth in Maine; brightly colored flyers titled Gender 101 and rainbow-colored stickers indicating that the rooms are safe spaces for LGBTQ folks. Visible signs of support, she said, can help put patients at ease.

I know some of my patients have had bad experiences (with doctors) in the past, and theyve expressed that to me but I dont really ask for details, Seely said. Mostly I just apologize and tell them that this is a safe space.

I know sometimes its outright hostility from doctors and sometimes its just the ignorance side of things. On rare occasions, patients end up getting triggered and they hear what theyve heard in the past, and it may not necessarily be what the provider was trying to do.

Some of the best ways for doctors to avoid harming LGBTQ patients, Seely said, are to not misidentify their names, gender identities or sexualities and to use their preferred pronouns, such as she/her/hers, he/him/his, or the gender-neutral they/them/their.

The best way to do that is to ask the patients, Seely said. When in doubt, the biggest thing is: dont make assumptions. In our charts, we have the patients name that they go by, whether its legal or not, listed there, and what their preferred pronouns are.

When she sees her patients, Seely makes sure to ask if the names and pronouns on file are still accurate. She hopes that in the future, intake forms at Farmington Family Practice and elsewhere will ask patients to self-identify sexual orientation and gender identity to make the sharing of that information easier for people. It can be difficult to bring up without being prompted.

Understanding that coming out isnt a one-time experience is something that is important for doctors to keep in mind, Seely said.

Its a lifelong process, because for the most part, people dont know youre LGBTQ unless you tell them, so every time you encounter somebody youre thinking about who is safe to talk to about that versus not and that kind of thing. Its important to understand that thats a constant process, and even when theyre coming to see their doctor or their doctors staff, any negative experience can be significantly magnified.

She cautioned that doctors must especially value confidentiality with LGBTQ patients.

Outing patients, particularly minor patients, importantly, is right up there with the complications of, say, dealing with pregnant teenagers, Seely said. It can be outright dangerous. Teenagers can get thrown out of their home.

According to the Center for American Progress, while LGBTQ youth comprise between 5% and 10% of the youth population, about 40% of the homeless youth population is LGBTQ.

This reality is hard for Seely to forget: She was kicked out of her own home at age 20 when she came out as a transgender woman to her birth parents.

ROLE OF DIRECTORIES

Provider directories, like the one from GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, are a boon to accessible care for the LGBTQ community. They are an anonymous way to find reliable for the most part medical care. They are also a modern version of the whisper networks that allowed the LGBTQ, and especially trans, community to find good doctors during a time when, as Gormley said, it was considered best practice for providers who served us to actively prevent us from talking to each other.

With the policing of gender identities, doctors figured out pretty quickly that when we talk to each other, we tell each other the answers to things that get you through, she said.

There are no formal training requirements (or fees) for doctors to register for and appear in the GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality directory, and because of that, the organization has struggled to vet every provider on its list. One Albion-based provider, for example, is still on the directory, despite having left the practice at least a year ago, according to an official at the Lovejoy Health Center. But seeking inclusion on the resource, despite its flaws, can indicate that a provider is at least interested in reaching out to the LGBTQ community.

Being a part of a list really shows its a huge first step for a lot of people, said Scott Nass, president of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality and a family physician in Palm Springs, California.

I know a lot of people welcome LGBTQ folks in their practice but hesitate to put (their) name on the list. But letting the LGBTQ community know youre there available, offering whatever support or expertise you can, is really important.

The organization asks providers to take steps to make their practice more inclusive and continue to educate themselves in the latest standards of care for the LGBTQ community, Nass said. An impending update to the database will include more avenues for patients to submit feedback about their experiences with particular doctors.

MaineTransNet has been building a Maine-specific provider directory for the LGBTQ community, called the Maine Queer Health Community Database. Currently in its beta form, there are already 30 provider listings and Gormley said she expects about 50 by the end of February.

Our thought in investing in a database was: aggregate and put the information in a central space so everyone can access it, Gormley said. We want it to be able to be more specific (than GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality) and something thats really designed for Maine. Its not helpful for someone in Presque Isle that theres a really great doctor in Portland.

In the Maine Queer Health Community Database, there are options for community members to leave reviews, and there are also more specific search categories. For instance, people can look for providers based on region and whether or not someone accepts MaineCare.

You can also search using a broader definition of provider, Gormley said. In addition to medical and mental health providers, there are safe people on the database to go to to get your hair cut or for hair removal just a broader scope of wellness care.

Outside of the directories, many members of the LGBTQ community also share information about good or bad providers over Facebook groups and other social media.

HOPE

Despite challenges that persist, Maine has come a long way in recent years in terms of addressing health inequities in the LGBTQ community.

Penobscot Community Health Care has been recognized by the Human Rights Commission for the past eight years as an LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader. In 2015, the Barbara Bush Childrens Hospital at Maine Medical Center opened the states first-ever gender clinic though there is a waitlist for appointments. The Mabel Wadsworth Center in Bangor was awarded MaineTransNets first-ever accolade for outstanding transgender healthcare in 2019.

The Health Equity Alliance founded Maines first annual LGBTQ+ Healthcare Conference in 2015, held in Augusta, and in Lewiston, Bangor and Farmington in successive years.

The overall expansion of MaineCare and the addition of transgender medical care coverage have created a massive change in the conversation just in the last six months, Gormley said. MaineTransNet is currently working on defining the boundaries of that coverage, which Gormley said was left vague by the Department of Health and Human Services.

In the future, she hopes to see legislation that would increase MaineCare reimbursement rates so that more providers are willing to work with patients on MaineCare.

Another part of Gormleys vision for a better Maine circles back to what Seely noticed was lacking in her medical school and residency programs: universal education on the LGBTQ community at-large.

Other states have started requiring practitioners to include LGBTQ competency within their continuing education and within medical and social work education wed really like to see that become a requirement in Maine, Gormley said. Most practitioners are well-intentioned but nervous they dont want to hurt anybody and I think once theyve had the ability to have the things that make them anxious addressed, theyd become more enthusiastic about providing care to our community.

It boils down to this, Gormley said: If (doctors) were more familiar with our bodies, theyd know how to treat our bodies better; if they knew how to talk to us, wed be more comfortable talking to them. Health inequities in the LGBTQ community are a result of stigma and a lack of access, not because our bodies are different.

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Farmington doctor leads by example when it comes to LGBTQ care in rural Maine - Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel

The Fulton County Health Department has scheduled the following health clinics and services.

CANTON The Fulton County Health Department has scheduled the following health clinics and services. Please call the number listed with each service for an appointment or more information.

Maternal child health: Health screenings, WIC nutrition education and supplemental food coupons for women, infants and children. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 254). For Astoria clinic appointments call 329-2922.

Canton - Clinic - Monday, Feb 10 - 8-4 - Appt needed

Canton - WIC Nutrition Education - Tuesday, Feb 11 - 8-4 - Appt needed

Astoria - Clinic, WIC Nutrition Educ. - Wednesday, Feb 12 - 9-3 - Appt needed

Canton - Clinic - Thursday, Feb 13 - 8-4 - Appt needed

Adult Health Immunizations: Various vaccines are available. There is a fee for immunization administration. Medicaid cards are accepted. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 254).

Other times available by special arrangement at Canton, Cuba and Astoria.

Blood Lead Screening: Blood lead screenings are available for children ages one to six years. A fee is based on income. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 254). For Astoria appointments call 329-2922.

Family Planning: Confidential family planning services are available by appointment at the Canton office for families and males of child-bearing age. Services provided include physical exams, pap smears, sexually transmitted disease testing, contraceptive methods, pregnancy testing, education and counseling. Services are available to individuals of all income levels. Fees are based on a sliding fee scale with services provided at no charge to many clients. Medicaid and many insurances are accepted. After hours appointments are available. To make an appointment or for more information call the 647-1134 (ext. 244). *Program funding includes a grant from the US DHHS Title X.

Pregnancy testing: Confidential urine pregnancy testing is available at the Canton and Astoria offices. This service is available to females of all income levels. A nominal fee is charged. No appointment is needed. A first morning urine specimen should be collected for optimal testing and brought to the health department. Services are provided on a walk-in basis on the following days each week:

Canton: Every Wednesday & Thursday, 8-3:30 (for more information call 647-1134 ext. 244)

Astoria: Every Wednesday, 9-2:30 (for more information call 329-2922)

Womens Health: A womens clinic for pap tests, clinical breast examinations and vaginal examinations is available by appointment. There is a nominal fee for this service. Medicaid cards are accepted. Financial assistance is available for a mammogram. Cardiovascular screenings may be available to age and income eligible women. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 244).

Mammograms: Age and income eligible women may receive mammograms at no charge. Speakers are available to provide information to clubs and organizations. For more information or to apply for financial assistance, call 647-1134 (ext. 254).

Mens Health: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood tests are available for men for a fee. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 224).

Canton - Clinic - Monday, Feb 10 - 8-12 - Appt needed

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Clinic: Confidential STD and HIV testing services are available by appointment to males and females at the Canton office. Services include physical exams to identify STDs, a variety of STD testing, HIV testing, education, counseling, medications and condoms. There is a nominal fee for services. Services are available to individuals of all income levels. Medicaid cards are accepted. To make an appointment or for more information call 746-1134 (ext. 224).

HIV Testing and Counseling: Confidential HIV testing and counseling services are available by appointment through the sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic at the Canton office. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 224).

Tuberculosis (TB) Testing: TB skin tests are available at no charge by appointment. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 254).

Blood Pressure Screenings: The Fulton County Health Department provides blood pressure screenings at no charge on a walk-in basis during the following times:

Canton - Screening - Monday, Feb 10 - 8-4 - Walk in/Room 108

Cuba - Screening - Monday, Feb 10 - 8-12 - Walk in

Astoria - Screening - Wednesday, Feb 12 - 9-12 - Walk in

Health Watch Wellness Program: The Health Watch Program provides low cost lab services. Through this program adults can obtain venous blood draws for a variety of blood tests. Blood tests offered without a doctors order Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), Complete Blood Count (CBC), Lipid Panel, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, Hepatitis C test, and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). A wide variety of blood tests are also available with a doctors order. There is a charge at the time of service. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 254).

Canton - Clinic - Monday, Feb 10 - 8-12 - Appt needed

Dental Services: The Dental Center offers a variety of basic dental services to children and adults. An appointment is needed. Medicaid and Kid Care cards are accepted. To make an appointment or for more information call 647-1134 (ext. 292).

Read the rest here:
Health Department announces services for the week of Feb 10 - Canton Daily Ledger

Margot* always felt confident taking her contraceptive pill. I never experienced any side effects aside from getting slightly larger breasts, which I thought was great, she says. I took it religiously for four years and everything was going great until my GP told me they could no longer offer me that same pill because it had run out.

Instead the 26-year-old from London was offered a cheaper alternative that she was promised contained the same ingredients, just with different branding. It made me so unwell, she recalls. Suddenly I was experiencing constant nausea in the mornings, vomiting and I had the mother of all periods. Thankfully, Margot was eventuallyable to get hold of her old pill through private healthcare provided by her employer. If I didnt have that, Id be screwed.

Margot is just one of the women across the UK who has suffered the consequences of contraceptive shortages, which health officials havewarnedis causing chaos. Its not clear why the shortages are happening, but without access to their regularcontraception, women around the country are being forced to find alternatives that require major expenses, lifestyle changes or leave them with awhole host of uncomfortable side effects.

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On Friday, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the British Menopause Society and The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) wroteto the secretary of state for health and social care, Matt Hancock, urging for a working group to be set up to address ongoing supply constraints for both contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy in the UK. As well as this affecting the physical and mental wellbeing of women and girls, the professional bodies are concerned that contraceptive shortages will affect the most vulnerable in society. TheRCOGhas also said shortages could lead to a rise in unplanned pregnancies and abortions.

Speaking toThe Independent, Julia Hogan of MarieStopes one of the UKs leading abortion providers explains that they regularly speak to women who have experienced difficulties accessing contraception. Not only have many services been shut down due to cuts to sexual health clinics, but when women do manage to find a clinic many are being denied the full range of contraception, including some of the most effective long-acting methods, she says.

Such restrictions, Hogan says, put limits on womens bodily autonomy and leave them with fewer choices. Its enormously concerning and frustrating, she adds, because investment in contraceptive care is one of the most cost-effective public health measures, with every 1 invested in contraception saving 11 in averted costs.

One form of contraceptive that has been impacted isSayana Press, a self-injectable contraceptivefor which there is no exact alternative. Women who use Sayana Press now have to see a healthcare professional to access a non-self-injectable alternative, which is undoubtedly an extra burden for them, increasing demand in busy GP practices and sexual and reproductive healthcare clinics, saidDr Asha Kasliwal, president of the FSRH.At the moment, the resupply date for Sayana Press is unknown.

Paige, 26,had been on Sayana Press for 11 months and found it an accessible and easy to manage form of contraception. But when she recently went to her GP for a top-up, she was told they had run out and was promptly sent around to walk-in clinics, pharmacies and other doctors to no avail. The whole experience left me feeling anxious and stressed, Paige says, explaining that she regularly had to leave work early to make calls to clinics or attend doctorappointments.

I felt as though my right to access my chosen contraception was being taken away from me and I didnt want to drastically change my contraceptive during a time when I was already moving house and going on holiday. While on her hunt for Sayana Press, Paige, who is based in London, visited one walk-in clinic, calledtwo, attended one GP appointment, one appointment with a nurse and visited three different pharmacies.

