It's My Ovaries, Stupid!

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Edition: Revised
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2007-01-31
Publisher(s): Savvy Woman's Guide Pub Inc
List Price: $21.35

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Summary

First women's health book to deal with the environmental toxins and lifestyle habits that act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals causing profound damage to ovarian and thyroid hormones, leaving thousands of premenopausal women infertile and suffering from symptoms of hormone dysfunction previously associated with much older women. Devastating symptoms such as premature puberty, endometriosis, headaches, PCOS, obesity, diabetes, chronic fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia and more are all on the rise. Despite warnings from environmental scientists, healthcare simply isn't addressing these issues. From diet drinks, plastic food wrappers, phytoestrogens in food and supplements to common household pesticides and cleaning products, Dr. Vliet identifies these endocrine disruptors and provides a plan to combat them and lead a healthy life.No woman can afford to ignore these issues. Publishers Weekly states, ".women who want to be more knowledgeable and assertive patients will find it indispensable." Patient raves, "After bouncing from doctor to doctor with symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpititations, Dr. Vliet correctly diagnosed my hormonal problems. She gave me my life back!"

Table of Contents

Introduction To Revised Editionp. 3
Overview of the Problem-How I Came to Write This Bookp. 9
My Medical Journey as a "Hormone Detective"p. 9
Now, What About You?p. 11
Dr. Vliet's Guide to the Most Common Reasons for Consultsp. 12
Your Hormone Web: Effects Throughout Your Bodyp. 13
How Does This Relate to Me? I Am Too Young for Menopausep. 13
A Flaw in the Medical Model for Womenp. 15
Taking Care of the Ovaries: Whose Job is It, Really?p. 17
It IS Possible-and Desirable-to Test Ovarian Hormonesp. 18
Hormones Alone Are Not the Answerp. 19
Your Road Map to this Bookp. 21
Kristi's Poemp. 24
When Ovaries Go Awryp. 29
It's Not All In Your Head-It Can Be Hormones!p. 30
Women's Lives, Women's Storiesp. 30
The Hidden Epidemicp. 33
What is Premature Ovarian Decline POD?p. 33
What is Premature Ovarian Failure POP?p. 36
The Hidden Epidemic: What's Different Now?p. 37
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Endocrine Disrupters (chart)p. 39
Your Ovaries: An Owner's Manualp. 41
Your Ovary As Hormone Factoryp. 46
How Do Hormones Trigger Actions?p. 48
Dr. Vliet's Guide: Body Changes Affected By The Menstrual Cyclep. 50
Hormone Power: Incredible Potency from Your Ovariesp. 53
Progesteronep. 55
Testosteronep. 58
The Hormone Cycle of Your Breastsp. 61
Hormone Cycles and Your Bodyp. 62
A Guide to Your Other Hormonesp. 63
Your Ovaries and Their Life Cyclep. 67
Before Pubertyp. 67
Puberty: The Awakening of Our Ovariesp. 68
Premature Puberty: When Puberty Comes Too Soonp. 70
Premature Puberty-A Myriad of Health Issuesp. 71
Physicalp. 71
Psychologicalp. 72
Sociological-culturalp. 73
Theories about Causes of Premature Pubertyp. 73
Environmental Chemicalsp. 73
Dietary Excessp. 75
Sociological Pressuresp. 75
The Ovary Life Cycle Continues: Our Fertile Yearsp. 76
Premenopause: The Waning of Our Ovariesp. 77
New Insights on Stages of Ovarian Declinep. 77
Dr. Vliet's Model: Stages of Ovarian Declinep. 78
Declining Estradiolp. 78
Beginning of Anovulatory Cyclesp. 79
Dr. Vliet's Model: Stages of Ovarian Declinep. 80
Perimenopausep. 81
Menopausal Stagep. 81
The Sixties and Beyond: Postmenopausal Stagep. 84
Premature Ovarian Declinep. 85
Dr. Vliet's Guide: Overlooked Causes Of PODp. 87
