INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (1255,1,'2013-01-14 12:22:36','2013-01-14 17:22:36','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/holy-hot-flash/httpwww-dreamstime-com-image10803682/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1261\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1261\" alt=\"http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-187x300.jpg\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\r\n\r\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\r\n\r\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago?  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\r\n\r\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\r\n\r\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\r\n\r\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all but during the first reading I\'d felt lightheaded.\r\n\r\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all week!\r\n\r\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\r\n\r\nOf course this could simply be the result of peri-menopause - I am 44 after all.  That being said my progesterone cream could have been controlling peri-menopause symptoms and going off the hormones triggered them.\r\n\r\nStay tuned for more information about how you could participate in a Canadian study on peri-menopause and progesterone.','Holy Hot Flash!','','publish','open','open','','holy-hot-flash','','\nhttp://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/','2013-01-14 12:27:38','2013-01-14 17:27:38','',0,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/?p=1255',0,'post','',3),(1227,1,'2013-01-07 15:13:40','0000-00-00 00:00:00','Detoxifying your body is done by the liver - estrogen has to be metabolized by your liver so be kind to your liver!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Love your Liver!','','draft','open','open','','love-your-liver','','','2013-01-07 15:13:40','2013-01-07 20:13:40','',0,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/?p=1227',0,'post','',0),(1228,1,'2013-01-08 16:50:10','0000-00-00 00:00:00','Each month I will be reviewing a different book about hormones and related health.  There are so many books out there and I have my favorites but for different reasons! When you go to the store to purchase a book it can be overwhelming to try to decide which hormone expert has the best book. I\'ve read most of the current books and many that aren\'t so current anymore so I know it\'s almost impossible to read them all and doesn\'t make sense to purchase them all so I will be reviewing them for you. I\'d love to hear your comments about the books or about my review - either way drop me a line.  ','Book Club','','draft','open','open','','book-club','','','2013-01-08 16:50:10','2013-01-08 21:50:10','',0,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/?p=1228',0,'post','',0),(1229,1,'2013-01-08 16:49:26','2013-01-08 21:49:26','Each month I will be reviewing a different book about hormones and related health.  There are so many books out there and I have my favorites but for different reasons! When you go to the store to purchase a book it can be overwhelming to try to decide which hormone expert is the best book. I\'ve read most of them so I know it\'s almost impossible to read them all and doesn\'t make sense to purchase them all so I will be reviewing them for you. I\'d love to hear your comments about the books or about my review - either way drop me a line.  ','Book Club','','inherit','open','open','','1228-revision','','','2013-01-08 16:49:26','2013-01-08 21:49:26','',1228,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1228-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1230,1,'2013-01-08 19:27:47','0000-00-00 00:00:00','The goal of my site is always to provide the best information I can find in support of women\'s hormone health. I read articles - A LOT of articles - oh and books too. Some are good, some are better but occasionally I come across just plain irresponsible articles about hormone health. I cannot abide irresponsible information sharing from a website that says it provides \"authoritative expert content\" and then even comments that the content has been reviewed by presumably a staff member.\n\nThe article that has gotten my attention recently is called, \"Bad Side-Effects of Natural Progesterone\". You all know that I take \"bio-identical\" progesterone. Of course I am definitely interested in an article that wants to talk about any potential negative side effects and I would readily share this information with my readers. Interestingly I haven\'t really come across any \"bad\" effects of bio-identical progesterone I figured it\'s because there\'s hardly any studies about the effects of bio-identical progesterone. I couldn\'t wait to read about what these bad side-effects might be.  Instead I instantly became disgusted by the irresponsibility of the website in question, the author of the article and the reviewer and I knew I had to address this with my readers.\n<ul>\n	<li>The article points to 4 studies. Not one of the studies is research on the use of progesterone in a practical application that women would use progesterone for.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions one study where pregnant sheep are injected for three days with progesterone and their lambs\' activity level decreases. He ends this paragraph by stating that <strong>\"Pregnant women should not take progesterone\"</strong>.  I admit I haven\'t read the study he speaks of but that sure sounds like a blatant misrepresentation of the study in my opinion.  Where are the preganant women in the study? Were the sheep progesterone deficient in the first place? How much and what type of progesterone were the sheep given? At what gestation? Most women I\'ve heard of taking progesterone during pregnancy take it in the first trimester in vaginal suppository, oral, or cream format.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions another study where women in a laboratory setting were given amphetamine\'s twice.  Once they were given natural progesterone before the dose of amphetamine &amp; the women reported greater feels of euphoria when pretreated with progesterone.  His final words are a caution that this could<strong> \"lead to progesterone becoming a drug of abuse\"</strong>.  Well you all know that I \"tongue-in-cheek\" refer to myself as the Progesterone Junkie.  I can tell you that I have never taken an amphetamine so I don\'t know if this is true or not. But wow - I\'m trying to imagine the illicit drug trade in progesterone and to be honest....I\'m having trouble.  I have to wonder at the purpose of this study and in fact need to dig around and find it so I can review it.    Someone actually received funding for a study on progesterone\'s effect on amphetamine use? I would love to see funding go to things like progesterone and recurrent miscarriage or mood disorders or infertility.</li>\n	<li>The author\'s final word on another mentioned study is \"Women, for example, should not drive after taking the hormone\" [progesterone].   So in this study apparently women were given natural progesterone, a placebo or a sleeping pill and the women given the hormone were apparently as sleepy as the ones who took the sleeping pill.  I\'m again curious about the facts of this research but none are really given.  So are these progesterone deficient women in the study or just random women who already have sufficient levels of the hormone in their system?  I\'d be curious.  Trust me this is a big and important issue for me - my teenage brother was killed by a man who fell asleep at the wheel because he was on sedating medication and SHOULD NOT have been driving. So please know I don\'t take this kind of information lightly.  