Not one of these informed me that there was a shortage of Sayana Press in the UK. It was only through her own research that she discovered Sayana Press had been recalleddue to a manufacturing fault, which had resulted in the shortage. Ultimately, I had to change my contraception and am now using Depo-Provera, which Ive been on for four weeks so far.

Paige said the changeover has been fairly straightforward, although she can no longer administer the injections herself at home and must visit a nurse every 12 to 13 weeks to receive it. I liked using Sayana Press becauseit removed the issue of trying to book an appointment so often with the nurse, she says. Securing appointments is getting harder and harder and when you do, managing to get one out of work hours is nearly impossible.

Funding for sexual health services has plummeted in the last eight years after sexual health clinics were made the responsibility of local councils, rather than NHS England in 2013. This meant that funding clinics receive is part of the same pool that also pays for bin collections and speed bumps. The change has seen a reported 64m less being spent on sexual health services, according to the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. With less funding, clinics around the UK are closing while others have started turning patients away. These contraceptive shortages mean there is additional strain being put on an already stretched service.

Alex*, 42, also had a negative experience when the pill shed been taking for years was suddenly discontinued. I liked itbecause I had very slight monthly bleeds and it gave me no side effects, she explains. Suddenly it just stopped being manufactured, and my GP could give me no explanation as to why. Instead, my doctorprescribed me another pill that was the wrong dose and severely affected my mental health.

I just had a tough time emotionally, and it was hard to know if it was just life loador it was because the levels of oestrogen in my body were wrong.Now, Alexhas started using a different pill that seems to be okay so far, though it gives her headaches. Ill try it for a couple of months to see if it settles and just takeparacetamol in the meantime.

Alexsays the impact is undoubtedly gendered and creates an unfair burden on women. Its just yet another responsibility that falls to me as a woman, she says. Its up to me to go to three chemists in my lunch hour to see if theyve got it in. Its up to me to go back to the doctor and ask for a new script. Its up to me to collect it, try it, feel ill, go back, try another one. But ultimately Ive just had to get on with it.

Sex Education star says she thought masturbation was only a boy thing

Molly*, 27, from south east England, suffers from an autoimmune disease, which means shes not medically allowed to use any of the hormonal contraceptives. I can only use the copper coil, she explains.It took months just to get an initial consultation appointment at my local sexual health clinic. Then I had to book another appointment after that before I could even book my coil fitting. I called seven different clinics looking for someone who could sort me out sooner.

Molly now has to wait four months for her copper coil to be fitted; the waiting time is making her anxious. Im just trying to be a responsible adult, she says, explaining that shes just started seeing a new romantic partner. I feel like Im gambling every time I have sex. Its not fair and is making me feel really uneasy, which I shouldnt have to feel in a new relationship when everythings meant to be so fun and natural.

*Some names have been changed to protect identity

More here:
Im gambling every time I have sex: How contraception shortages are affecting women in the UK - The Independent

After giving birth, a woman's hormones are all over the place, and many women can experience either baby blues or postpartum depression. Though both can affect a woman's mental well-being there is a huge difference between the two of them.

RELATED: 10 Ways To Get Baby To Laugh

Baby blues is something that can go away by itself after a while, whereas the postpartum depression is something that women would need to go seek help for. But knowing the difference between the two can be difficult, and you do not want to mistake postpartum depression for baby blues. So keep reading discover the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression.

After a woman gives birth, her hormones are going to be acting up. And according to Web MD, if a woman is beginning to feel down when their baby is 2 or 3 days old, then she most likely will have baby blues.

This is just because of the hormone increase since giving birth and them trying to get back to how they were before the pregnancy.Any women who are feeling a bit down when her baby is a few days old is normal.

Postpartum depression is a mental illness where a woman can experience more than just feeling sad when it comes to it. Help Guide mentions that when a woman has postpartum depression, she may also experience the feeling of anxiety and lack of sleep.

Depression and anxiety typically coincide together, meaning that it's not just the baby blues. Additionally, with the lack of sleep, it's going to make a woman more emotional than she is since she is not resting her body too. Any woman that is experiencing depression, anxiety, and lack of sleep needs to talk to their doctor.

Afact that many women might find surprising about baby blues is 80% of moms experience it, as reported by Seleni. This means that a woman is not alone if she is feeling down after giving birth, and knowing that she is not alone in this situation can help her feel better.

RELATED: 10 Of The Most Popular Boy Names From The Past Decade

With 80% of moms experiencing baby blues, it is great idea for any mother that is experiencing it to reach out to her mom friends to see it if anyone has any advice for dealing with the situation.

With strong feelings behind postpartum depression, Mayo Clinic reports that another side effect that women can experience is feeling hopeless. The sense of feeling helpless overtakes a person's mind and body andmay results in them not getting out of bed or wanting to socialize.

That is why any woman who is experiencing any symptoms of postpartum depression should keep a journal about how she's feeling to track her symptoms. This can help her when she's talking to her doctor to know when each symptom started.

A symptom of baby blues that you and your partner could look out for after giving birth is mild mood swings. Help Guide mentions that a woman can experience mild mood swings from feeling happy to sad to angry and everything in between.

RELATED: 10 Myths About Postpartum Depression

Mood swings are very common with baby blues since it's just about the hormone balance in a woman's body. Though any women experiencing mild mood swings can tell you that it can be tiringto go through so many emotions in a short period of time. It is something that many doctors do not worry about.

A clear sign that a woman has postpartum depression instead of baby blues is that she is feeling disconnected fromher spouse and baby, according to Seleni. Feeling disconnected from others or even feeling disconnected from the world is a very concerning sign of postpartum depression.

Any woman that does have that these feelings need to speak with her medical team right away to start getting treatment for postpartum depression. Feeling disconnected from people in the world can result in dangerous behavior that medical professionals want to avoid.

A very common feeling that many women feel after giving birth is feeling stressed. American Pregnancy reports that many women can feel stressed after giving birth because of how much demand a newborn needs within their first few weeks alive.

RELATED: 10 Things Which Happen Inside Of You When You Become 'Mom'

Many times people are not prepared for how tired they are going to be when it comes to caring for their newborn. Newborns need attention twenty-four/seven; they need to be changed, fed, swaddled, held, and so much more. This can lead to a woman feeling overwhelmed from lack of sleep, and overall feeling stressed.

A majormyth behind postpartum depression is that it's something that happens to a woman right after she gives birth. But humans brains are very complex, and according to Mayo Clinic, postpartum depression can occur anytime to a year after a woman gives birth.

So any woman that is feeling depressed within a year of giving birth to her baby can end up having postpartum depression. And this is why many doctors recommend that new moms keep journals to keep track of their mood and mental mentality so they can easily spot when an abnormality occurs.

With postpartum depression, the only way to treat it is to seek medical help. Whereas baby blues is something that will naturally go away on its own. Web MD mentions that any person that is experiencing baby blues starts to feel better on their own when their little one is around one to two weeks old.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Women Experience Postnatal Depression

This is because by then, a woman's hormones will start to even out to what they were before the pregnancy allowing a woman to have a clear mind and more stable emotions.

One of the more serious symptoms of postpartum depression is the feeling that a woman wants to harm herself or others. Mayo Clinic reports that this symptom should not be ignored and needs to be talked about with her partner and withher doctor.

Though a woman may feel that she may never act on those feelings of harming herself or others, it is important that she gets checked out and get the medical help. The feeling of wanting to hurt yourself or others can be a very scary to admit, but the only way that a woman can get better from postpartum depression is to seek proper treatment.

NEXT: 10 Props To Consider For Baby Photoshoots

The rest is here:
Baby Blues Vs Postpartum Depression: 10 Things You Need To Know - BabyGaga

Olive Fertility Centre in Vancouver has seen an exponential increase in the number of women coming into the clinic interested in social egg freezing. According to fertility expert and Olive co-director, Dr. Niamh Tallon, We are seeing more women in their early to mid-thirties who are not yet in a position to have a family, because of finances, career, or most often they just havent found the right partner, deciding to take control of their fertility by freezing their eggs.

Dr Tallon will be giving a free information talk on egg freezing at Olive Fertility Centre on Feb 26th for women who want to find out more about the process.

While egg freezing has been around for several years, the use of a technology called vitrification, which involves flash freezing the eggs, has significantly increased the odds of pregnancy for women using frozen eggs. With vitrification, the eggs are frozen so quickly that damaging ice crystals dont get a chance to form.

This makes them much more likely to survive thawing later.

We continue to see excellent results with high egg survival rates and pregnancy rates mirroring what is expected for the age of the egg. says Dr. Tallon.

The egg freezing process is the same as traditional IVF. It involves a woman injecting medications that stimulate egg growth to the point they can be harvested. However, instead of fertilizing the eggs with sperm, the eggs are frozen unfertilized and stored until a woman is ready to conceive sometime in the future. At that point, the eggs are thawed and fertilized to hopefully result in viable embryos that can then be transferred into the uterus.

According to the latest Statistics Canada report in 2016, more babies were born to Canadian women over the age of 35 than women in their early 20s. Deferring starting a family until later in life comes with the increased risk of infertility. A 2012 study shows that infertility rates in Canada have almost doubled in the last two decades due, in part, to the fact that on average women are starting their families later in life.

Fertility in women is directly associated with the age of a womans eggs. Not only does the quantity of eggs decline as a woman ages, but the genetic quality declines as well. Poor egg quality leads to a longer time to achieving a pregnancy, infertility, more frequent miscarriages, and a greater risk of chromosomal disorders in the offspring. Egg freezing halts that ongoing genetic decline in quality associated with the biological clock. In addition, a woman who freezes her eggs at a younger age tends to have more eggs than if she froze them later in life.

However, many women still underestimate the effects of age on fertility. A survey conducted by UBCs counselling psychology department found that many women believe that overall health and fitness levels are better indicators of fertility than age.

The fact is that, despite how fit you are or how young you look, 40 is not the new 30 when it comes to our fertility. Our eggs are exactly as old as we are, says Dr Tallon.

The egg freezing process allows women to safeguard some of their best eggs for potential future use. Most women express feeling empowered and, even though pregnancy is not a guarantee, they understand this is the best outcome they could expect using this technology. At least it offers an opportunity to act today. Egg freezing is one of many options for someone wanting or needing to defer pregnancy to a later time.

While a few American companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon cover egg freezing in their medical plans, social egg freezing is not covered by government health plans in Canada. The cost for an egg freezing cycle is approximately $7,000 for an egg freezing cycle, plus the cost of drugs, which can range from $3,000 to $5,000. The entire procedure, including hormone injections, takes about three weeks.

Lets Talk Egg Freezing

Feb 26th, 6:30 to 8:00 pm

OLIVE FERTILITY CENTRE / 4thFloor

400 East Tower, 555 West 12th Avenue.

Spaces are limited. To register, go to http://www.olivefertility.com/egg-freezing-social or e-mail info@olivefertility.com.

Olive Fertility Centre is one of Canadas largest fertility clinics, offering an advanced IVF lab, personal care teams and innovative programs that include the PGT-A, specialized genetic testing, egg freezing, and prenatal NIPT testing.

See the original post here:
More single women choosing to freeze their eggs - The Asian Pacific Post

(KOB) Its an organ that can sometimes be neglected, even though it has a very important role.. the thyroid.

Specialists say it is very important to get it checked regularly, because if there are any thyroid diseases it can compromise your health.

Whitney Marquez noticed a lump on her neck and says she didnt really think anything of it.

After a few tests..

It turned out I had not only thyroid cancer in this side, but also on the other side where I didnt have a bump either, said Marquez.

Whitney Marquez is now cancer free following treatment.

Her cancer is just one of the few things that could go wrong with the butterfly shaped organ in front of the neck.

Dr. Lisa Ereifej an endocrinology specialist explained the importance of the thyroid.

It produces the thyroid hormone. Its secreted directly to the blood, and it goes to every single tissue in the body, said Ereifej.

Dr Ereifej says the hormone produced helps regulate the body organs.

But thyroid diseases could compromise your health, even if it isnt cancerous.

The most common structure problem that we see in a thyroid in our clinic is thyroid nodules, explained Dr. Ereifej, So its simple a lump in the thyroid. Sometimes patients have no symptoms at all. The other part is a thyroid function problem. So your thyroid is either making too much thyroid hormone or too little thyroid hormone.

Sometimes there arent any symptoms but if you are experiencing anxiety, fast heart beat, weight fluctuations, fatigue, or difficulty sleeping, visit your doctor.

If you catch it on time, there is treatment that can help stabilize the issue.

We know our own bodies. If something shows up that just seems kind of out of place, get it checked out, said Marquez.

Medical experts recommend regular thyroid checkups. They say, if left untreated, it could lead to long term health issues.

Read this article:
The importance of a regular thyroid check - WSAV-TV

Orgasms are a very common human phenomenon. The physical and mental health benefits have been researched frequently as a result, and yet, there is still so much to be learned about how our bodies and brains react to the chemicals and hormones released during and after experiencing this type of sexual release.

"The amount of speculation versus actual data on both the function and value of orgasm is remarkable" explains Julia Heiman, director of the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction.

Masturbation causes a rush of dopamine, which is a chemical that is associated with our ability to feel pleasure. Along with the rush of dopamine that is released during an orgasm, there is also a release of a hormone called oxytocin, which is commonly referred to as the "love hormone."