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Clues To Declining Estradiolp. 88
Ovaries At Risk-Surprising Toxins in Your Dietp. 91
The Soft Drink-Fast Food Menacep. 92
What Are Excitotoxins and Where Are They Foundp. 92
Brain Basics: Your Body's CEO and COOp. 96
The Brain's Communicatorsp. 96
Dr. Vliet's Guide: Major Brain Areas And What They Dop. 98
The Many Triggers Of Mood And Anxiety Problemsp. 101
How Do Excitotoxins Affect the Pituitary and Ovaries?p. 102
Sensitive Sites, Hardest Hitp. 102
Dose Effects: Animals and Humans, Infants, and Adultsp. 103
Other Diet Risks for Your Ovaries: Excess Fats and Sugarsp. 105
Excess Fats and Your Ovaries: What's The Connection?p. 106
Sugars in Soft Drinks and Everywhere Elsep. 106
Vegetarian Dietsp. 107
Dr. Vliet's Guide: Sticker Shockp. 110
Gender Bendersp. 111
What Are Endocrine Disruptors and What Do They Do?p. 112
Why Is This Such a Problem Now?p. 114
Who are the Players in this Hormone-disrupting Drama?p. 114
Chronology: Development of and Human Exposure to Synthetic Endocrine Disruptors (POPs)p. 115
Where Are The-Chemical Endocrine Disruptors Found?p. 116
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Endocrine-disrupting Chemicalsp. 118
What Are Gender-bending Endocrine Disruptors Doing To You?p. 121
How Do They Work To Disrupt Our Own Hormones?p. 122
False Reassurances, Hidden Dangersp. 122
The Emerging Truthp. 122
Estrogenic Subverters: POPs Wicked Tricksp. 123
Dr. Vliet's Guide to How Endocrine Disrupters Workp. 125
Endocrine Disrupters and Breast Cancerp. 126
Synthetic Estrogenic Substances: What We Learned from DES?p. 130
Beyond the Ovary: Effects on the Thyroidp. 133
Heavy Metals and Menstrual Disturbancesp. 134
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Chemical Disruption Of Thyroid Pathwaysp. 137
Chronology: The DES Time Linep. 138
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Consequences of DES Exposurep. 139
Toxic Effectsp. 141
Cigarette Smokingp. 141
Dr. Vliet's Guide: Smoking hurts!p. 145
Alcoholp. 148
Gender Mattersp. 149
Marijuanap. 152
CNS stimulants: Cocaine and othersp. 154
Dr. Vliet's Guide Life Style Habitsp. 156
Ovary Shut Downp. 157
Long Days, Short Nights, Overloaded Lives!p. 157
Stress and What it Does to Your Healthp. 160
What Exactly is Stress?p. 161
The Fight-or-Flight Responsep. 162
Stress, Estrogen and Copingp. 163
Prenatal Stress: Does it Set Up Problems for Life?p. 165
Dr. Vliet's Guide to How Stress Sabotages Your Healthp. 166
Sleep Deprivation: Toxic to Your Ovaries and Your Healthp. 167
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Adverse Health Effects Of Excess Cortisolp. 168
Sleep 101p. 169
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Some Common Causes Of Insomniap. 171
Your Hormones and Sleepp. 172
When Sleep Isn't Normal: Sleep Disorders and Your Healthp. 173
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Normal Sleep Architecturep. 174
Anger and Our Hormones: Toxic Effects of Negativityp. 176
Lifestyle Habits and Cultural Issuesp. 181
Lessons from the Track: A Young Woman's Wake Up Callp. 182
Athletic Training and Your Ovariesp. 184
Chronic Dieting, Anorexia, and Bulimia-Risks to Your Ovariesp. 186
Another Diet Pitfall: The Low-Fat Diet and Your Ovariesp. 189
Occupational Hazards-Forewarned is Forearmedp. 191
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Flight Attendants Risksp. 192
Negative Self-talk, Self-imagep. 192
Unusual Effectsp. 195
Toxins from Ticks, Spiders and Virusesp. 195
Chlamydia and Other Sexually transmitted Diseasesp. 198
Thyroid Disorders and Your Ovariesp. 200
A Guide to Your Thyroid Hormonesp. 201
The Role of Iodine and Iodine Deficiencyp. 204
Hypothyroidismp. 205