Now remember progesterone is the \"calming\" hormone so again if you are deficient you are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiousness.  If you have progesterone excess it acts more like a depressant.  Again, though, here we have a case of irresponsible reporting of a study with a blatant warning for those of us who take progesterone not to drive.  Another study I will have to seek out.</li>\n	<li>The last study the author mentions is, in fact, interesting and refers to women who received progesterone to \"treat\" cervical cancer in addition to their other treatment.  He indicates that the woman given the progesterone showed less improvement, required more surgeries and that they regressed relative to the participants who were given a placebo.  So the final word is that \"Progesterone should not be taken by women with symptoms of cervical cancer.\"  I\'m not refuting this but I have to say I recently read a review of a 1951 Study by Hertz, et al. which reported the opposite - more than half of the 17 women that were treated with progesterone apparently showed improvement.  There may be other studies but the point here is that we need to review both sides and not make blanket statements about one study.</li>\n</ul>\nThe point I need to make here is that his article is supposed to be about \"bad side-effects\" as if directed to women who take bio-identical hormones for medical purposes, yet these 4 studies are all related to something other than what women are taking hormones for in the first place.  Please my dear and beloved readers when you are considering information about bio-identical hormones please consider the information carefully.  This article comes from a supposedly reputable source, the author is apparently a scientist and well educated in his field (not endocrinology) and  the article was reviewed by someone before it was published.  Well I say shame on all of you for mis-representing bio-identical progesterone.\n\nJust for the record here\'s my info:\n<ul>\n	<li>I\'m not an endocrinologist or doctor of any kind</li>\n	<li>I\'m a woman who survived a plethora of hormone health issues and found the cause and solution that fits ME</li>\n	<li>No one paid me to write this</li>\n	<li>I have no self-serving interests to promote bio-identical hormones (or not)</li>\n	<li>I am not a scientist but I believe strongly in critical thinking skills</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Readers Beware','','draft','open','open','','readers-beware','','','2013-01-08 19:27:47','2013-01-09 00:27:47','',0,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/?p=1230',0,'post','',0),(1231,1,'2013-01-08 18:46:38','2013-01-08 23:46:38','The goal of my site is always to provide the best information I can find in support of women\'s hormone health. I read articles - A LOT of articles - oh and books too. Some are good, some are better but occasionally I come across just plain irresponsible articleS about hormone health. I cannot abide irresponsible information sharing from a website that says it provides \"authoritative expert content\" and then even comments that the content has been reviewed by presumably a staff member.\n\nThe article that has gotten my attention recently is called, \"Bad Side-Effects of Natural Progesterone\". You all know that I take \"bio-identical\" progesterone. Of course I am definitely interested in an article that wants to talk about any potential negative side effects and I would readily share this information with my readers. Interestingly I haven\'t really come across any \"bad\" effects of bio-identical progesterone I figured it\'s because there\'s hardly any studies about the effects of bio-identical progesterone. I couldn\'t wait to read about what these bad side-effects might be.  Instead I instantly became disgusted by the irresponsibility of the website in question, the author of the article and the reviewer and I knew I had to address this with my readers.\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>The article points to 4 studies. Not one of the studies is research on the use of progesterone in a practical application that women would use progesterone for.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions one study where pregnant sheep are injected for three days with progesterone and their lambs\' activity level decreases. He ends this paragraph by stating that <strong>\"Pregnant women should not take progesterone\"</strong>.  I admit I haven\'t read the study he speaks of but that sure sounds like a blatant misrepresentation of the study in my opinion.  Where are the preganant women in the study? Were the sheep progesterone deficient in the first place? How much and what type of progesterone were the sheep given? At what gestation? Most women I\'ve heard of taking progesterone during pregnancy take it in the first trimester in vaginal suppository, oral, or cream format.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions another study where women in a laboratory setting were given amphetamine\'s twice.  Once they were given natural progesterone before the dose of amphetamine &amp; the women reported greater feels of euphoria when pretreated with progesterone.  His final words are a caution that this could \"lead to progesterone becoming a drug of abuse\".  Well you all know that I \"tongue-in-cheek\" refer to myself as the Progesterone Junkie.  I can tell you that I have never taken an amphetamine so I don\'t know if this is true or not but wow - I\'m trying to imagine the illicit drug trade in progesterone and to be honest....I\'m having trouble.  Seriously</li>\n	<li>The author\'s final word on this study is \"Women, for example, should not drive after taking the hormone.\"</li>\n</ul>','Readers Beware','','inherit','open','open','','1230-revision','','','2013-01-08 18:46:38','2013-01-08 23:46:38','',1230,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1230-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1232,1,'2013-01-08 18:56:07','2013-01-08 23:56:07','The goal of my site is always to provide the best information I can find in support of women\'s hormone health. I read articles - A LOT of articles - oh and books too. Some are good, some are better but occasionally I come across just plain irresponsible articleS about hormone health. I cannot abide irresponsible information sharing from a website that says it provides \"authoritative expert content\" and then even comments that the content has been reviewed by presumably a staff member.\n\nThe article that has gotten my attention recently is called, \"Bad Side-Effects of Natural Progesterone\". You all know that I take \"bio-identical\" progesterone. Of course I am definitely interested in an article that wants to talk about any potential negative side effects and I would readily share this information with my readers. Interestingly I haven\'t really come across any \"bad\" effects of bio-identical progesterone I figured it\'s because there\'s hardly any studies about the effects of bio-identical progesterone. I couldn\'t wait to read about what these bad side-effects might be.  Instead I instantly became disgusted by the irresponsibility of the website in question, the author of the article and the reviewer and I knew I had to address this with my readers.\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>The article points to 4 studies. Not one of the studies is research on the use of progesterone in a practical application that women would use progesterone for.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions one study where pregnant sheep are injected for three days with progesterone and their lambs\' activity level decreases. He ends this paragraph by stating that <strong>\"Pregnant women should not take progesterone\"</strong>.  I admit I haven\'t read the study he speaks of but that sure sounds like a blatant misrepresentation of the study in my opinion.  