This concoction of chemicals does more than just boost our mood, it also can play a key role in decreasing stress and promoting relaxation. Oxytocin decreases cortisol, which is a stress hormone that is usually present (in high volumes) during times of anxiety, fear, panic, or distress.

According to BDSM and fetish researcher Dr. Gloria Brame, an orgasm is the biggest non-drug induced blast of dopamine that we can experience.

By boosting the oxytocin and dopamine levels and subsequently decreasing our cortisol levels, the brain is placed in a more relaxed, euphoric, and calm state.

Sexual arousal and orgasm increase the number of white blood cells in the body, making it easier to fight infection and illness.

Image by Yurchanka Siarhei on Shutterstock

How do those effects on the brain from reaching orgasm translate to boosting our immune system and making our body healthier?

The increase of oxytocin and dopamine that causes a decrease in cortisol levels can help boost our immune system because cortisol (well-known for being a stress-inducing hormone) actually helps maintain your immune system if released in small doses.

According to Dr. Jennifer Landa, a hormone-therapy specialist, masturbation can produce the right kind of environment for a strengthened immune system to thrive.

A study conducted by the Department of Medical Psychology at the University Clinic of Essen (in Germany) showed similar results. A group of 11 volunteers were asked to participate in a study that would look at the effects of orgasm through masturbation on the white blood cell count and immune system.

During this experiment, the white blood cell count of each participant was analyzed through measures that were taken 5 minutes before and 45 minutes after reaching a self-induced orgasm.

The results confirmed that sexual arousal and orgasm increased the number of white blood cells, particularly the natural killer cells that help fight off infections.

The findings confirm that our immune system is positively affected by sexual arousal and self-induced orgasm and promote even more research into the positive impacts of sexual arousal and orgasm.

Orgasms help minimize pain and promote relaxation which can help boost our immune system.

Photo by Marko Aliaksandr on Shutterstock

The benefits of masturbation have long been debated, but the more research that is done on the topic the more we understand that there are many positive reactions that happen in our bodies and brains when we orgasm.

Orgasms can help prevent or mitigate pain, which boosts the immune system, preventing cold and flu symptoms.

According to neurologist and headache specialist Stefan Evers, about one in three patients experience relief from migraine attacks by experiencing sexual activity or orgasm. Evers and his team conducted an experiment with 800 migraine patients and 200 patients who suffered from cluster-headaches to see how their experiences with sexual activity impacted their pain levels.

The study showed that 60% of migraine sufferers experienced pain relief after participating in sexual activity that resulted in orgasm. Of the cluster-headache sufferers, about 50% said their headaches actually worsened after sexual arousal and orgasm.

Evers suggested in his findings that the people who did not experience pain relief from migraines of headaches during their sexual activity did not release as large amounts of endorphins as those who did experience pain relief.

According to rheumatologist Dr. Harris McIlwain, people who suffer from chronic pain have immune systems that are simply not functioning at full capacity - therefore, alleviating pain (through orgasm, as an example) can help boost the immune system.

Orgasms can also promote relaxation and make it easier to fall asleep. Serotonin, oxytocin, and norepinephrine are all hormones that are released during sexual arousal and orgasm, and all three are known for counteracting stress hormones and promoting relaxation, which makes it much easier for you to fall asleep.

There are several studies showing that serotonin and norepinephrine help our body cycle through REM and deep non-REM sleeping cycles. During these sleep cycles, the immune system releases proteins called cytokines, which target infection and inflammation. This is a critical part of our immune response. Cytokines are both produced and released throughout our bodies while we sleep, which proves the importance of a good sleep schedule to a healthy immune system.

The immune system is a balanced network of cells and organs that work together to defend you against infections and diseases by stopped threats like bacteria and viruses from entering your system. While there are many things we need to do to keep our immune systems functioning at optimal levels, masturbation (or other means of achieving orgasm) has proven to have positive effects on the immune system as a whole.

Just as bad habits (such as an inconsistent sleep schedule or harmful chemicals in your body) can slow your immune system, positive habits (such as a healthy sleep schedule and active sex life) can help boost your immune system.

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Is masturbation the new cold & flu medicine? - Big Think

When left untreated, a UTI in the lower urinary tract can spread to the kidneys, which can lead to serious health issues and possibly even be life-threatening. The symptoms of a kidney infection can include fever, chills, a burning sensation while you pee, nausea, vomiting, blood in your urine, foul-smelling pee, and pain in your back, side, abdomen, or groin, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Those are the tell-tale signs of a UTI, Dr. Dweck says. The tell-tale signs of a yeast infection are very different.

Yeast infections happen when a fungus known as Candida builds up too much in your body and wreaks havoc. Candida isnt actually always a cause for concern, though. In fact, the CDC says its normal to find Candida in warm, moist (sorry) body parts like your throat, mouth, gut, and, you guessed it, vagina. Candida can become a problem, however, when it overgrows to the point of causing an infection.

What can contribute to this overgrowth of Candida in the vagina specifically? Well, Candida exists alongside bacteria called Lactobacillus that help to maintain the crucial balance of microorganisms in the vagina, the Mayo Clinic explains. Changes in estrogen (like from pregnancy, birth control, and hormone therapies) can throw off this balance, as can taking medications like antibiotics. Wearing damp clothes next to your vagina for too long can also increase your risk, as it creates a wet, Candida-friendly environment, the Mayo Clinic says. (This is why changing out of your swimsuit, workout leggings, and the like ASAP is always a good idea.)

Then theres the question of how to tell the symptoms of a yeast infection apart from those of a UTI. We hate to break it to you, but there can be some similaritiesnamely, a burning sensation, especially when you pee, according to the Mayo Clinic. The other possible symptoms of a yeast infection are pretty different from those of a UTI; they include itchiness, irritation, swelling of the vulva, and the hallmark thick, white discharge that doesnt have an odor. If somebodys got a white cottage-cheese dischargeand the vulva looks swollen and red, thats probably a yeast infection, Dr. Minkin says. Yeast infections can also cause watery vaginal discharge, for what its worth.

Both of these issues suck all-around, but we hope shame isnt part of your discomfort. Every year there are an estimated 1.4 million outpatient visits for yeast infections in the United States, the CDC says, (and given the prevalence of over-the-counter treatments, the exact number of cases is unknown). The Mayo Clinic estimates that 75% of women have had a yeast infection at some point in their lives.

UTIs are also pretty run-of-the-mill, with about 40 to 60% of women experiencing one in their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

All this means that if you have either of these infections, youre not alone. Whats more, you have treatment options.

The issue is not just that these two infections require different medications to relieve you of your symptoms. Its also that if you try to treat what you think is a yeast infection with over-the-counter meds when its really a UTI (which you can only treat with a prescription), you could eventually be at risk for a kidney infection, or at the very least not actually get rid of your UTI. Youre not going to get better, Dr. Minkin says bluntly about using the wrong treatment.

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UTI or Yeast Infection: How to Tell the Difference - Self

Sex Educations second season premiered on Netflix earlier this month, continuing the streaming services steady outpouring of edgy, weird, hormone-centric exclusives. Over the past few years, Sex Education, along with The End of the F***ing World, and Big Mouth, have amassed a cult following among teenagers and young adults.

First released in January of last year, the show quickly became a fan-favorite for its diversity and positive message about sex. Following up right where season one left off, this season continues exploring the antics of Moordale Secondary School studentsspecifically those of resident sex therapist-wannabe Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) as he deals with his complicated relationship with his new girlfriend Ola Nyman (Patricia Allison) and his lingering feelings for his sex-clinic business partner Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey).

This season, however, dials the weirdness up to eleven. Right from the get-go, it becomes obvious that theyre not going to hold back, clearly shown with a horrifyingly-vivid montage of Otis masturbating in increasingly-public locations, culminating with him getting caught by his sex-therapist mom Jean (Gillian Anderson) in her car. This display of unrestraint serves a prelude for the rest of the season, setting up Jeans involvement in the actual sex education of her son and his peers. His mothers involvement in his school starts to pose problems for Otis and Maeves sex clinic, as their clients start flocking to her scholarly, free advice. Even more problems arise for their sex clinic as Otis girlfriend Ola starts to feel jealous about his previous feelings for Maeve and demands that he stop talking to her.

While I personally dont like when shows centered around teenagers start to focus too heavily on the parents (cough cough, Gossip Girl), Sex Education figures out how best to balance the two in a way that doesnt detract the shows primary viewers, teenagers and young adults. The issues that the adults in Sex Education face clearly mirror those of the primary characters. For example, Maureen Groffs (Samantha Spiro) increasing frustration with her husband (Alistair Pettrie) ignoring her leads her to seek advice from Jean, and later, file for divorce.

In dealing with its main theme of sex-positivity, the show departs from its previous season by not specifically developing these ideas through the course of the sex clinic, but rather through the events that surround itfocusing more on the lives of people outside of them giving or receiving therapy. Theres more of an emphasis on the characters relationships, showcasing a more direct and practical display of sex-positivity. Characters like bad-boy Adam Groff (Connor Swindells) and Lilys (Tanya Reynolds) gradual acceptance of their sexuality, Otis romantic relationships, his best friend Erics (Ncuti Gatwa) newfound confidence with his sexuality, and the relationships of all the parents highlight the main message of the show: you love who you love.

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An Embrace of Weirdness: Sex Education Returns To Netflix - The Georgetown Voice

Its as big weekend for the Hunt family, whose Kansas City Chiefs are in the Super Bowl for the first time in half a century. They lost their beloved patriarch, Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, to prostate cancer in 2006, when he was just 74.

This would be just a dream for Lamar, Norma Hunt, Lamar Hunts widow, said at the presentation of the Lamar Hunt Trophy named for the iconic sports team owner after the Chiefs won the AFC Championship game. He loved the fans more than any person that Ive ever known.

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Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt hoists the Lamar Hunt trophy, named after his deceased father, with his mother Norma Hunt (C) after the Chiefs won the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. Nikon D5, Manual exposure ISO 2000, f/4 at 1/640, Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 lens. Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams scores a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday. Nikon D850, Aperture Priority, ISO 1000, f/4.5 at 1/1000, EV -.7, Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 lens at 40mm. #kansascityphotographer #nikonlove #justgoshoot #sports #reedhoffmannphotography #kcchiefs #chiefs #football #photojournalism #photojournalist #normahunt #clarkhunt

A post shared by Reed Hoffmann (@reedhoffmann) on Jan 21, 2020 at 4:39pm PST

At 26, Hunt, whose father was an oil tycoon, desperately wanted to own a football team. Having the means, he made the bold choice to start his own league. The AFL debuted in 1960 with eight teams, including Hunts own Dallas Texans. The Texans held their own against the NFLs Dallas Cowboys, but after battling it out in Dallas for three years, Hunt moved his team to Kansas City in 1963 and renamed them the Chiefs. Talks eventually lead to the merger of the AFL and the NFL.

Legend has it that Hunt coined the term super bowl a riff on a toy his children played with called a super ball.

Hunt was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998, according to the Chiefs website. Hebattled cancer for several years and then was hospitalized just before Thanksgiving in 2006 due to a partially collapsed lung, reported theAshland Tidings. It said that doctors discovered that the cancer had spread. He died that December.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and the American Cancer Society estimates that over 33,000 men will die from the disease in 2020. But as we continue to see advances in diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, deaths from the disease are declining sharply. Between 1993 and 2017, the death rate for prostate cancer fell 52%, according to a study from the American Cancer Institute published this year.

RELATED VIDEO:Dr. James Brooks, a urologic oncologist at Stanford Hospital & Clinics, discusses current guidelines for prostate cancer screening

There have certainly been some major changes, advancements and new treatments for the disease in the last 14 years, Dr. Frank Jevnikar, a urologist in the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute at Cleveland Clinic, tells SurvivorNet.

Techniques for screening and diagnosis have also changed tremendously since Hunts 1998 diagnosis. Now instead of relying on biopsies, we use MRI scans to assess not only the likelihood of having prostate cancer, but also to pinpoint the location of tumors, he says.

The evolution of prostate cancer treatments over the past decade means more men are now surviving the disease. Even treatments that have been in use for decades have improved and become more effective. Hormone therapy is one example.

RELATED:Good News for Prostate Cancer Patients a Promising New Procedure with Lower Risk of Impotence

We now have new drugs that are much more effective at manipulating a patients hormone levels to halt the spread and progression of prostate cancer, Dr. Christopher George, a hematologist and oncologist at Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor, tells SurvivorNet.RELATED:Vegetable-Rich Diet Wont Stop or Slow Prostate Cancer, New Study Shows

Radiation is another area thats seen many advancements, including more precise dosing to target prostate cancer cells. Proton beam therapy appears to be every bit as effective as conventional radiation and may have fewer side effects, says Dr. George. And for more advanced disease we are now able to inject radioactive particles into the bloodstream where they find and bind to prostate cancer cells.

RELATED:A Crucial Message: Ben Stillers Candid Account About Sex After Prostate Cancer

If removal of the prostate is necessary, that operation called a radical prostatectomy has also changed tremendously.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic technology has revolutionized radical prostatectomy, allowing surgeons to better visualize the anatomy and perform more precise reconstruction after removal of the prostate gland, says Dr. Jevnikar. This also means fewer issues with side effectssuch as sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinencethat used to be common and expected after surgery.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Sally Wadyka is a freelance writer and editor based in Boulder, Colo., who specializes in health, nutrition, fitness and beauty topics. Read More

Its as big weekend for the Hunt family, whose Kansas City Chiefs are in the Super Bowl for the first time in half a century. They lost their beloved patriarch, Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, to prostate cancer in 2006, when he was just 74.