Hypothyroidism before Pubertyp. 206
Hypothyroidism occurring in adolescencep. 207
Hypothyroidism occurring in adult women or during pregnancyp. 208
Dr. Vliet's Comparison Guidep. 209
Dr. Vliet's Summary: Effects Of Thyroid Hormones On Your Ovaries And Ovarian Hormonesp. 210
Hyperthyroidismp. 211
Hyperthyroidism before pubertyp. 211
Hyperthyroidism occurring in adolescents and adult womenp. 212
Hyperthyroidism in pregnancyp. 212
Post-partum Thyroid Disorders: Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism and Autoimmune Thyroiditisp. 213
Dr. Vliet's Summary: Effects Of Thyroid Hormonesp. 218
Oophoritis and Adrenalitis: Autoimmune Disorders Affecting The Ovaries and Adrenal Glandsp. 218
Overactive or Underactive Adrenals: Impact on Your Ovariesp. 220
When Cortisol is Too High: Cushing's Syndromep. 221
When Cortisol is Too Low: Addison's or Adrenal Insufficiency (AI)p. 222
Summaryp. 223
Ovaries at Risk: Unrecognized Problemsp. 225
Hysterectomy-Another Cause of Premature Hormone Lossp. 228
Common Medicationsp. 231
The 21st Century "Tonic": Serotonin Boosters, Mood-Managersp. 231
Heart Side Effects of Common Medicinesp. 235
Other Common Medication Pitfalls for Womenp. 236
Antibioticsp. 236
Beta-blockersp. 236
High progestin birth control pillsp. 236
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Causes of LQTSp. 237
Soy, Supplements, Herbs and OTC Hormones: Pitfalls for Your Ovariesp. 238
Plant Estrogens (Phytoestrogens)p. 239
Lessons from Women's Experiencesp. 242
Additional Herb and Supplement Cautionsp. 244
Ovaries Out of Balance: PMS, Endometriosis, Bladder and Vulva Painp. 247
Premenstrual Syndrome ("PMS")p. 249
What Are Some of the Causes of PMS?p. 251
Hormonal Fluctuations: A Key Factorp. 251
Dr. Vliet's Guide to PMS: Another Vicious Cyclep. 255
Endometriosisp. 256
What is Endometriosis and Why is It a Problem?p. 257
How Do I Know Whether I Might Have Endometriosis?p. 259
Red Flags: Clues to Endometriosis or Adenonyosisp. 259
What causes it?p. 260
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Risk Factors For Endometriosisp. 262
Ovary Hormones and Your Bladderp. 262
Early Estrogen Decline and Vulvodyniap. 264
Non-hormonal Causes of Bladder or Vulvar Painp. 265
Bladder And Vaginal Effects Of Estradiol Declinep. 266
Chronic Bladder"Infections:"Is It Really an Infection or My Hormones?p. 267
"Leaky Bladders"-Young Women Can Be Affected Toop. 269
Ovarian Hormones and the Brainp. 273
Ovarian Hormones and the Brainp. 275
Summary: Estradiol And Your Brainp. 275
Estrogen Effectsp. 276
Testosterone Effectsp. 278
Progesterone Effectsp. 278
Post-partum Anxiety, Depression, Memory and Sleep Problemsp. 279
Where Are We Now?p. 282
Hormone Crashes and Withdrawalp. 282
Other Brain Effects: Hormone Triggers of Anxiety Racing heart, flutters, and palpitationsp. 286
Understanding Hormonally-triggered Migrainesp. 287
Hormone Effects on Migraine Mechanismsp. 288
Estrogen and Progesterone Effects on Headachep. 288
The Role of Progesterone and Progestinsp. 289
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Mechanisms of Estrogen Effects on Headachesp. 290
Pregnancy Effects on Migrainep. 291
How Do Oral Contraceptives Affect Migraine?p. 291
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Potential BCP Effects On Migrainesp. 293
Hormones and Seizuresp. 294
Hormones and Memory: "Now What Was It I Was Going to Do?"p. 295
Some Basics About How Memory Worksp. 296
Advances in Neuroscience: Estrogen Effects on Memoryp. 297
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Estrogen Effects On Memoryp. 299
Multiple Sclerosis: New Insights on Hormone Connectionsp. 300
Hormonal Decline: An Unrecognized Cause of Fatiguep. 302
Summaryp. 308
The Perils of PCOS, Obesity, Syndrome X, and Diabetesp. 309