Where are the preganant women in the study? Were the sheep progesterone deficient in the first place? How much and what type of progesterone were the sheep given? At what gestation? Most women I\'ve heard of taking progesterone during pregnancy take it in the first trimester in vaginal suppository, oral, or cream format.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions another study where women in a laboratory setting were given amphetamine\'s twice.  Once they were given natural progesterone before the dose of amphetamine &amp; the women reported greater feels of euphoria when pretreated with progesterone.  His final words are a caution that this could<strong> \"lead to progesterone becoming a drug of abuse\"</strong>.  Well you all know that I \"tongue-in-cheek\" refer to myself as the Progesterone Junkie.  I can tell you that I have never taken an amphetamine so I don\'t know if this is true or not. But wow - I\'m trying to imagine the illicit drug trade in progesterone and to be honest....I\'m having trouble.  I have to wonder at the purpose of this study and in fact need to dig around and find it so I can review it.    Someone actually received funding for a study on progesterone\'s effect on amphetamine use? I would love to see funding go to things like progesterone and recurrent miscarriage or mood disorders or infertility.</li>\n	<li>The author\'s final word on another mentioned study is \"Women, for example, should not drive after taking the hormone\" [progesterone].   So in this study apparently women were given natural progesterone, a placebo or a sleeping pill and the women given the hormone were apparently as sleepy as the ones who took the sleeping pill.  I\'m again curious about the facts of this research but none are really given.  So are these progesterone deficient women in the study or just random women who already have sufficient levels of the hormone in their system?  I\'d be curious.  Trust me this is a big and important issue for me - my teenage brother was killed by a man who fell asleep at the wheel because he was on sedating medication and SHOULD NOT have been driving. So please know I don\'t take this kind of information lightly.  Now remember progesterone is the \"calming\" hormone so again if you are deficient you are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiousness.  If you have progesterone excess it acts more like a depressant.  Again</li>\n</ul>','Readers Beware','','inherit','open','open','','1230-revision-2','','','2013-01-08 18:56:07','2013-01-08 23:56:07','',1230,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1230-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1233,1,'2013-01-08 19:03:17','2013-01-09 00:03:17','The goal of my site is always to provide the best information I can find in support of women\'s hormone health. I read articles - A LOT of articles - oh and books too. Some are good, some are better but occasionally I come across just plain irresponsible articleS about hormone health. I cannot abide irresponsible information sharing from a website that says it provides \"authoritative expert content\" and then even comments that the content has been reviewed by presumably a staff member.\n\nThe article that has gotten my attention recently is called, \"Bad Side-Effects of Natural Progesterone\". You all know that I take \"bio-identical\" progesterone. Of course I am definitely interested in an article that wants to talk about any potential negative side effects and I would readily share this information with my readers. Interestingly I haven\'t really come across any \"bad\" effects of bio-identical progesterone I figured it\'s because there\'s hardly any studies about the effects of bio-identical progesterone. I couldn\'t wait to read about what these bad side-effects might be.  Instead I instantly became disgusted by the irresponsibility of the website in question, the author of the article and the reviewer and I knew I had to address this with my readers.\n\n&nbsp;\n<ul>\n	<li>The article points to 4 studies. Not one of the studies is research on the use of progesterone in a practical application that women would use progesterone for.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions one study where pregnant sheep are injected for three days with progesterone and their lambs\' activity level decreases. He ends this paragraph by stating that <strong>\"Pregnant women should not take progesterone\"</strong>.  I admit I haven\'t read the study he speaks of but that sure sounds like a blatant misrepresentation of the study in my opinion.  Where are the preganant women in the study? Were the sheep progesterone deficient in the first place? How much and what type of progesterone were the sheep given? At what gestation? Most women I\'ve heard of taking progesterone during pregnancy take it in the first trimester in vaginal suppository, oral, or cream format.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions another study where women in a laboratory setting were given amphetamine\'s twice.  Once they were given natural progesterone before the dose of amphetamine &amp; the women reported greater feels of euphoria when pretreated with progesterone.  His final words are a caution that this could<strong> \"lead to progesterone becoming a drug of abuse\"</strong>.  Well you all know that I \"tongue-in-cheek\" refer to myself as the Progesterone Junkie.  I can tell you that I have never taken an amphetamine so I don\'t know if this is true or not. But wow - I\'m trying to imagine the illicit drug trade in progesterone and to be honest....I\'m having trouble.  I have to wonder at the purpose of this study and in fact need to dig around and find it so I can review it.    Someone actually received funding for a study on progesterone\'s effect on amphetamine use? I would love to see funding go to things like progesterone and recurrent miscarriage or mood disorders or infertility.</li>\n	<li>The author\'s final word on another mentioned study is \"Women, for example, should not drive after taking the hormone\" [progesterone].   So in this study apparently women were given natural progesterone, a placebo or a sleeping pill and the women given the hormone were apparently as sleepy as the ones who took the sleeping pill.  I\'m again curious about the facts of this research but none are really given.  So are these progesterone deficient women in the study or just random women who already have sufficient levels of the hormone in their system?  I\'d be curious.  Trust me this is a big and important issue for me - my teenage brother was killed by a man who fell asleep at the wheel because he was on sedating medication and SHOULD NOT have been driving. So please know I don\'t take this kind of information lightly.  Now remember progesterone is the \"calming\" hormone so again if you are deficient you are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiousness.  If you have progesterone excess it acts more like a depressant.  Again, though, here we have a case of irresponsible reporting of a study with a blatant warning for those of us who take progesterone not to drive.  Another study I will have to seek out.</li>\n	<li>The last study the author mentions is, in fact, interesting and refers to women who received progesterone to \"treat\" cervical cancer in addition to their other treatment.  He indicates that the woman given the progesterone showed less improvement, required more surgeries and that they regressed relative to the participants who were given a placebo.  So the final word is that \"Progesterone should not be taken by women with symptoms of cervical cancer.\"  I\'m not refuting this but I have to say I recently read a study that showed the opposite - women were treated with progesterone and their lesions shrunk.  