This would be just a dream for Lamar, Norma Hunt, Lamar Hunts widow, said at the presentation of the Lamar Hunt Trophy named for the iconic sports team owner after the Chiefs won the AFC Championship game. He loved the fans more than any person that Ive ever known.

View this post on Instagram

Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt hoists the Lamar Hunt trophy, named after his deceased father, with his mother Norma Hunt (C) after the Chiefs won the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. Nikon D5, Manual exposure ISO 2000, f/4 at 1/640, Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 lens. Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams scores a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium Sunday. Nikon D850, Aperture Priority, ISO 1000, f/4.5 at 1/1000, EV -.7, Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 lens at 40mm. #kansascityphotographer #nikonlove #justgoshoot #sports #reedhoffmannphotography #kcchiefs #chiefs #football #photojournalism #photojournalist #normahunt #clarkhunt

A post shared by Reed Hoffmann (@reedhoffmann) on Jan 21, 2020 at 4:39pm PST

At 26, Hunt, whose father was an oil tycoon, desperately wanted to own a football team. Having the means, he made the bold choice to start his own league. The AFL debuted in 1960 with eight teams, including Hunts own Dallas Texans. The Texans held their own against the NFLs Dallas Cowboys, but after battling it out in Dallas for three years, Hunt moved his team to Kansas City in 1963 and renamed them the Chiefs. Talks eventually lead to the merger of the AFL and the NFL.

Legend has it that Hunt coined the term super bowl a riff on a toy his children played with called a super ball.

Hunt was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998, according to the Chiefs website. Hebattled cancer for several years and then was hospitalized just before Thanksgiving in 2006 due to a partially collapsed lung, reported theAshland Tidings. It said that doctors discovered that the cancer had spread. He died that December.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and the American Cancer Society estimates that over 33,000 men will die from the disease in 2020. But as we continue to see advances in diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, deaths from the disease are declining sharply. Between 1993 and 2017, the death rate for prostate cancer fell 52%, according to a study from the American Cancer Institute published this year.

RELATED VIDEO:Dr. James Brooks, a urologic oncologist at Stanford Hospital & Clinics, discusses current guidelines for prostate cancer screening

There have certainly been some major changes, advancements and new treatments for the disease in the last 14 years, Dr. Frank Jevnikar, a urologist in the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute at Cleveland Clinic, tells SurvivorNet.

Techniques for screening and diagnosis have also changed tremendously since Hunts 1998 diagnosis. Now instead of relying on biopsies, we use MRI scans to assess not only the likelihood of having prostate cancer, but also to pinpoint the location of tumors, he says.

The evolution of prostate cancer treatments over the past decade means more men are now surviving the disease. Even treatments that have been in use for decades have improved and become more effective. Hormone therapy is one example.

RELATED:Good News for Prostate Cancer Patients a Promising New Procedure with Lower Risk of Impotence

We now have new drugs that are much more effective at manipulating a patients hormone levels to halt the spread and progression of prostate cancer, Dr. Christopher George, a hematologist and oncologist at Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor, tells SurvivorNet.RELATED:Vegetable-Rich Diet Wont Stop or Slow Prostate Cancer, New Study Shows

Radiation is another area thats seen many advancements, including more precise dosing to target prostate cancer cells. Proton beam therapy appears to be every bit as effective as conventional radiation and may have fewer side effects, says Dr. George. And for more advanced disease we are now able to inject radioactive particles into the bloodstream where they find and bind to prostate cancer cells.

RELATED:A Crucial Message: Ben Stillers Candid Account About Sex After Prostate Cancer

If removal of the prostate is necessary, that operation called a radical prostatectomy has also changed tremendously.

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic technology has revolutionized radical prostatectomy, allowing surgeons to better visualize the anatomy and perform more precise reconstruction after removal of the prostate gland, says Dr. Jevnikar. This also means fewer issues with side effectssuch as sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinencethat used to be common and expected after surgery.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Sally Wadyka is a freelance writer and editor based in Boulder, Colo., who specializes in health, nutrition, fitness and beauty topics. Read More

Read more:
Lamar Hunts Super Bowl Dream: The Kansas City Chiefs Owner Would Be So Proud of His Team - SurvivorNet

Article courtesy of: Dr. Joel Kahn, MD, one of the world's top cardiologists, best selling author, lecturer, and expert in plant-based nutrition & holistic care.

Actor George Burns said that you cant stop getting older, but you dont have to get old. Considering he lived to be 100 and was active until just before his death, his words have more impact than most. The scientific pursuit of understanding aging is robust, and significant amounts of money are being spent on researching strategies to delay or reverse the damage aging creates. I have participated in studies where my entire genome has been sequenced as part of a growing database relating our DNA code to health. While you might not have had your entire genome sequenced, there are steps you can take now to minimize aging in your body. It is important to understand what inflammation is, how it relates to aging (sometimes called inflammaging), and how one food group, meat, promotes inflammaging.

Inflammation is a complex process in which cells and chemicals in our bodies fight infections and other threats, and it can be activated acutely or long-term. If a threat is detected by the immune system, chemicals like histamine are released that cause blood vessels to dilate, permitting white blood cells to arrive to clean up the area.

While inflammation can protect our health when its an acute response like a bug bite or infection, chronic inflammation is a different story. Many medical illnesses are caused by the chronic activation of inflammatory pathways. These include asthma, acne, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and even atherosclerosis of heart arteries. In fact, in 1856 Rudolf Virchow proposed that arterial disease was an inflammation of blood vessels and recently the role of inflammation in initiating heart disease events was proved. You want to do everything you can to avoid increased levels of chronic inflammation and the ability to measure inflammatory status in blood tests has advanced greatly. Patients in my preventive clinic get half a dozen tests like the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) to assess inflammation.

More than half of our immune defenses are located in our gastrointestinal tract to monitor the foods that we eat. Foods can be inflammatory and initiate a chronic response if eaten over and over, and other foods can be anti-inflammatory. It is important to consider the question of whether meat can sustain inflammation and promote aging. Ive found that the data favors that meat is a source of inflammaging you might want to avoid.

1. Meat elevates C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

Elevations of hs-CRP predict the development of serious illness including cardiovascular disease. Multiple studies have found that, even after correcting for confounding factors, meat consumption associates with increased hs-CRP. A recent basic science study performed in mice demonstrated that an amino acid found in high levels in meat, methionine, increased oxidative stress and inflammation and actually reduced heart strength too. A human study just published related meat intake to higher levels of arachidonic acid, another mediator that promotes inflammation and aging, and a diet low or absent in meat was recommended for optimal health.

2. Meat causes insulin resistance.

Another route by which cellular aging may progress is the development of insulin resistance. Scientists looked at how eating certain foods affects the release of insulin. Surprisingly, some protein-rich and fat-rich meats induced as much insulin secretion as did some carbohydrate-rich foods (e.g., beef was equal to brown rice). The researchers found that fish, beef, cheese, and eggs had larger insulin responses per gram than many carbohydrate foods. The scientific fact that meat is insulinogenic is rarely mentioned and may contribute to aging.

3. Meat raises insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) levels.

IGF-1 is a peptide hormone stimulating cell growth. Its also linked to higher risk of breast and prostate cancers. Meat eaters consistently have higher levels of IGF-1 than vegetarians or vegans. Breast and prostate cancers are rare in traditional Asian communities, which have a very low intake of meat products. Okinawans, some of the longest-living people on the planet, eat a diet with less than 10 percent of their daily calories from meat. A plant-based fasting-mimicking diet has been shown to reduce levels of IGF-1, which has an anti-aging effect.

4. Meat produces Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO).

In 2011, researchers from the Cleveland Clinic demonstrated that meat eaters produced a metabolite that promotes heart disease, called TMAO. Of great interest, TMAO was not elevated in vegans who were asked to eat a meat meal for the purposes of the study. In my clinic, I routinely measure levels of TMAO, and my patients eating meat on a regular basis have elevated measurements. I worry they are aging prematurely and counsel them to substitute beans for beef.

5. Meat can lead to the accumulations of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

POPs are toxic synthetic chemicals that accumulate in fat. Some of the POPs are PCBs, dioxins, DDT, and flame retardants used in clothing and furniture. They disrupt endocrine pathways and are linked to cancer, heart disease, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. POPs enter our body largely from animal products that we eat. For example, levels of PCBs in animal fat found in meat is much higher than the levels found in vegetables, fruits, and cereals.

6. Meat contains Advanced Glycation End-Products (AGEs).

AGEs are naturally occurring compounds in food and can be increased by cooking on dry heat, such as on a grill. AGEs are associated with a variety of diseases including brain inflammation, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Levels of AGEs found in meat are many multiples higher than in any fruit or vegetable. The irony of the chemical term AGE is not to be missed as increased levels of AGEs lead to premature aging and are best avoided by skipping the meat entirely.

A recent scientific review article stated one of the most consistent epidemiological associations between diet and human disease risk is the impact of red meat consumption (beef, pork and lamb, particularly in processed forms). While the risk estimates vary, associations are reported with all-cause mortality, colorectal and other carcinomas, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and possibly other inflammatory processes. While the quality of meat such as grain or grass-fed may have a small impact on inflammation in limited studies, meats of all types will favor inflammation and aging. Of course, no matter what you choose to eat, fill as much of your plate as possible with the most proven inflammation-fighters and anti-agers around: vegetables.

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This Food Is Causing Inflammation & Making You Age Way Faster - Anti Aging News

The menopause is something every woman knows she will eventually have to deal with. At what age, how long for and what symptoms she will have, however, vary widely. Thats what makes this stage of life so difficult to define, because one woman is nothing like her mother, her sister, her aunt or her friend. Everybodys body and hormonal balance is individual, but we must understand the basics in order to figure out how to best tackle our own reality.

The only experience Dubai resident Anna Yates, 66, had of the menopause before she started going through it had been that of her mothers. She was completely doolally for a couple of years, she says with a laugh. We never knew what she was up to next she used to do all sorts of crazy things. That included going to court for shoplifting when she accidentally put a loaf of bread in her own bag rather than the trolley. Fortunately she had a good doctor who went with her to court to say: Look, this womans going through the menopause, so she doesnt know what day of the week it is, never mind where her bread is.

Thankfully, for Britain-born Yates, who has been going through menopause for the past 15 years, her experience was not like her mothers. I was not looking forward to it, but it was nothing like that for me. The most inconvenient symptoms she experienced were spotting and night sweats. It was much easier than I expected it to be.

The menopause is the time that marks the end of a womans menstrual cycles. Menopause happens to every woman, but very few actually know much about it, says Alexandra Collishaw, a physiotherapist and clinical lead at Dubai clinic OptimalTherapy. Collishaw has worked in Dubai since 2011 and specialises in womens health physiotherapy, treating complaints such as pelvic floor issues, reduced muscle strength, and aches that can be common during menopause. We hear stories about hormone replacement and hot flushes, but that is about as much as most women know.

Menopause can start, on average, between the ages of 40 and 58, she explains. It starts with the perimenopausal stage, which can last between two and 15 years. This is when a womans menstrual cycle becomes irregular. Once you have gone without a period for 12 months, then you will be diagnosed with having reached the menopause stage. This is associated with hot flushes, poor sleep, weight gain, incontinence, night sweats, emotional changes, dry skin, decreased libido and vaginal dryness, joint pains, headaches and memory loss, says Collishaw, adding that some of these symptoms will also be present when perimenopausal. You are post-menopausal when these symptoms start to fade away and you start to get your energy back.

Yates, who is a psychotherapist and hypnotherapist, believes her relatively easy experience of The Change has a lot to do with the lack of stress in her life. My body wasnt so busy making stress hormones and so it could make the hormones to help me get through the menopause, she explains. There are some women who sail through the menopause because theyve got very easy lives. If youve got a stressful life, chaotic husband, crazy kids, stressful job, youre so busy making the hormones to cope with that.

Dr Tara Wyne, clinical psychologist and director of wellness clinic The Lighthouse Arabia, agrees that mental health can have a huge impact. I think going through the menopause is primarily associated with a sense of loss; not having a menstrual cycle means being unable to conceive and a critical shift in identity and status, she explains. Women often catastrophise and imagine the worst outcomes, like significant weight gain, loss of sexuality and many other visible and humiliating symptoms. Dr Wyne adds that women can often feel inferior to or jealous of others who can still reproduce and having no control over this phase of life makes them fearful. Lack of acceptance of this phase can result in a less resilient coping response and a much greater sense of impact than is strictly necessary.

The other reason Yates found it so easy to cope was because she used hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can come in the form of pills, patches or creams. At first, she took the regular HRT treatment, but then, seven years ago, her gynecologist put her on bioidentical hormones man-made hormones derived from plant oestrogen designed to be chemically identical with those the human body produces. I was told I could stay on it forever if I wanted to, but I thought Id be sensible and try and carry on without it, says Yates, who was concerned about reports that show oestrogen increases the risk of getting breast cancer.