PCOS: Hormonal Havoc That Devastates Healthp. 310
What are the symptoms of PCOS?p. 311
Marked weight gainp. 311
Excess facial and body hairp. 312
Thinning scalp hair, or hair lossp. 312
Severe acnep. 312
Irregular menstrual cyclesp. 313
Difficulty getting pregnant, or frequent miscarriagesp. 313
Hormone Havoc: Serious Imbalancesp. 313
Master of Disguisep. 314
Why PCOS Is Often Missedp. 315
Causes of PCOSp. 316
Do I have PCOS? Getting Testedp. 317
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Laboratory Studies To Check for PCOSp. 317
Taking a Look at Some Examplesp. 318
Hormone Levels of 16 year-old PCOS patientp. 318
Getting Help for PCOS: What Are Some Treatments?p. 319
Medication Approachesp. 320
Oral Contraceptives, or birth control pills (BCP)p. 320
Ovarian Hormone Replacement Therapyp. 320
Insulin-sensitizing Medicationp. 320
Androgen-blocking Medicationsp. 321
Mood-managing Medicinesp. 321
Non-medication Approachesp. 322
The Poignancy of PCOS: Women's Storiesp. 323
Body Fat Promotersp. 327
How Glucose is Regulated: The See-Saw of Insulin and Glucagonp. 327
Hypoglycemia and Glucose Intolerancep. 328
Insulin Resistance, or Syndrome Xp. 329
Diabetes Mellitusp. 332
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Causes of Excess Insulinp. 334
The Many Faces of Infertility: Overlooked Factorsp. 335
Subclinical Thyroid Fertility Saboteursp. 336
Undiagnosed Thyroiditisp. 336
Suboptimal Thyroid Hormone Replacementp. 337
Foods and Medicines that Diminish Thyroid Functionp. 337
Dieting Disruptors of Your Thyroidp. 338
Ovarian Hormone Imbalancesp. 339
Premature decline in estradiolp. 339
Overlooking PCOS and Excess Androgensp. 340
Progesterone excess, use of OTC progesterone creamsp. 340
Endocrine Disruptors in Your Lifestyle and Habitsp. 341
Dieting, especially extremely low fat diets, high soy dietsp. 341
Excessive Thinnessp. 341
Obesityp. 342
Too much exercisep. 342
Excess stress, and sleep deprivationp. 342
Herbs That Sabotage Your Fertilityp. 342
Excitotoxins in soft drinks, snacks, and convenience foodsp. 343
Cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, excess caffeine and stimulant usep. 344
Chemical exposure at home or workp. 344
Your Ovaries-Effects on All Your Body Systemsp. 347
Your Ovaries Are Connected to Your Eyes, Skin, Hair, Eyes, Voicep. 347
Estrogen and Your Eyesp. 347
Estrogen and Your Skinp. 349
Hormones and Your Hairp. 350
Estrogen and Your Sinusesp. 350
Hormones and Your Voicep. 351
Ovaries and Your Gut: A Panoply of Problemsp. 353
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)p. 353
Chronic Constipationp. 355
Ovaries and Your Heartp. 356
Cardiovascular Symptoms or Disease? Tell The Differencep. 361
Dr. Vliet's Guide: Key Estradiol Benefits On Our Heart, Blood Vesselsp. 361
Ovaries and Your Lungs: Asthma and Your Menstrual Cyclep. 362
Asthma Triggers in Your Medicines and Foodsp. 365
Immune System Goes Awry: Allergies, Food, Chemical Sensitivitiesp. 365
Ovaries and Your Bones: Osteoporosis Isn't Just for Older Womenp. 366
Fredricka's Storyp. 366
Other Risk Factors for Bone Loss in Young Womenp. 368
Techniques For Measuring Bone Densityp. 369
Testing for Bone Lossp. 370
Oh My Aching Muscles: Hormone Connections in Aches and Painsp. 370
Mechanisms of Hormone Effects on Muscles and Jointsp. 371
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Common Hormone Shifts Causing Muscle And Joint Pain Problems In Womenp. 371
Balancing Ovarian Hormones for Optimal Healthp. 375
Finding Your Hormone Balancep. 375
Get Testedp. 375
What is the best method of testing hormones?p. 376
What serum blood tests should I request?p. 377
What tests are important in a comprehensive hormone evaluation?p. 379