My point is that we need to review both sides.</li>\n	<li> The point I need to make here is that his article is supposed to be about \"bad side-effects\" as if directed to women who take bio-identical hormones for medical purposes, yet the</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;','Readers Beware','','inherit','open','open','','1230-revision-3','','','2013-01-08 19:03:17','2013-01-09 00:03:17','',1230,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1230-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1234,1,'2013-01-08 19:15:59','2013-01-09 00:15:59','The goal of my site is always to provide the best information I can find in support of women\'s hormone health. I read articles - A LOT of articles - oh and books too. Some are good, some are better but occasionally I come across just plain irresponsible articles about hormone health. I cannot abide irresponsible information sharing from a website that says it provides \"authoritative expert content\" and then even comments that the content has been reviewed by presumably a staff member.\n\nThe article that has gotten my attention recently is called, \"Bad Side-Effects of Natural Progesterone\". You all know that I take \"bio-identical\" progesterone. Of course I am definitely interested in an article that wants to talk about any potential negative side effects and I would readily share this information with my readers. Interestingly I haven\'t really come across any \"bad\" effects of bio-identical progesterone I figured it\'s because there\'s hardly any studies about the effects of bio-identical progesterone. I couldn\'t wait to read about what these bad side-effects might be.  Instead I instantly became disgusted by the irresponsibility of the website in question, the author of the article and the reviewer and I knew I had to address this with my readers.\n<ul>\n	<li>The article points to 4 studies. Not one of the studies is research on the use of progesterone in a practical application that women would use progesterone for.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions one study where pregnant sheep are injected for three days with progesterone and their lambs\' activity level decreases. He ends this paragraph by stating that <strong>\"Pregnant women should not take progesterone\"</strong>.  I admit I haven\'t read the study he speaks of but that sure sounds like a blatant misrepresentation of the study in my opinion.  Where are the preganant women in the study? Were the sheep progesterone deficient in the first place? How much and what type of progesterone were the sheep given? At what gestation? Most women I\'ve heard of taking progesterone during pregnancy take it in the first trimester in vaginal suppository, oral, or cream format.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions another study where women in a laboratory setting were given amphetamine\'s twice.  Once they were given natural progesterone before the dose of amphetamine &amp; the women reported greater feels of euphoria when pretreated with progesterone.  His final words are a caution that this could<strong> \"lead to progesterone becoming a drug of abuse\"</strong>.  Well you all know that I \"tongue-in-cheek\" refer to myself as the Progesterone Junkie.  I can tell you that I have never taken an amphetamine so I don\'t know if this is true or not. But wow - I\'m trying to imagine the illicit drug trade in progesterone and to be honest....I\'m having trouble.  I have to wonder at the purpose of this study and in fact need to dig around and find it so I can review it.    Someone actually received funding for a study on progesterone\'s effect on amphetamine use? I would love to see funding go to things like progesterone and recurrent miscarriage or mood disorders or infertility.</li>\n	<li>The author\'s final word on another mentioned study is \"Women, for example, should not drive after taking the hormone\" [progesterone].   So in this study apparently women were given natural progesterone, a placebo or a sleeping pill and the women given the hormone were apparently as sleepy as the ones who took the sleeping pill.  I\'m again curious about the facts of this research but none are really given.  So are these progesterone deficient women in the study or just random women who already have sufficient levels of the hormone in their system?  I\'d be curious.  Trust me this is a big and important issue for me - my teenage brother was killed by a man who fell asleep at the wheel because he was on sedating medication and SHOULD NOT have been driving. So please know I don\'t take this kind of information lightly.  Now remember progesterone is the \"calming\" hormone so again if you are deficient you are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiousness.  If you have progesterone excess it acts more like a depressant.  Again, though, here we have a case of irresponsible reporting of a study with a blatant warning for those of us who take progesterone not to drive.  Another study I will have to seek out.</li>\n	<li>The last study the author mentions is, in fact, interesting and refers to women who received progesterone to \"treat\" cervical cancer in addition to their other treatment.  He indicates that the woman given the progesterone showed less improvement, required more surgeries and that they regressed relative to the participants who were given a placebo.  So the final word is that \"Progesterone should not be taken by women with symptoms of cervical cancer.\"  I\'m not refuting this but I have to say I recently read a review of a 1951 Study by Hertz, et al. which reported the opposite - more than half of the 17 women that were treated with progesterone apparently showed improvement.  There may be other studies but the point here is that we need to review both sides and not make blanket statements about one study.</li>\n</ul>\nThe point I need to make here is that his article is supposed to be about \"bad side-effects\" as if directed to women who take bio-identical hormones for medical purposes, yet these 4 studies are all related to something other than what women are taking hormones for in the first place.  Please my dear and beloved readers when you are considering information about bio-identical hormones please consider the information carefully.  This article comes from a supposedly reputable source, the author is apparently a scientist and well educated in his field (not endocrinology) and  the article was reviewed by someone before it was published.  Well I say shame on all of you for mis-representing bio-identical progesterone.\n\nJust for the record here\'s my info:\n<ul>\n	<li>I\'m not an endocrinologist or doctor of any kind</li>\n	<li>I\'m a woman who survived a plethora of hormone health issues and found the cause and solution that fits ME</li>\n	<li>No one paid me to write this</li>\n	<li>I have no self-serving interests to promote bio-identical hormones (or not)</li>\n	<li>I am not a scientist but I believe strongly in critical thinking skills</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Readers Beware','','inherit','open','open','','1230-revision-4','','','2013-01-08 19:15:59','2013-01-09 00:15:59','',1230,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1230-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1235,1,'2013-01-08 19:18:04','2013-01-09 00:18:04','The goal of my site is always to provide the best information I can find in support of women\'s hormone health. I read articles - A LOT of articles - oh and books too. Some are good, some are better but occasionally I come across just plain irresponsible articles about hormone health. I cannot abide irresponsible information sharing from a website that says it provides \"authoritative expert content\" and then even comments that the content has been reviewed by presumably a staff member.