Over the years, HRT has caused controversy, but not all of it is true, says Dr Aagje Bais, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Mediclinic Arabian Ranches. There was this big study done when they found people using it had increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer and cardiovascular disease, she explains. But we found out that by really analysing the data [that] these ladies were over 60 years of age and used HRT for longer than five years It is a balance and you have to find what is suitable for you.

Everybody responds differently to the menopause, everybody has different symptoms

Dr Aagje Bais, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, Mediclinic Arabian Ranches

Importantly, says Dr Bais, women need to know that they dont have to suffer through uncomfortable symptoms. Everybody responds differently to the menopause, everybody has different symptoms. Some people say it is what it is and thats fine, but a lot of females struggle and it gets in the way of their day-to-day activities. In this case, you should do something about it. However, this also depends on affordability, as many insurance companies operating in the UAE exclude HRT and menopause treatments in their health coverage.

Depending on the troubling symptoms you have, there are a range of treatments to opt for, she adds. One of the most recent interesting advancements in medicine for menopause is vaginal laser treatment, which has been used for vaginal atrophy, she explains. You have dryness, urinary tract infections, infections, bleeding that can all be treated quite easily with laser treatment. [It] has had some good results so far. Of course its not been on the market that long, but as far as I can see, people are happy with the effects.

Another recently announced treatment by British company ProFam that caught the medical industrys attention promises to delay the onset of menopause by as many as 20 years. However, it will be a few years before this kind of procedure, which involves performing keyhole surgery to remove a small piece of ovarian tissue, is available in the UAE.

Yates, for one, highly recommends seeking medical advice when its necessary. If youre struggling, then look for help, she says. If the first doctor you go to says get on with it, then go somewhere else. Wait until you find a doctor who is sympathetic with the challenges of going through the menopause not all doctors are.

Some women prefer to go through it alone and tackle this natural biological process without medicine. Paula Newby, 60, an entrepreneur who lives in Dubai, has been going through the menopause for the past 10 years. Before she started, shed had her uterus removed, so her doctor suggested oestrogen patches instead of full HRT to manage her menopause symptoms as they have a lower cancer risk, Newby explains. I tried them, but I didnt sense there was any real impact. Im not a pill-popping person. If I dont need something, I dont take it I come from a family who generally dont reach for the medicine cabinet very quickly. We tend to crack on and get on with it.

So, Newby turned to natural remedies, such as evening primrose oil and the herb, black cohosh. Im afraid I was too impatient with those. They take a while to take effect. Instead, she reduced her alcohol and coffee intake, adopted a primarily vegetarian diet, and started intermittent fasting, which shes found has helped enormously. Ive battled through, really.

Dr Marilyn Glenville, a leading nutritionist in the UK who specialises in womens health, is a big proponent of diet and lifestyle change when it comes to managing nasty symptoms. The more you can look after yourself, especially during those early perimenopause years, the more comfortable and easier the transition through the actual menopause can be, Glenville explains. The menopause is a time of change and the female hormones are going to be fluctuating up and down at this stage. What you eat as you go through [it] can make the difference between having a difficult or easy menopause.

Research has shown that eating oily fish, which contains omega-3 essential fatty acids, could delay the menopause by three years, Glenville says. They stimulate antioxidant capacity in your body and antioxidants help to slow down the ageing process in general and that would include your ovaries, too.

Eating a good amount of legumes, beans and soya products, which are phytoestrogens, are also thought to help delay onset, cushioning the effects of the hormone roller coaster women go on and helping to balance hormones, she adds. On the other hand, eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates can cause you to reach the menopause a year and a half early. This is because foods such as white rice and white pasta can cause problems with blood sugar and lead to insulin resistance, she explains.

Collishaw, who recently completed a postgraduate course focusing on the menopause, also has plenty of advice for women going down the all-natural route. Ensuring that your levels of vitamin D and vitamin B are optimal can assist in improving your liver function, which is important in optimising your hormone balance, she explains. Vitamin C can help to improve your gut microbiome thus helping with mood by optimising the gut-brain axis.

Curcumin has been reported to help aches and pains, sage with hot flushes and rosemary for brain function so these may all be things to introduce into your diet along with the polyphenols, such as dark berries, to help modulate inflammation in the gut.

Whether you use pills or not, Newby says she feels strongly that these things need to be talked about in a more open forum so that women, when they get to a certain age, are going in with their eyes open. When they do find themselves waking up to start the day and feeling terribly emotional and tearful, they dont have to feel like theyre going mad.

Collishaw agrees that education is key, as a study by BodyLogic MD Survey in 2018 found that only 19 per cent of perimenopausal women were moderately aware of menopause expectations, she explains. That same study showed the 53 per cent of women who were not informed, felt angry about what was happening to them. We know that knowledge is power and acceptance, and an understanding of menopause often leads to feelings of healthiness and relief So it is vital that we get the information out to ladies about what is happening, and empowering them so that they can control their own symptoms and make informed decisions regarding areas such as hormone and supplement therapy.

I encourage women to be radically self-compassionate, understand that menopause may cause some struggle and suffering, but that they should meet this with kindness

Dr Tara Wyne, clinical psychologist and director of wellness clinic The Lighthouse Arabia

Dr Baiss advice is simple: Discuss it. Discuss your situation with someone who you trust or you like a doctor or a friend or family to see how other people experience menopause and do realise everyone is different. They might have some tips on how they dealt with certain complaints.

Above all, dont be shy and dont feel ashamed, she advises. There are solutions. Sometimes its not easy to find the right solution and it takes time, but there are always solutions.

From a mental health standpoint, Dr Wyne echoes this sentiment. I encourage women to be radically self-compassionate, understand that menopause may cause some struggle and suffering, but that they should meet this with kindness, a lack of judgment and acceptance that this is part of our journey and our identity. Women need to uphold that their life experience can still be enriched and we can still be of great value and experience joy, despite menopause.

And thats whether you accidentally steal a loaf of bread or not.

Updated: February 2, 2020 11:28 AM

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Hot flushes and HRT: everything you need to know about the menopause explained - The National

Stylist contributor Francesca Brown goes to a wellbeing spa on the Spanish coastto tackle her sleep issues.

Im 1,200 miles away from home and 30 minutes away from bedtime in a Spanish nurses office. Shes hooking me up to a portable sleep polygraph with tubes up my nose and a monitor clipped to my index finger to measure my oxygen intake and breathing. Just to say, you probably wont sleep that well tonight, she cheerfully briefs me. All I can think is plus ca change because me and 3am hang out on a nightly basis.

At that witching hour, Ill be wide awake, my anxious mind squirrelling away on deadlines, forgotten birthdays, that time in 2009 when I had to send emails to new colleagues apologising for my behaviour at the Christmas party Ill snatch a couple of hours sleep and wake at 7am a walking zombie grumpy, impatient and unable to concentrate on work. So when the pioneering SHA Wellness Clinic on the Costa Blanca in Spain asks Stylist for a sleep guinea pig for three nights, I am the first to stick my weary hand in the air.

Acclaimed for its pioneering 360-degree holistic approach to health, the SHA mixes state-of- the-art Western medicine (genetics, ozone therapy, hormone treatments) with the traditional (Chinese medicine, yoga, tai chi) all underpinned by macrobiotic menus and bespoke wellbeing and fitness regimes designed to boost health, detoxes and, crucially, sleep.

Plus, they mean business: three days before my stay Im asked for my mattress and pillow preferences. The SHA app also recommends I forgo caffeine, meat and processed foods in favour of herbal teas and organic veg served with wholegrains in preparation for my treatment.

Thank god I do because arriving at SHA is a culture shock. It looks like a vast cruise liner has run into a mountain with sweeping views over the bay of Altea. It boasts luxury suites, a wellness clinic, a chef, two pools, a fitness area, a hydrotherapy complex, the SHAmadi restaurant, SHA boutique and the SHApel (for your spiritual needs); everything is pristine and dedicated to your wellbeing. The unfailingly lovely staff just want you to feel great.

Its also a full-on first day of appointments where theres a health examination; a medical consultation in which Im prescribed magnesium before bed to aid sleep; a nutrition consultation which recommends SHAs Biolight menu lots of miso soup, fish, pickles, tofu and seitan along with personalised herbal teas including shiitake to help me relax.

A meeting with Dr Mera, aka the sleep doctor, is booked in for 7.45am the next day and hes passionate about the importance of rest. Arms flying, he advises everyone needs good sleep hygiene: walk around barefoot to support the meridian lines that run through our bodies according to Chinese medicine, dont drink cold water, sleep with lavender under a pillow, go to sleep every night at 10.30pm and get over 50 hours of sleep a week waking at 5am every day.

But first, he needs to rule out sleep apnea, which he describes as: Imagine I invisibly crept into your room then STRANGLED you in your sleep. (Why would anyone paint this scene for an insomniac? Why?) So Im signed up for a nocturnal polygraph diagnosis (the aforementioned tubes). After an uncomfortable night hooked up to the monitors, my results come back the next day and on a scale of one to 10 (10 being serious breathing problems that would require a sleep apnea mouth aid or BIOPTRON light therapy to reset circadian rhythms) Im a pathetic two and the most likely causes of my sleep issues are: anxiety, stress and the need for better diet and fitness.

So Im signed up to various detox treatments to get my body to shed unwanted toxins. These include the SHA Detox Massage which is lymphatic drainage via cupping (I now know what it would be like to try one of those silent Scientology births), a magnesium bath and a deep tissue massage by a man named Joan whom Id marry if only hed have me.

An appointment with the acupuncturist is particularly eye-opening as she reveals that, according to the 24-hour cycle of Chinese medicine, 3am-4am wake-ups are associated with anger and sadness and stress in the liver and lungs (hence the detox programme); she encourages me to open up my bodys blocked channels using her needles. Similarly, in a one-on-one yoga class, the instructor teaches me a viniyoga practice for when insomnia strikes thats all about the breath and using the intercostal muscles that surround the lungs by expanding them backwards and sideways breath is the thing thatll get you back to sleep.

On the last evening, Im sent for a neurocognitive assessment with a doctor who grills me about my life (from my libido to work). He suggests he place a skull cap on my head for some transcranial electrical stimulation to kickstart my prefrontal cortex (the brain centre of emotional responses) which he believes will counteract my nightly anxious thoughts and overactive brain. Lying under a blanket for 30 minutes with a strange tapping sensation on my head, my mind wanders to bizarre childhood memories and I leave his office strangely giggling to myself.

Back in my room that night I walk barefoot as prescribed, turn out the light by 10.30pm and place my head on the medium pillow. I feel positive, like something in my mind has turned a corner; that quality sleep isnt totally elusive, I just need to give my brain the chance to switch off and my body will follow. I close my eyes and a perfect eight hours later I awake rested and calm. 3am has totally passed me by

Room-only rates at SHA Wellness Clinic start from 330 (278) for a Deluxe Suite and rates for a focused Sleep Recovery Programme start from 4,000 (3,374) for seven days; shawellnessclinic.com

Images: courtesy of SHA Wellness Clinic; writers own

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Can a wellness and sleep clinic in Spain cure my insomnia? - Stylist Magazine

KAPOSVAR, Hungary, Jan 31 (Reuters) - The Pongracz family, a couple who both serve as Lutheran pastors in western Hungary, consider it Gods blessing that they had their first baby after undergoing in-vitro fertilization in 2015.

Since their son Lazar was born, they also had twins - a boy and a girl - from a second IVF pregnancy, so their red-brick home attached to their church in a leafy district of Kaposvar is now filled with babies laughter.

They assist young couples with fertility problems by encouraging them to seek doctors help if thats the only way.

It was such an intense period for us, from the hormone treatment to the implantation of the embryos ... until it turned out that it was successful, that this gave us such a deep relationship with God that we never thought could be possible, said the mother, Boglarka Gyori.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made families a priority and introduced tax breaks and cheap loans to persuade more Hungarians to marry and have children as Hungarys population is declining rapidly.

It is an uphill struggle, with a productivity rate of 1.49, when 2.1 is needed to reverse the trend.

In December the government bought out six privately-owned fertility clinics. Drugs used in fertility treatments will be free of charge and waiting lists abolished, making state-financed IVF accessible to many more couples.

Some observers question why state ownership was needed and why the government did not just boost funding instead.

They say the move fits with Orbans efforts to centralise control over certain sectors and it could also help him lock in more of the conservative vote.

A human being cannot be a consumer item, family affairs state secretary Katalin Novak said, adding that the aim was to make treatments transparent and accessible to all.

When it turned out that she had a blockage in her fallopian tubes, making natural pregnancy almost impossible, Boglarka and her husband Mate wasted little time.

She was 27 and Mate was 30, and they spent all their savings on IVF at a clinic to avoid having to wait eight months for state-financed care. The second time they went for state-financed IVF, but still had to pay for medicines.

There were the parents, or rather the would-be parents, who were waiting and hoping, said Mate. With respect to our faith, the IVF programme was not a question for us. We have to take the opportunity that God had given us. (Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Mike Collett-White)

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For Hungarian couple, prayers and science followed by gift of family - Reuters

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting this month, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) will donate at least 200,000 KwikPensto three relief organizations Americares, Direct Relief and Dispensary of Hope to stock insulin at nearly 200 U.S. free clinics through 2022. These donations will directly support lower-income people living with diabetes who qualify for free clinic services.

Separately, Lilly is providing $2 million to fund grants that relief agencies will distribute to a wide range of eligible free clinics. The grants will fund programs intended to help people with diabetes understand and access resources that can help them obtain medicine and supplies, medical care, insurance coverage and more.