Step 2 Evaluating your risks and identifying your needsp. 380
Setting the record straight on hormonesp. 381
What about the studies that show taking estrogen after menopause increases your risk of breast cancer?p. 381
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Tests For An Overall Health Assessmentp. 382
Are all estrogens the same?p. 383
Are all birth control pills the same?p. 383
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Tests For An Overall Health Assessmentp. 383
Do estrogen and/or progestin in BCP cause blood clots?p. 384
Does taking hormones make you fat?p. 384
I am concerned about taking birth control pills because of previous bad experiences. Have they changed?p. 384
My doctor prescribed PremProp. 385
A recent study showed HRT doesn't prevent heart diseasep. 385
Choosing a hormone approachp. 386
Natural vs. Syntheticp. 387
"Natural," bioidentical human estrogensp. 388
Synthetic Estrogens: not native to the human bodyp. 389
Phytoestrogensp. 389
At the Fork in the Road: Deciding What to Takep. 390
Using Birth Control Pills As "Hormone Stabilizers"p. 390
So how do you choose a birth control pill?p. 392
Common Side Effects with BCPp. 393
Transitioning: BCP to Menopause HRT Optionsp. 394
Beneficial Effects Of Oral Contraceptivesp. 395
The Other Fork in the Roadp. 396
Forms of Estradiolp. 396
FDA-approved Estradiol Optionsp. 396
Patch or Pill?p. 397
Dr. Vliet's Guide: Advantages of Transdermal Estradiol Over Oralp. 398
Migraines and Estradiol and Patchesp. 398
Progesteronep. 399
Testosterone or DHEAp. 401
Monitor Effectiveness and Adjust as Neededp. 403
If You Are Sensitive to Progestins-What Else is Available?p. 404
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Testosterone And DHEA Effectsp. 406
Test and Treat Strategies for Optimal
Thyroid, Adrenal, and Glucose-Insulin Balancep. 407
Thyroid Tests: What to Have Checked, How To Interpret Your Resultsp. 407
Go for What's Optimal, Not Just What's "Normal"p. 408
The Dangers of 'Wilson's Syndrome "Protocols and Relying on Basal Body Temperature Testsp. 410
When To Consider Starting Thyroid Medicationp. 411
Thyroid Medication Optionsp. 412
To Be Safe: Start Low, Go Slowp. 414
Cortisol: What to Have Checked, How To Interpret Your Resultsp. 416
Getting Tested for Insulin and Glucosep. 417
Fasting Testsp. 417
Post-prandial (after meals) Testsp. 418
Other Testsp. 418
Insulin Resistance: More Complete Sensitive Testsp. 419
Effective Treatment Strategies, Get Your Glucose, Insulin in Balancep. 420
Starting Your "Clean-Up Campaign"p. 423
Eliminating Hormone-disrupting Habitsp. 423
Cigarette Smokingp. 423
Alcoholp. 424
Excess Caffeinep. 424
Stimulant "Diet" Pillsp. 425
Cocainep. 426
Cleaning Up Your Diet, Getting Rid of Excitotoxinsp. 426
Hidden Sources of MSG and Excitotoxinsp. 427
Cleaning Up the PVCsp. 428
Cleaning Up Your Bedroom Habitsp. 428
Cleaning Up Your Workaholismp. 429
Clean Up Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Around Youp. 430
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Sleep-improving Strategiesp. 431
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Ways To Minimize Your Body Exposure To Endocrine Disruptersp. 435
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Ways To Minimize Toxic Chemicals At Homep. 436
Dr. Vliet's Guide to Ways To Minimize Toxic Chemicals At Homep. 437
Create Your Path to Optimal Energy and Healthp. 439
Kate's Successful Journeyp. 440
Going forward on your journeyp. 443
Dr. Vliet's Tips: Your Path to Healthp. 446
Glossary Of Medical Termsp. 447
List of Medical Acronyms Used in This Bookp. 447
Referencesp. 449
470
Dr. Vliet's Programs and How to Contact Usp. 470
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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