\n\nThe article that has gotten my attention recently is called, \"Bad Side-Effects of Natural Progesterone\". You all know that I take \"bio-identical\" progesterone. Of course I am definitely interested in an article that wants to talk about any potential negative side effects and I would readily share this information with my readers. Interestingly I haven\'t really come across any \"bad\" effects of bio-identical progesterone I figured it\'s because there\'s hardly any studies about the effects of bio-identical progesterone. I couldn\'t wait to read about what these bad side-effects might be.  Instead I instantly became disgusted by the irresponsibility of the website in question, the author of the article and the reviewer and I knew I had to address this with my readers.\n<ul>\n	<li>The article points to 4 studies. Not one of the studies is research on the use of progesterone in a practical application that women would use progesterone for.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions one study where pregnant sheep are injected for three days with progesterone and their lambs\' activity level decreases. He ends this paragraph by stating that <strong>\"Pregnant women should not take progesterone\"</strong>.  I admit I haven\'t read the study he speaks of but that sure sounds like a blatant misrepresentation of the study in my opinion.  Where are the preganant women in the study? Were the sheep progesterone deficient in the first place? How much and what type of progesterone were the sheep given? At what gestation? Most women I\'ve heard of taking progesterone during pregnancy take it in the first trimester in vaginal suppository, oral, or cream format.</li>\n	<li>The author mentions another study where women in a laboratory setting were given amphetamine\'s twice.  Once they were given natural progesterone before the dose of amphetamine &amp; the women reported greater feels of euphoria when pretreated with progesterone.  His final words are a caution that this could<strong> \"lead to progesterone becoming a drug of abuse\"</strong>.  Well you all know that I \"tongue-in-cheek\" refer to myself as the Progesterone Junkie.  I can tell you that I have never taken an amphetamine so I don\'t know if this is true or not. But wow - I\'m trying to imagine the illicit drug trade in progesterone and to be honest....I\'m having trouble.  I have to wonder at the purpose of this study and in fact need to dig around and find it so I can review it.    Someone actually received funding for a study on progesterone\'s effect on amphetamine use? I would love to see funding go to things like progesterone and recurrent miscarriage or mood disorders or infertility.</li>\n	<li>The author\'s final word on another mentioned study is \"Women, for example, should not drive after taking the hormone\" [progesterone].   So in this study apparently women were given natural progesterone, a placebo or a sleeping pill and the women given the hormone were apparently as sleepy as the ones who took the sleeping pill.  I\'m again curious about the facts of this research but none are really given.  So are these progesterone deficient women in the study or just random women who already have sufficient levels of the hormone in their system?  I\'d be curious.  Trust me this is a big and important issue for me - my teenage brother was killed by a man who fell asleep at the wheel because he was on sedating medication and SHOULD NOT have been driving. So please know I don\'t take this kind of information lightly.  Now remember progesterone is the \"calming\" hormone so again if you are deficient you are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiousness.  If you have progesterone excess it acts more like a depressant.  Again, though, here we have a case of irresponsible reporting of a study with a blatant warning for those of us who take progesterone not to drive.  Another study I will have to seek out.</li>\n	<li>The last study the author mentions is, in fact, interesting and refers to women who received progesterone to \"treat\" cervical cancer in addition to their other treatment.  He indicates that the woman given the progesterone showed less improvement, required more surgeries and that they regressed relative to the participants who were given a placebo.  So the final word is that \"Progesterone should not be taken by women with symptoms of cervical cancer.\"  I\'m not refuting this but I have to say I recently read a review of a 1951 Study by Hertz, et al. which reported the opposite - more than half of the 17 women that were treated with progesterone apparently showed improvement.  There may be other studies but the point here is that we need to review both sides and not make blanket statements about one study.</li>\n</ul>\nThe point I need to make here is that his article is supposed to be about \"bad side-effects\" as if directed to women who take bio-identical hormones for medical purposes, yet these 4 studies are all related to something other than what women are taking hormones for in the first place.  Please my dear and beloved readers when you are considering information about bio-identical hormones please consider the information carefully.  This article comes from a supposedly reputable source, the author is apparently a scientist and well educated in his field (not endocrinology) and  the article was reviewed by someone before it was published.  Well I say shame on all of you for mis-representing bio-identical progesterone.\n\nJust for the record here\'s my info:\n<ul>\n	<li>I\'m not an endocrinologist or doctor of any kind</li>\n	<li>I\'m a woman who survived a plethora of hormone health issues and found the cause and solution that fits ME</li>\n	<li>No one paid me to write this</li>\n	<li>I have no self-serving interests to promote bio-identical hormones (or not)</li>\n	<li>I am not a scientist but I believe strongly in critical thinking skills</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Readers Beware','','inherit','open','open','','1230-revision-5','','','2013-01-08 19:18:04','2013-01-09 00:18:04','',1230,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1230-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1236,1,'2013-01-22 08:23:11','2013-01-22 13:23:11','&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306\" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\r\n\r\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\r\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\r\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.  I\'ve spoken with mom\'s who don\'t know much about the vaccine but let their daughters get the vaccine because it\'s offered. And it\'s free if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\r\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\r\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"DNA Fragments in Gardasil Vaccine\" href=\"http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=25840\" target=\"_blank\">HPV DNA fragments have been found </a>in vials of Gardasil vaccine which came to light during an autopsy into the sudden, unexpected death of a teenager.  The vaccine has been marketed as containing \"no viral DNA\".  The FDA later came out and said DNA fragments are \"expected\" - you can read about that <a title=\"FDA - Gardasil Vaccine \" href=\"http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm276859.htm\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a>  In response, <a title=\"SaneVax\'s Article questioning FDA\'s Key Facts\" href=\"http://sanevax.org/fda-information-on-gardasil-betrayal-of-the-public-trust/\" target=\"_blank\">SaneVax Inc.\'s article </a>questions the FDA\'s \"Key Facts\" &amp; considers whether the public is being betrayed.  