The insulin donations include KwikPens of Humalog (insulin lispro injection 100 units/mL), Humalog Mix75/25 (insulin lispro protamine and insulin lispro injectable suspension), and Basaglar(insulin glargine injection 100 units/mL).Shipments to relief agencies have already started, giving lower-income people another option for accessing insulin.

"Dispensary of Hope is excited to expand the ongoing effort with Lilly's insulin donation program," said Chris Palombo, Dispensary of Hope CEO. "Insulin saves lives, and the addition of donated Humalog and Basaglar KwikPens is important for the nation's uninsured, low-income community."

In 2018, Lilly announced plans to donate insulin vials to stock approximately 150 U.S. free clinics. Since then, Lilly has donated 120,000 vials that have been used by people who qualify for free clinic services. Lilly is now sending KwikPens to the relief agencies for distribution to nearly 200 free clinics.

"This donation of KwikPens will help many people across the U.S. get the treatment they need," said Mike Mason, president, Lilly Diabetes. "With the help of the relief agencies, Lilly insulin will now be available in many free clinics that are equipped to properly store it. These clinics help people find comprehensive care such as medicine, devices, and physician support, and are very important to people who live with diabetes and use these services. We will continue to evaluate the needs of these communities and enhance our insulin donations as necessary.

"Lilly is committed to offering the broadest suite of solutions for people who need help affording their insulin," Mason continued. "But real change to our reimbursement system is needed. Insurance coverage should ensure no one with diabetes is forced to ration or skip doses for financial reasons."

These donations are part of a broader suite of solutions that Lilly is providing to people who need help affording their insulin. These options include lower-priced versions of branded insulins, out-of-pocket price caps at pharmacies for people with commercial insurance plans and help for people with immediate needs. Anyone who uses a Lilly insulin can call the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center at (833) 808-1234 (9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST Monday through Friday) to see whether there is an option that reduces their out-of-pocket costs, including information about how to receive free insulin through a free clinic if they meet income requirements.

More information about the grants that relief agencies will receive can be found on our blog.

Important Safety Information for Basaglar, Humalog (Humalog U-100 and Humalog U-200), Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50

ContraindicationsBasaglar, Humalog (Humalog U-100 and Humalog U-200), Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix50/50, and Humalog Mix75/25 are contraindicated during episodes of hypoglycemia and in patients with hypersensitivity to insulin glargine, insulin lispro, or any of their excipients.

Warnings and Precautions Never share a prefilled pen, cartridge, reusable pen compatible with Lilly 3 mL cartridges, or syringe between patients, even if the needle is changed.Patients using vials must never share needles or syringes with another person. Sharing poses a risk for transmission of blood-borne pathogens.

Changes in insulin strength, manufacturer, type, injection site, or method of administration may affect glycemic control and predispose to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Any changes in insulin regimen should be made cautiously and only under close medical supervision, and the frequency of blood glucose monitoring should be increased. Due to reports of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, advise patients who repeatedly inject into areas of lipodystrophy or localized cutaneous amyloidosis to change the injection site to the unaffected areas and to closely monitor blood glucose. For patients with type 2 diabetes, dosage adjustments of concomitant anti-diabetic products may be needed.

Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse reaction associated with insulins, including Basaglar, Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50.Severe hypoglycemia can cause seizures, may be life threatening, or cause death.

Accidental mix-ups between insulin glargine (100 units/mL), basal insulin products, Humalog Mix75/25, Humalog Mix50/50, and other insulins, particularly rapid-acting insulins, have been reported.To avoid medication errors between insulins, instruct patients to always check the insulin label before each injection to confirm that the correct insulin is injected, including the correct insulin brand and concentration.

Do not transfer concentrated insulins (Humalog U-200) from the KwikPen to any syringe as overdosage and severe hypoglycemia can occur.

Severe, life-threatening, generalized allergy, including anaphylaxis, can occur with insulin products,including Basaglar, Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50. If hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue use; treat per standard of care and monitor until symptoms and signs resolve.

All insulin products, including Basaglar, Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50, cause a shift in potassium from the extracellular to intracellular space, possibly leading to hypokalemia. Untreated hypokalemia may cause respiratory paralysis, ventricular arrhythmia, and death. Monitor potassium levels in patients at risk for hypokalemia if indicated.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma agonists, can cause dose-related fluid retention, particularly when used in combination with insulin.Fluid retention may lead to or exacerbate heart failure. Patients treated with insulin, including Basaglar, Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix75/25, or Humalog Mix50/50, and a PPAR-gamma agonist should be observed for signs and symptoms of heart failure. If heart failure develops, dosage reduction or discontinuation of TZD must be considered.

Malfunction of an insulin pump device, infusion set, or insulin degradation can rapidly lead to hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis.Patients using Humalog U-100 or Insulin Lispro Injection in subcutaneous insulin infusion pumps must be trained to administer insulin by injection and have alternate insulin therapy available in case of pump failure.

Adverse ReactionsAdverse reactions commonly associated with insulin glargine products, Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50 are hypoglycemia, allergic reactions, injection site reactions, lipodystrophy, pruritus, and rash.

Other adverse reactions commonly associated with insulin glargine products, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50 are weight gain and edema.

Drug InteractionsCertain drugs may affect glucose metabolism, requiring insulin dose adjustment and close monitoring of blood glucose. The signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia may be blunted when beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, and reserpine are co-administered with Basaglar, Humalog, Insulin Lispro Injection, Humalog Mix75/25, or Humalog Mix50/50.

Click to accessBasaglar Full Prescribing Information, Humalog Full Prescribing Information, Insulin Lispro Injection Full Prescribing Information, Humalog Mix75/25 Full Prescribing Information and Humalog Mix50/50 Full Prescribing Information.

See Instructions for Use provided with pen/vial/syringe.

BV HI BOI SP HCP ISI NOV2019

About DiabetesApproximately 30 million Americans1 and an estimated 463 million adults worldwide have diabetes.2 Type 2 diabetes is the most common type internationally, accounting for an estimated 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes cases in the United States alone.1 Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body does not properly produce or use the hormone insulin.

About Lilly DiabetesLilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world's first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research, collaboration and quality manufacturing we strive to make life better for people affected by diabetes. We offer a wide range of therapies and a continued determination to provide real solutionsfrom medicines and technologies to support programs and more. For the latest updates, visit lillydiabetes.com or follow us on Twitter: @LillyDiabetes and Facebook: LillyDiabetesUS.

About Eli Lilly and CompanyLilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at lilly.com and lilly.com/newsroom. P-LLY

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about Humalog (insulin lispro injection 100 units/mL), Basaglar (insulin glargine injection 100 units/mL), and Humalog Mix75/25 (insulin lispro protamin and insulin lispro injectable suspension) as a treatment for patients with diabetes and reflects Lilly's current belief. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

PP-DB-US-0697 1/2020Lilly USA, LLC 2020. All rights reserved.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lilly-plans-donation-of-200-000-insulin-kwikpens-over-next-three-years-to-support-lower-income-communities-300994038.html

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

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Lilly plans donation of 200000 insulin KwikPens over next three years to support lower-income communities - P&T Community

Hitting the snooze button more? Having a lot of off days at the gym? If you exercise seven days a week without any rest, you might be exhibiting signs of overtraining. Trying to power through your workouts when you're not feeling right can sabotage your fitness goals and lead to more serious problems.

Both your mind and your body need a break from the gym.

Credit: John Fedele/Tetra images/GettyImages

Here, Geoff Tripp, CSCS, certified personal trainer and head of fitness at Trainiac, shares five reasons you shouldn't be working out every day, plus how often you should hit the gym for optimal results and overall health.

If you train without recovery days, you're likely to encounter a sharp decline in adaptation, or your body's ability to absorb the training load, Tripp says. When this happens, you'll usually experience exhaustion, weakness, and "excessive soreness that lingers for days," he says.

And when you feel like crap and can't perform your best, you're more prone to hurting yourself. Going beast mode 24/7 and not following a proper recovery protocol can result in overuse injuries like tendinitis or stress fractures, according to the Mayo Clinic.

What's more, pushing too hard all the time can also throw your hormones into chaos. Overtraining can lead to problems with your adrenal glands and hormonal imbalances that cause chronic fatigue, per a February 2013 review in the Journal of Novel Physiotherapies.

"Just like we can see a stall in physical adaptation, we can also see a slowing of weight loss due to overtraining," Tripp says. Exercise taxes your body, and working out too hard and too much can increase stress hormones like cortisol. And persistently elevated cortisol levels are associated with obesity and a larger waist circumference, according to a February 2017 study published in Obesity.

To make matters worse, chronic stress can increase your appetite and cravings for foods high in fat and sugar, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Conversely, some people may lose the desire to eat when overstressed due to overtraining, Tripp says. Under-eating forces your body to shift into conservation mode, he says. That is to say, it protects itself from starving, and, in doing so, stops weight loss in its tracks.

A big drop or steady decline in heart rate variability (HRV) is a telltale sign of stress that someone's been burning the fitness candle at both ends, Tripp says. HRV a measure of the variation in time between each heartbeat is regulated by the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's fight-or-flight and relaxation responses, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

An HRV on the low end which happens when you overtrain indicates that your system is operating in fight-or-flight state whereas a higher HRV signifies a more relaxed condition. In other words, when you regularly overdo it at the gym, your body's stress mode remains turned on. Prolonged stress can increase your risk for a range of health problems, from heart disease to digestive issues and cognitive impairment, per the Mayo Clinic.

Can't drag yourself off the couch? Lack of motivation is another big red flag when it comes to overtraining, Tripp says. Turns out, pushing yourself too much not only exhausts you physically, but also mentally and emotionally. In fact, overtraining has been associated with depressive feelings, according to a March 2012 review published in Sports Health.

"If you begin to experience sluggish workouts, general tiredness and little enthusiasm for exercise, it's time to take a few rest days or even a full week for recovery," Tripp says. "A recovery week can focus on light cardio activities, mobility activities, clean nutrition and sleep."

Struggling to roll out of bed in the morning? Sleep is essential for repairing, growing and strengthening your muscles. That's because working out especially weight-lifting creates microscopic tears in your muscles, and you need rest to heal and rebuild them.

"If you're experiencing restless sleep after a string of very active weeks, you could be teetering on the edge of overtraining," Tripp says. And, unfortunately, the stress that results from overdoing it at the gym isn't improving your sleep quality. Case in point, a November 2015 review in Sleep Science linked high levels of the stress hormone cortisol with insomnia.

That depends on your fitness level and health goals, Tripp says. The current Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend at least 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity cardio or 75 to 150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, plus muscle-strengthening activities of moderate or greater intensity two or more days a week.

But "rest days should be a part of everyone's weekly workout schedule too," Tripp says. "Generally, when you have an overtraining issue, it's a combination of too many intense efforts in a row and not enough easy days."

The main takeaway? Don't go full throttle every day, and when you do have a particularly tough sweat session, offset it with a rest day or active recovery. Go on an easy hike, take a yoga class or focus on breathing and meditation, Tripp says.

Always listen to your body. Everyone has off days, but if you feel like every workout is a struggle, it's time to take a break.

See the rest here:
Why You Shouldn't Work Out Every Day Without Rest Days - LIVESTRONG.COM

If you have a confirmed testosterone deficiency, its important to identify if there are any reversible causes that can be addressed before committing to, what should be considered a lifelong therapy. Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) is an involved process. In my professional opinion, the most effective method of replacement is daily Testosterone Cypionate and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) injections. Your dose is carefully titrated to normalise your male androgen levels.

TRT is an involved process, its a financial commitment and its a time-consuming process. Two daily subcutaneous injections, admittedly with a tiny 29-gauge insulin needle, preparation of your multi-dose vial, every 3 months for Testosterone Cypionate and monthly for HCG, regular blood tests, additional blood tests after a protocol change. We have patients from all over the UK, Europe and further afield, they all have an initial face to face consultation and yearly thereafter, the rest can be managed remotely. Some of my patients travel thousands of miles, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Dubai, the Philippines to ensure they receive Gold Standard care. Londoners often complain a trip to Poole is too far, little do they know.

TRT has traditionally been thought of as simply replacing the testosterone. It makes sense, replace the testosterone that is deficient. The issue lies with the subsequent negative effect on other important parameters administration of exogenous testosterone has on the body. Injecting testosterone shuts down the Hypo-pituitary Gonadal (HPG) axis, you know longer produce Lutenising Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland in the brain. LH stimulates the Leydig cells of the testes to produce testosterone, the FSH stimulates the Sertoli cells to produce sperm through a process called spermatogenesis.

HCG mimics LH, it is used in the treatment of male infertility. Intra-testicular testosterone is partly converted to oestradiol by the aromatase enzyme, this helps facilitate spermatogenesis. The Mens Health Clinic now has 20 pregnancies with the concurrent use of HCG alongside testosterone. Its important to appreciate that there are LH receptors all over the body, most noticeably the brain. HCG is clearly important to help maintain fertility and testicular size, but its effects are more wide ranging. Men report an improved sense of well-being and libido using HCG alongside testosterone.

I am uncomfortable with allowing an organ, in this case your testicles, to atrophy with testosterone monotherapy. It seems illogical to me that this should be accepted. I believe that irrespective of whether you want to conceive or not, you should replace this hormone. TRT should be considered hormone replacement therapy (HRT), we should be maintaining function with HCG and supplementing with testosterone to ensure your male androgen levels are normalised.

