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FIT FOR LIFE |
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Findlay pharmacist conducts seminar on menopause
By: Mary Ann Wasserman
The Toledo Journal
Originally posted 6/29/2010
Stanley Scarbrough, RPh, answered an eternal question for women: Why is it that I can go and work out for a while and I am only sore?
''Metabolism changes a lot during menopause and activity of thyroid hormone also drops,'' the Findlay pharmacist told a group of about 16 women at Greater St. Mary Baptist Church’s Women’s Book Club and Saturday, June 26.
He has heard women voice other concerns, including ''I do not seem to be losing any weight'' and ''I do not respond to exercise the way I did before.''
''Most women I see don’t eat much,'' Mr. Scarbrough said during his presentation, ''Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy and Weight Gain.''
To further explain a triple whammy, Mr. Scarbrough raised the hormones estrogen and progesterone to a cast of chemical heroes. He says both substances are produced by the ovaries.
Estrogen is a growth hormone that stimulates cells for growth and division. Progesterone has a calming effect on the brain and affects every part of the body.
While estrogen is most active at daytime, progesterone roams the body’s ranges at night.
''As age comes along, hormone levels decline,'' Mr. Scarbrough said. ''However, the hormones do not decline equally.''
Therein lies the rub. Women can note a change in their physical appearance at about age 40. An imbalance of estrogen can lead to anxiety. The brain is stimulated by estrogen, but there is not the calming effect of progesterone. When progesterone levels are low, everything can be of annoyance.
''Progesterone is also involved in creativity,'' Mr. Scarbrough said, in the sense of artistic or musical efforts.
He cautioned ladies in attendance to think twice before doing hormone replacement with synthetic substances. The pharmacist explained artificial substances are not found in a woman’s body.
''We are putting something into the body which was never meant to be there,'' Mr. Scarbrough explained. ''We are replacing something natural with something not natural.''
To impress his tenet of going with nature, Mr. Scarbrough informed meeting attendees that conventional estrogen replacements were not found in the menstrual cycle.
''Some of our changes in hormones have large effects on the body,'' Mr. Scarbrough said.
As a subdivision into the world of heroes, Mr. Scarbrough also named good guy estriol. The hormone is the most abundant in the body and also comes only from a woman’s ovaries. A lack of estriol can cause bladder weakness, whereas he had an entire list of side effects of synthetic estrogen replacements.
Those bad guys include gallstones, breast tenderness, leg cramps, vaginal bleeding, headaches, high blood pressure, blood clots, nausea, and fluid retention.
Coming up tandem were side effects of synthetic progesterone: hair loss, jaundice, depression, acne, blackheads, backaches, edema, fever, flushing, insomnia, and a big one – weight gain.
To summarize the good effects of going with natural progesterone, Mr. Scarbrough said, ''Real progesterone is about as safe as you can get; the hormone is given to pregnant women and is the hormone of life.''
Then he came through with big news some of the women might be seeking to hear: ''Every woman needs lots of progesterone,'' Mr. Scarbrough said. ''The element shuts off a fat-making process.''
Ladies in attendance ran the gamut of age from youngsters to grandmothers. They all seemed to have varied reasons for attending the conference.
''To learn more about me, and the changes that we go through at a certain age in life and the reasons for a lack of speed and energy,'' said Lorine Bell.
Rosemary Holmes said she came to the meeting ''to learn more about menopause and what I can do to control it or prevent it – plus fellowship.''
'' ... It is good education to know how to treat different symptoms of menopause,'' Lisa Heard said. ''I’m not going through any changes at this point because I’m not old enough. I believe that the help treatments he talks about are beneficial to women.''
Chere LeGrant said, ''Hopefully, some ways, some natural remedies to menopause symptoms, a better way to manage it. I hope to better manage it.''
''To know information on menopause because that is something that some women don’t know the cause of it and how to treat it,'' Lorraine Mallett said.
Dorissa Moore-Heard said, ''I’m actually here to support my sister Renee.''
As contact person for the seminar, Renee Heard said follow-ups to the presentation will be available. ''We will then have a quarterly seminar and get feedback about how you are doing,'' Ms. Heard said.
Although licensed in the state of Ohio, Mr. Scarbrough said he was available for seminars beyond the state line of the Buckeye state to give the presentation, ''Hormone Replacement and Weight Gain,'' and others.
Mr. Scarbrough has been a pharmacist for 31 years and says he specializes in hormone replacement therapy.
''I am also known as a compounding pharmacist, actually putting the drugs together,'' Mr. Scarbrough said. ''I have been doing presentations for about 10 years.''
Ms. Heard said the Women’s Book Club is one of the educational arms of the church. She mentioned she wanted women in the congregation to know help is obtainable for managing menopause.
While finding out for themselves, Ms. Heard also said even if a woman is not experiencing menopause at the time, the seminar is educational and is something helpful. She said the Saturday session was to be part of a health series.
''I just want to help people,'' Ms. Heard said. ''I love people and helping people.''
Ms. Heard is one of the teachers of the Women’s Book Club. She is also a Sunday school teacher of the women’s class, is choir president, treasurer of the youth department, and aide to the church pastor.
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