SaneVax Inc is an organization that calls for safe, affordable, effective &amp; necessary vaccines &amp; practises.</li>\r\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine which you can read about <a title=\"WomentoWomen.com Gardasil Vaccine Article\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\r\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\r\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\r\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\r\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\r\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\r\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\r\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\r\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\r\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\r\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\r\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\r\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\r\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\r\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\r\n	<li>smoking</li>\r\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\r\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\r\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\r\n\r\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\r\n\r\nTo learn more about your cervix - see photos of real cervices throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\r\n\r\nRead my blog post <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\r\n\r\nWould love to hear your thoughts:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','publish','open','open','','cervical-health-awareness-month','','http://sanevax.org/fda-information-on-gardasil-betrayal-of-the-public-trust/\nhttp://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/','2013-01-22 09:46:39','2013-01-22 14:46:39','',0,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/?p=1236',0,'post','',0),(1237,1,'2013-01-09 08:47:36','2013-01-09 13:47:36','In the US January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month.  I thought I would share this with you - the guidelines for PAP smears in US and Canada have been changed.  They\'ve increased the age at which girls should get their first PAP and now the recommendation is once every 3 years not every year.  That should make a lot of women happy.  But','January is Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision','','','2013-01-09 08:47:36','2013-01-09 13:47:36','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1238,1,'2013-01-09 09:14:17','2013-01-09 14:14:17','In the US January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month.  I thought I would share this with you - I\'m amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.\n\nHere\'s a few things you should know:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate) The age at which girls should get their first PAP has increased and now the recommendation is once every 3 years not every year.</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.   In my opinion vaccination is a personal choice and I did a lot of research about whether I felt comfortable giving my 12 year old daughter the vaccine.  Where I live the vaccine is given out in the schools to all Grade 7 girls.  The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out against giving it to young girls saying that it was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here:       Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>Abnormal cervical cells can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures that can help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.2\nInvasive\ncervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per\n100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006,\n2\nwhile\ninvasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006.\n2</li>\n	<li>The Canadian Women’s Health Network lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing:\n<ul>\n	<li>unprotected sex at a young age;</li>\n	<li>smoking;</li>\n	<li>lowered immune system;</li>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-2','','','2013-01-09 09:14:17','2013-01-09 14:14:17','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1246,1,'2013-01-11 12:19:16','2013-01-11 17:19:16','In the US January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month.  I thought I would share this with you because I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.\n\nThere are posters about HPV vaccines everywhere you look it seems - in my province the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine.  Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.\n\nHere\'s what I discovered out during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out against giving it to young girls saying that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health Women to Women</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approiximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or notthere is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection.\n\n</a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Abnormal cervical cells can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures that can help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>.</li>\n	<li>The Canadian Women’s Health Network lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing:\n<ul>\n	<li>unprotected sex at a young age;</li>\n	<li>smoking;</li>\n	<li>lowered immune system;</li>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li></li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-3','','','2013-01-11 12:19:16','2013-01-11 17:19:16','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1247,1,'2013-01-11 13:00:37','2013-01-11 18:00:37','In the US January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month.  I thought I would share this with you because I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.\n\nThere are posters about HPV vaccines everywhere you look it seems - in my province the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine.  Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.\n\nHere\'s what I discovered out during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out against giving it to young girls saying that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health Women to Women</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approiximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or notthere is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection.&nbsp;\n\n</a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Abnormal cervical cells can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures that can help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>.</li>\n	<li>The Canadian Women’s Health Network lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing:\n<ul>\n	<li>unprotected sex at a young age;</li>\n	<li>smoking;</li>\n	<li>lowered immune system;</li>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li></li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-4','','','2013-01-11 13:00:37','2013-01-11 18:00:37','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1501,1,'2013-02-13 21:08:29','2013-02-14 02:08:29','','Postpartum Mood Disorder Word Cloud','Postpartum Mood Disorder Word Cloud','inherit','open','open','','slide1','','','2013-02-13 21:08:29','2013-02-14 02:08:29','',614,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Slide1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1502,1,'2012-11-22 23:21:57','2012-11-23 04:21:57','[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"160\"]<a title=\"Wordle: Postpartum Mood Disorder\" href=\"http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/5820895/Postpartum_Mood_Disorder\"><img style=\"padding: 4px;\" title=\"Postpartum Mood Disorder\" src=\"http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/5820895/Postpartum_Mood_Disorder\" alt=\"Wordle: Postpartum Mood Disorder\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" /></a> Please Help Spread Awareness about Postpartum Mood Disorder - Share this Word Cloud[/caption]\r\n\r\nWhen you are the one in the throes of a postpartum mood disorder (PPMD) you may be the last one to be aware of it.  