I am rather shocked and appalled that the medical community has such a simplistic approach to TRT, as one NHS Endocrinologist recently said to me either the patient wants to retain fertility in which case you offer HCG or they do not want to retain fertility in which case you treat with testosterone. This regressive and outdated attitude and approach to TRT is one of the reasons men are willing to travel from all over the world to The Mens Health Clinic, Gold Standard care.

More:
Testosterone Replacement Therapy or Hormone Replacement Therapy? - Reno Hotline

Got to lunchtime and suddenly realised you forgot to take your contraceptive pill this morning? Or worse, looked at the packet and realised you missed it yesterday too? If you're not planning on procreating any time soon, that sudden feeling of pregnancy panic and anxiety about what you should do next can be very real.

Missed pill advice can be pretty confusing, so Dr Juliet McGrattan is here to walk you through what you should do if you forget to take you contraceptive pill and when you might need emergency contraception.

Remember: if you arent using your pill for contraception and only take it to treat medical conditions such as heavy periods, then theres no need to worry, you can just take the pill youve missed and carry on as normal.

There are three factors that are important to take into consideration when it comes to missing a pill: what type of pill you are taking, when you last took your pill and where you are in your pill packet.

Containing a combination of oestrogen and progestogen, combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are the most common type of contraceptive pill. Theyre taken daily with scheduled breaks for withdrawal bleeds.

After 21 days of daily pills, the level of hormones in your system is enough to protect you from pregnancy during a seven-day break. Its easy to see how missing a pill and extending this break by forgetting one just before or in the first few days after the break could put you at risk of pregnancy.

Take the pill as soon as you realise youve missed it and carry on as normal. Dont change the timing of the next pill, it doesnt matter if you end up taking two close together. Theres no need for extra contraception, your hormone levels wont have dropped enough to put you at risk of pregnancy.

When youve missed two or more pills, the level of hormones may have dropped enough to put you at risk of pregnancy. Take the most recent pill youve missed and leave the others. Carry on taking your pills as normal but to avoid pregnancy, either avoid having sex or use another method of contraception such as condoms for seven days.

If you are due to have a pill break within these seven days, dont take the break, just go straight onto the next packet. Remember, if you use an everyday (ED) COC then you will need to miss out the inactive tablets in the pack and go on to a new packet starting with the active pills.

You may need emergency contraception so read on.

If youve missed two or more pills, then you might need emergency contraception if youve had unprotected sex within the last seven days and if any of the following applies:

Its important to take emergency contraception as soon after sex as possible. The most effective form is insertion of a copper intra-uterine device (IUD) into the uterus (womb) but there are also hormone tablets that can be taken to prevent pregnancy. No method is 100 per cent effective but the sooner it is taken, the better. You can access emergency contraception in a number of ways including through a Family Planning clinic, your GP, your pharmacist or a sexual health clinic.

There are certain COCs where missed pill advice is different. If you are taking any of the following COCs; Qlairia, Daylette, Zoely and Eloine. Please read the information sheet that comes with the pills and contact your doctor or family planning clinic for further advice.

The progestogen only pill (POP) only contain progestogen, theres no oestrogen in them. They are taken continuously without a break so there are no pill free days and you simply finish one packet and go straight on to the next.

POPs need to be taken at the same time every day for them to be effective. For most POPs, there is a three-hour window in which to take them, for POPs containing the progestogen called desogestrel, there is a 12-hour window.

Simply take the late pill and carry on as normal, theres no need to worry.

If you are more than three hours late (or more than 12 hours for desogestrel POPs) Take the most recent pill you have missed and carry on. Dont change the timing of the next pill, it doesnt matter if you end up taking two close together. You are at risk of pregnancy so you need to abstain from sex or use another method of contraception for two days. If you have unprotected sex during these two days you may need emergency contraception. See the advice above regarding this.

If you miss a pill, then dont bury your head in the sand. Prompt action and emergency contraception if necessary can prevent unplanned pregnancies. Read the instruction leaflet that comes with your pill packet and speak to your GP, practice nurse, family planning clinic, pharmacist or sexual health clinic if you need advice. You can also get advice and information on the Family Planning Association website.

For contraceptive pills to be effective you need to be a good pill taker. Some people find this easier than others. Here are some things you can try to make sure you dont miss pills in the future:

Find the best time of day for you to take your pill. For some women this is in the morning but for others the evening or at lunchtime is best.

Associate pill taking with something you do every day such as brushing your teeth or making a cup of tea.

Set a reminder on your phone.

Use a specific pill taking app to keep you on track, some will give you advice about missed pills too.

For further advice and information on contraception, try one of the following:

Last updated: 30-01-2020

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Missed contraceptive pill: what to do if you miss the combined contraceptive pill or the progestogen only pill - Netdoctor

Weearnacommissionforproductspurchasedthroughsomelinksinthisarticle.

If youve been in a romantic relationship, youre probably used to holding hands. Whether youre walking together or sitting down to relax, its a nice experience.

But aside from being a natural, romantic activity for couples, holding hands strengthen your emotional connection too. Theres a good reason for this too.

According to Silva Neaves, psychosexual and relationship psychotherapist, when you hold the hand of someone you love, your breathing starts to sync up with the person youre with. She also revealed that emotions will flow from one person to the other.

Speaking to Cosmopolitan, she said, It appears that holding hands serves the purpose to feel a deepening in human connections.

In addition to this, Silva said, Many studies in neuroscience show that touch produces oxytocin, a feel-good chemical that is very good for your mental and physical health.

Credit: Getty Images

Oxytocin is a hormone that promotes bonding, connection, empathy and trust, and is also the hormone that is released during sex. Our hands are one of the most sensitive parts of our bodies, so it makes sense that theres a deep emotional connection when you hold the hand of someone you love.

Dr Becky Spelman from Private Therapy Clinic added that holding hands means we can instinctively interpret the other persons anxiety or comfort levels. We can do this by feeling how much theyre sweating, their pulse, and the strength of their grip.

Hand holding is also a learned behaviour, as Dr Spelman points out that babies are born with a grasping reflex and will curl their tiny hands around any finger placed in their palm.

The act of hand holding is associated with safety too, as parents hold childrens hands to keep them safe when crossing the road. Childhood behaviours can transfer to romantic relationships later in life, so it makes sense that hand holding is considered intimate when were in relationships.

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This is why holding hands with your partner deepens your bond - goodtoknow

Stress is most definitely a mood killer and life stressors can hit us at any angle.

From relationship woes to financial troubles, illnesses, work and fatigue, finding the time and energy to focus on your body and partner in tandem could be the last thing on your mind.

Kate Moyle, a sex expert for LELO a company that specialises in pleasurable toys told The Express: Sex lives need nurturing. They won't just change or improve on their own. The couple needs to make a commitment to doing or trying something new together.

I often talk to couples about trying to change one thing each time that they have sex, and this could be as small as starting with clothes on or off, taking the bedding off and making a bed on the floor, lights on or lights off, trying a new position, using lubricant or not, introducing a sex toy, giving a massage - the list is endless.

READ MORE: How to sleep: Sniff this oil before bed to get a good nights sleep

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Low libido: Your daily life could be affecting your sex drive - how to increase libido - Express

On Thurs Jan 23, University of Toronto professor of psychiatry Dr. Ken Zucker, a leading international expert on gender dysphoria, and editor-in-chief of Archives of Sexual Behaviour, spoke at McGill University. Dr. Zuckers presentation was titled, Children and Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria: Some contemporary research and clinical issues.

Inviting Dr. Zucker to speak in an open forum was an act of courage, as he is Canadas most controversial researcher/clinician in this domain. In a recent column for the National Post on the run-up to this event, I summarized the story of his persecution by hostile trans activists and linked to a more detailed account.

Dr. Zuckers critics accuse him of practicing conversion therapy, by which they mean his objective is to prevent his patients from transitioning. But what Dr. Zucker actually practices, as he explained to me in an interview, is Developmentally Informed Psychotherapy.

In laymans terms, Dr. Zucker looks at his patients holistically in order to determine if the distress that brought them to his attention is a function of gender dysphoria alone, or gender dysphoria as one of a number of factors, including issues arising out of family dynamics, autism spectrum disorder, depression, anxiety and so on. If in the course of treatment, it becomes clear that finding comfort in his or her natal sex is a reasonable goal for the client, Dr. Zucker offers guidance to that objective. If it becomes clear that only transition will answer to the patients need, Dr. Zucker endorses transition, and puberty blockers or hormone therapy as required.

But any form of traditional psychotherapy is considered to be a form of subversion by many trans activists because trans activists reject assumptions that gender dysphoria is a disorder or even a distress requiring psychotherapy. Their watchword is affirmation, the assumption that if a young child even as young as three says he or she wants to change genders, they know what they want and their wish must be respected, often without any further exploration at all before social transition is encouraged.

Watchful waitingwithholding immediate affirmation, giving the childs parents and professional observers time to assess the depth and putative permanence of the expressed desireis also anathema to a small, but vocal group of trans advocates. To these activists, Dr. Zuckers perspective is superannuated, offensive and, in their discourse, harmful. It was a given that the announcement of the event would spark protest. It was just a matter of what kind, and how obstructive it would be.

The presentation was sponsored by the Culture, Mind and Brain Program, a subdivision of McGills Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry. Assistant professor of psychiatry Samuel Veissire, co-director of the program, who headed up the organizing team for the talk, was fully cognizant of the tension that would surround it, and did a great deal of spadework in reaching out to stakeholding organizations like Queer McGill, expressing sympathy for their concerns and soliciting their attendance.

Some individuals from these groups did attend, although McGill Equitys Subcommittee on Queer People preferred to hold their own alternative positive space for trans and non-binary students, staff and faculty (and their allies) who would feel the need to gather and be together in solidarity[with] snacks, tea and hot chocolate [provided].

The important thing is that protest was carried out on Facebook pages calling for boycotts of the event, and letters to the administration asking for cancellation (the administration did not waver in the face of this pressure, to their credit), rather than in attempts to physically inhibit, or even shout down the speaker. In fact, not a single active protester showed up at the lecture site in McGills Neurological Institute-Hospital (the Neuro), and those who came to the lecture itself with a view to challenging Dr. Zucker, listened respectfully, calmly voicing their disagreements with him in the extended Q&A. That in itself is a triumph in these days of cancel culture and a tribute to the organizers and to the maturity of the opposition.

A trans-advocacy mantra one continually hears from those protesting the scholarship of Dr. Zucker and others with his perspective is nothing about us without us. That is, trans advocates believe they have the right to participate in any public forum on this subject, because science, they rightly observe, is never entirely neutral, and has often been exploited to uphold societal values, notably in the case of homosexuality, which was only depathologized in medical texts mere decades ago.

They are understandably defensive about research, however sound by objective standards, that might be driven by unconscious bias. Whether that suspicion confers a right to insert representation of their own belief system into all public forums in which opposing views are featured is debatable, to say the least. Practically speaking, if that were the rule, scholars like Dr. Zucker would find their time slots so reduced in length as to trivialize their contribution.

Prof Veissire addressed these concerns with exquisite delicacy and eloquence in his introductory remarks to the full lecture room:

Two key issues in particular strike me as exceptionally important. These two issues are in fact questions. They are questions about neutrality and advocacy, on the one hand, and questions about who can speak for whom on the other In recognition of past and ongoing medical injustice, I want to proposespeaking from my own perspective herethat the relevant point here is not so much that science cannot be neutral, but that it shouldnt be.

I speak as an anthropologist and cognitive scientist now, as one who is committed to documenting and honouringa set of core values found in absolutely all cultures.These are the values ofcharityfor those in need,hospitalityto those different from us, and commitmentto the greater human good.Charity and hospitality also teach us to engage inforgiveness andreconciliation.These core values are often translated and lived in traditions ofloving-kindness..

Given its long and ongoing history of marginalization, the trans community can often feel excluded and harmed when conversationsabout themare taking placewithout them.We all need to listen to this point and learn from it.Similarly, when some parents who are doing their best to help their gender-nonconforming child live a good life tell us they feel excluded from the current conversation when they want to ask more questions, we need to listen and learn.When individuals for whom transition didnt work tell us they feel excluded from this conversation, we need to listen and learn.

This is what I want to invite you all to do together today. Listen to and learn from each othersdiverse perspectives and experiences in the spirit of loving kindness and democracy.

Tucked in between the statistics, graphs and pie charts of his PowerPoint, Dr. Zucker made allusion to certain trigger points. One is the widely acknowledged fact in the non-trans academic community that most effeminate little boys are not gender dysphoric, but gay. These desistors children whose gender preference may be ambiguous in childhood, but who after puberty revert to comfort in their natal sex, albeit with same-sex preference, present a difficulty for trans advocates. Were they really trans to begin with, if they can revert? This begs the question of what it means to know you are in the wrong body. In his somewhat puckish manner, Dr. Zucker slipped in some zingers. Noting the disappearance of the butch lesbian, Dr. Zucker asked, Is trans the new tomboy?