Even your family and friends may not recognize what\'s happening to you.\r\nPart of the problem is that many people don\'t know what postpartum mood disorder looks like.  Before I had postpartum mood disorder I thought that it was called Postpartum Depression (PPD)  <em><strong>but</strong> <strong>that\'s only a small part of it</strong></em>.  That\'s why you won\'t usually hear me referring to PPD or Postpartum Depression - it\'s misleading.  Postpartum Mood Disorder (PPMD) covers all the mood disorders so I prefer the term and think it needs to be more widely used.  Here\'s why:  Before I realized I had PPMD the view I had of postpartum mood disorders was that it was depression that lasted longer than the baby blues and was more severe.  I pictured a woman with postpartum depression having trouble connecting with her baby, feeling sad, depressed, and hopeless, taking little interest in her baby and finding no pleasure in things.  And while that may be true for a lot of women who suffer from postpartum depression, it doesn\'t show the entire picture of women suffering from postpartum mood disorders.\r\n\r\nThanks to many awareness campaigns and efforts to bring postpartum issues to light I knew about the baby blues and I knew about postpartum depression.  And because of highly publicized tragedy\'s I had also heard of postpartum psychosis. So while the flow of information has been happening in greater and greater amounts over the years, never once had I heard about <strong>postpartum anxiety</strong> or <strong>postpartum OCD</strong>. That\'s because they are usually just lumped in with the \"symptoms\" of postpartum depression.  If we are going to talk about awareness we need to make sure to start talking about PPMD which cover the spectrum of disorders.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the best description I\'ve found to explain the different types - Click here: <a title=\"Postpartum Mood Disorders\" href=\"http://psychotherapy.com/mom.html\" target=\"_blank\">Postpartum Mood Disorders</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlso here are a couple of Ontario sites that are also doing a great job referring to PPMD:\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Perinatal Mood &amp; Anxiety Disorders\" href=\"http://www.helpformom.ca/\" target=\"_blank\">Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders</a>\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Peel Postpartum Mood Disorder Program\" href=\"http://www.pmdinpeel.ca/\" target=\"_blank\">Peel Postpartum Mood Disorder Program</a>\r\n<div></div>','PPMD not PPD please','','inherit','open','open','','614-revision-13','','','2012-11-22 23:21:57','2012-11-23 04:21:57','',614,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/614-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(1249,1,'2013-01-13 10:42:59','2013-01-13 15:42:59','In the January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States.  I thought I would share some information with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is supposed to offer protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered out during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls saying that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>Some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-5','','','2013-01-13 10:42:59','2013-01-13 15:42:59','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1250,1,'2013-01-13 10:57:27','2013-01-13 15:57:27','In the January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States.  I thought I would share some information with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is supposed to offer protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered out during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls saying that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>Some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nCheck out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture which will be presented','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-6','','','2013-01-13 10:57:27','2013-01-13 15:57:27','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1251,1,'2013-01-13 11:07:54','2013-01-13 16:07:54','In the January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States.  I thought I would share some information with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is supposed to offer protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered out during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls saying that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>Some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nCheck out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture which will be presented to the Kinsey Institute.','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-7','','','2013-01-13 11:07:54','2013-01-13 16:07:54','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1252,1,'2013-01-13 15:26:10','2013-01-13 20:26:10','In the January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States.  I thought I would share some information with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is supposed to offer protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered out during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls saying that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>Some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nCheck out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture which will be presented to the Kinsey Institute.','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-8','','','2013-01-13 15:26:10','2013-01-13 20:26:10','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(1254,1,'2013-01-13 15:28:33','2013-01-13 20:28:33','In the January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States.  I thought I would share some information with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered out during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls saying that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>Some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nCheck out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture which will be presented to the Kinsey Institute.','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-10','','','2013-01-13 15:28:33','2013-01-13 20:28:33','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(1253,1,'2013-01-13 15:27:07','2013-01-13 20:27:07','In the January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States.  I thought I would share some information with you for a few reasons:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\r\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group (see below).</li>\r\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is supposed to offer protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nHere\'s what I discovered out during my research:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\r\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\r\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls saying that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\r\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\r\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\r\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\r\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\r\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\r\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\r\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>.