Another hot button in the clash between unconditional affirmers and watchful waiters is the looming shadow of suicidality. Better a trans kid than a dead kid is a frequently adduced trans credo. Here Dr. Zucker pointed out problems in methodology with the various alarmist suicidality studies. Some predictors of suicidal ideation, he said, were general behavioural problems and, for example, being female in a single-parent family. Adolescents with gender dysphoria that are referred for treatment do indeed demonstrate higher rates of suicidality, but then so do non-trans kids who are referred for other problems. This is an area that needs more research and more control groups, he said.

Rapid Onset Gender DysphoriaROGDis the most divisive and controversial issue in the debate. The cynosure for trans advocates anger is a study on ROGD published by researcher Lisa Littman of Brown University on PLOS ONE, the most downloaded study in that journals history. It suggests that for many teenage girls (the great majority of ROGD subjects), identifying as trans is a maladaptive coping mechanism for girls suffering from other problems, and its startling escalation expressive of a social contagion. Dr. Zucker alluded to the reception of the report by trans advocates as an attack on trans people and a debunked right-wing conspiracy theory.

(Full disclosure: I have met with many of the parents cited in the Littman study as part of my work. The accusations against them by hostile trans activists are absurd and defamatory. Those I met are loving parents, tortured by their childrens sudden conversion and withdrawal from thema strategy promoted on the websites they are obsessed withand desperate to help them achieve mental and psychological stability. They are neither politicized nor biased against homosexuality or gender dysphoria. The Littman study, in my opinion, is responsibly conceived and executed, persuasive and grounded entirely in good-faith efforts to understand an unprecedented social phenomenon.)

The ROGD debate hinges on treatment. In The Netherlands, Dr. Zucker noted, the Dutch do longer assessments before prescribing blockers or HRT, so treatment may only begin two years after referral. In Canada, you can be prescribed blockers after 15 minutes. Theres food for thought there, no matter what side of the debate you are on.

The Q & A was intense but restrained.

Standouts: a young woman, a detransitioner who had stopped taking hormones and wished to live in accordance with her biology, spoke quietly and sadly about her experience of being encouraged into hormonal transitioning by therapists in spite of a history of depression. She had experienced suicidal ideation as a result of her experience. She believes therapists should insist that anyone with depression be treated primarily for that, only secondarily for gender dysphoria.

Literally and figuratively on the other side of the room, a young transman countered with I was mentally ill and also trans, declaring that if it were not for rapid affirmation and treatment, he would have committed suicide. Dr. Zucker responded that in his opinion an individual is not getting good quality care if she or he is not treated holistically. He noted, however, that some advocates are arguing that mental health people should no longer be involved in the transition process altogether.

Thats worrisome for those of us opposed to radical trans solipsism, because what is argued for today may well be public policy tomorrow. After all, conversion therapy is illegal in some provinces already, and a Senate Bill (S-260), presently in first reading, seeks to have it included in the Criminal Code.

Many of the attendees were academics in this domain. Prof Veissires was gratified in particular that a leading trans positive researcher in the field from the Universit de Montral had not only attended, but engaged in a collegial discussion with Dr. Zucker during the Q & A, and afterward. This was precisely the form of reconciliation he was seeking to encourage.

One student spoke to the freedom of speech issue, arguing that even if people feel harmed, higher education institutions exist to accomplish goals that override the putative right not to be offended. Universities must deliberate all sides of issues, so that later we arent flailing making policy decisions. The Neuro, he pointed out, is not only a learning institution but a clinic that aims to relieve actual harms and sufferings. Theres a cost/benefit analysis to be done.

As you see, the mixed audience raised a gamut of difficult questions, and I think all present felt their minds were stretched in a positive way by the need to juggle their own settled opinions with opinions they do not normally hear in their academic and social silos. Was the young transman harmed by hearing the point of the view of the detransitioning woman? Were the many trans allies present harmed by the opinion that freedom of speech in universities should take precedence over the wish not to be offended? I saw no evidence of that, and I hope all those present would agree that the space was safe for everyone.

If you have read this far, I congratulate you on your stamina and thank you for your patience. I have gone on at such length, because although McGills administration stood fast on this invitation, I have seen enough of the correspondence around the event between and amongst trans stakeholders in the McGill community to fear that wheels have been set in motion with a view to formal internal roadblocks that would preclude further invitations to speakers whose views do not align with those of gender-fluidity theorists. I therefore wanted to be on record in a detailed way as a witness to the success of the program.

Two attendees referred to Dr. Zuckers presence as provocative. The logic in applying the word provocative is circular. Basically, it means, We, trans advocates and allies, do not approve of Dr. Zuckers findings or conclusions or clinical principles because some of them conflict with our preferred understanding of the phenomenon of gender dysphoria. We cannot prove that our findings are more scientifically viable than his, but since his are offensive to us, they must be provocative in general.

This is the Humpty-Dumpty school of rhetoric. It is professionally feckless, not to mention an unworthy smear of Prof Veissire, whose compassion for gender-dysphoric people is palpable, and whose invitation to an ultra-accredited colleague to speak on the issue was issued in good faith.

Moreover, there is debate within the trans community itself overdiagnosis and treatment, and many non-ideological trans people find such provocative opinions as Dr. Zuckers both reasonable and admirable. Where childrens interests are at stake, the precautionary principle should never be considered offensive. Provocative should be reserved for hatemongers, or speakers of dubious accreditation in spouting demonstrably fallacious theories (an accusation often directed at gender theorists themselves, but without attempts to de-platform them on that account).

Beyond suggesting that Dr. Zuckers ideas are both wrong and dangerous, there is a further dimension to the word provocative that I think most people outside the trans movement find disturbing.

The trans movement has worked very hard to normalize the concept of gender fluidity. Transgenderism is often wrongly conflated with homosexuality. But living happily gay does not involve bodily changes, lifelong medication or surgery to produce psychological comfort with ones biology or gender.

As a consequence of accepting that gender transitioning is normal, however, one must accept easy and immediate affirmation, and everything that goes with itpuberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, surgeries, infertilityas normal too. If society, in general, accepts this premise, then parents who wish to slow down this allegedly normal process may legitimately be labelled obstructive. Their stubbornness in resisting rapid affirmation may be labelled provocative as well.

As a result, prudent and protective parentswhat I would call normal parents are often positioned as enemies of the childand their status as enemies is often communicated to the child. The isolated child finds a new family amongst the many trans allies only too happy to welcome him or her into the fold. The distress of parents caught up in this Kafkaesque nightmare, as I learned firsthand from interviewing parents of ROGD teenagers, cannot be overstated.

Observers in the public are extremely uneasy about this situation. They know very well that true gender dysphoria is quite rare. But they also know that in the present cultural climate, it is increasingly difficult to find a therapist or educator who does not recommend instant affirmation. They feel they will be vilified for stating the obvious in what they wish for their children.

They know, and so do we all that: it is preferable to be comfortable in your own body than uncomfortable; it is preferable to expend ones mental energies on the world around one than to be constantly mentally consumed by ones gender identity; it is preferable to live a life free of daily hormone ingestion and not at risk for their negative side effects than to be condemned to a lifetime of them; it is preferable to know that having children or not will be an informed adult choice than a choice made for you when you are incompetent to understand its ramifications; it is preferable to live life in a whole body than in a mutilated one; it is preferable to have uncomplicated sexual relations as an adult than complicated.

All parents want to see their children following the path of least resistance to health and happiness. Thus, all these statements being so evidently true, they ought to be considered banal. But todaybecause it is provocative they must not voice these banalities. They are afraid, reasonably so, that they will be labelled transphobic.

Sadly, we now see parents who pretend for the sake of wokeness that it is a matter of indifference to them whether their child is comfortable in his or her natal sex or prefers to transition. We even see parents who establish an artificial environment of gender neutrality to create a level playing field between the two outcomes. They win fawning plaudits from a vocal band of activists, but the silent majority of people are appalled by such social engineering, the use of ones own children as gender-theory lab rats

This is why many of those who can afford to turn to Dr. Zucker for guidance when their children show signs of gender confusion, which may be transient or early evidence of homosexuality, or which may be signs of genuine and permanent self-identification as the opposite sex. They know he will allow them to express their preference and their fears without judgment, but if it turns out to be necessary, will help them to accept what they fear with empathy.

I walked down the mountain from The Neuro to Sherbrooke St with Dr. Zucker after the event, and we held an informal post mortem of it. That it was not cancelled was in his eyes a good outcome.

We both mused on the strangeness of trans activists demands that they be part of every presentation regarding gender dysphoria. Their slogan, nothing about us without us suggests that researchers are talking about them as individuals rather than the phenomenon of gender dysphoria. To my mind, theres a certain narcissism in such an absurd implication. Anorexics do not demand to be given equal time with anorexia researchers in the public forum. Neither do people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, even though in the past science was not particularly kind to them either.

Dr. Zucker treats children from toddlerhood on. Exploration of all contributing factors is extensive and as leisurely as necessary. He says occasionally a therapeutic breakthrough can turn on a dime. In one case, as an example, the underlying issue for the girl a natal female expressing the wish to transition to male was a conflict with her abusive father. Her epiphany came one day when Dr. Zucker asked her, If you are afraid of your father, why do you want to be the same gender as he is? This brought her up short, he said, and she was silent. The next day, she told him she had decided she wanted to remain a girl.

I asked him how many of his patients resolved their distress without a need for transitioning, and ended up identifying with their natal sex. As if he knew that question was cominghe surely must have knownDr. Zucker briskly replied, eighty-eight percent. It is probably just as well that the question and the provocative answer did not arise in the Q&A.

See the rest here:
Convicted sex predator of young children to be released for being trans - The Post Millennial

A novel drug based on a natural compound found in broccoli, kale and other cruciferous vegetables could hold the key to reversing or even preventing resistance to breast cancer hormone therapy, new research has found.Scientists from the University of Manchester found that drug SFX-01 which has shown promise in a phase II trial (STEM) as a treatment for secondary breast cancer that is already resistant to hormone therapy could reverse or even prevent resistance to hormone therapy by blocking a key cancer signaling pathway (a chain of reactions within cancer cells) called STAT3.

Breast cancer is the UKs most common cancer, with around 55,000 women and approximately 370 men being diagnosed throughout the country each year.

Up to 80% of breast cancers are encouraged to grow by the hormone estrogen and are known as estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer, which accounts for up to 44,000 cases each year in the UK.

While hormone therapy (which blocks the effect of estrogen) is very effective in reducing the risk of recurrence for most, around a third of patients with ER positive breast cancer see their disease return within 15 years, and some of these are due to the cancer developing resistance to treatment.

SFX-01 inspired by a natural plant-derived compound called sulforaphane, which was first discovered in cruciferous vegetables such as rocket, broccoli and kale has recently been shown in a clinical trial to delay the progression of incurable secondary breast cancer in women whose disease has already developed resistance to hormone therapy.

In a new study led by Dr Bruno Simes, Dr Sacha Howell and Professor Rob Clarke at the University of Manchester, researchers investigated the effect of SFX-01 alone, or in combination with tamoxifen or fulvestrant, in patient samples and in mice to understand how the drug works and how it can be best used to treat breast cancer.

They found that SFX-01 reduced the ability of specialized cells called breast cancer stem cells to form tumors in mice, with the drug also reducing the ability of breast cancer cells to form secondary tumors in the mices lungs.

The researchers then looked at the gene activity levels within the breast cancer stem cells from hormone therapy-resistant tumor samples from patients, finding that the cancer stem cells relied heavily on the STAT3 signaling pathway, which can become active in response to hormone therapy and lead to treatment resistance.

SFX-01 blocked the STAT3 signaling pathway and reversed the effects that may lead to hormone therapy resistance.

In a recent phase II trial (STEM) in patients with ER positive secondary breast cancer that had already started becoming resistant to hormone therapy, 25% of participants benefitted from the addition of SFX-01 to hormone therapybut the mechanism of why this worked was not known until now.

Further research is now focusing on understanding why certain patients tumors are sensitive to SFX-01 and whether an accompanying diagnostic test for activity of the STAT3 signaling pathway could be used to identify the patients that would benefit the most from this treatment.

It is also hoped that SFX-01 could in future be added to hormone therapies such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors from the outset of treatment to increase their effectiveness in patients with primary breast cancer.

Co-author Dr Bruno Simes, Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, said:

Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer is the most common breast cancer. These cancers frequently develop resistance to hormone therapies, which is a major clinical problem that we are working to address.

We are excited by our findings that combining standard hormone therapies with SFX-01 could improve treatment of some breast cancer patients by reversing resistance driven by the STAT3 signaling pathway.

With the success of the recent clinical trial in secondary breast cancer, we hope that further studies will now help to identify which patients may benefit the most from this drug so that it could soon reach the clinic.

Dr Simon Vincent, Director of Research at Breast Cancer Now, which helped to fund the study, said:

Its really exciting that SFX-01 could in future help to improve the effectiveness of hormone therapies and prevent or treat the return of breast cancer. While hormone therapy is effective for most women, around a third still see their breast cancer return and we urgently need to find new ways to tackle and prevent drug resistance.

This important discovery reveals exactly how SFX-01 can help overcome hormone therapy resistance and we hope it could now open the door to it being used from the outset of treatment, to prevent resistance from developing in the first place.

We look forward to results of further trials to fully understand who is likely to benefit most and at what stage of treatment it should be added to hormone therapy to give patients the best chance of survival.

The study is being presented at the UK Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Symposium, hosted by Breast Cancer Now.

Read the rest here:
Novel Drug May Reverse Breast Cancer Hormone Therapy Resistance - Technology Networks