</li>\r\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\r\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\r\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\r\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\r\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\r\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\r\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\r\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\r\n	<li>smoking</li>\r\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\r\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\r\n	<li>Some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\r\n\r\nCheck out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture which will be presented to the Kinsey Institute.','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-9','','','2013-01-13 15:27:07','2013-01-13 20:27:07','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(1256,1,'2013-01-13 23:14:18','2013-01-14 04:14:18','So I have been feeling absolutely fabulous ever since my New Years Day Panic Attack scare except for one little thing: I\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments in the middle of the day where I suddenly feel these strange sensations coming over me.  Today My Beloved looked at me and said, Your face is red  and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack?  This has been happening off and on all week and I have been','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision','','','2013-01-13 23:14:18','2013-01-14 04:14:18','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1257,1,'2013-01-14 11:54:07','2013-01-14 16:54:07','So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\n\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\n\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago.  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\n\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\n\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\n\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all\n\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all along!\n\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\n\n&nbsp;','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision-2','','','2013-01-14 11:54:07','2013-01-14 16:54:07','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1261,1,'2013-01-14 12:11:28','2013-01-14 17:11:28','','http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682','','inherit','open','open','','httpwww-dreamstime-com-image10803682','','','2013-01-14 12:11:28','2013-01-14 17:11:28','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1259,1,'2013-01-14 12:03:35','2013-01-14 17:03:35','[caption id=\"attachment_1258\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1258\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1258\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1258\" alt=\"Hot Flashes Are Not Fun!\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Hot Flashes Are Not Fun![/caption]\n\nSo I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\n\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\n\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago.  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\n\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\n\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\n\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all\n\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all along!\n\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision-3','','','2013-01-14 12:03:35','2013-01-14 17:03:35','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1262,1,'2013-01-14 12:19:35','2013-01-14 17:19:35','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1261\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1261\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1261\" alt=\"http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-187x300.jpg\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\n\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\n\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago?  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\n\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\n\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\n\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all but during the first reading I\'d felt lightheaded.\n\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all along!\n\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\n\nOf course this could simply be the result of peri-menopause - I am 44 after all.  That being said my progesterone cream could have been controlling peri-menopause symptoms and going off the hormones triggered them.\n\nStay tuned for more information about how you could participate in','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision-4','','','2013-01-14 12:19:35','2013-01-14 17:19:35','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1263,1,'2013-01-14 12:21:37','2013-01-14 17:21:37','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1261\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1261\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1261\" alt=\"http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-187x300.jpg\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\n\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\n\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago?  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\n\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\n\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\n\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all but during the first reading I\'d felt lightheaded.\n\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all along!\n\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\n\nOf course this could simply be the result of peri-menopause - I am 44 after all.  That being said my progesterone cream could have been controlling peri-menopause symptoms and going off the hormones triggered them.\n\nStay tuned for more information about how you could participate in a Canadian study on peri-menopause and progesterone.','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision-5','','','2013-01-14 12:21:37','2013-01-14 17:21:37','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1264,1,'2013-01-14 12:22:36','2013-01-14 17:22:36','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1261\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1261\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1261\" alt=\"http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-187x300.jpg\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\r\n\r\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\r\n\r\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago?  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\r\n\r\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\r\n\r\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\r\n\r\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all but during the first reading I\'d felt lightheaded.\r\n\r\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all along!\r\n\r\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\r\n\r\nOf course this could simply be the result of peri-menopause - I am 44 after all.  That being said my progesterone cream could have been controlling peri-menopause symptoms and going off the hormones triggered them.\r\n\r\nStay tuned for more information about how you could participate in a Canadian study on peri-menopause and progesterone.','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision-6','','','2013-01-14 12:22:36','2013-01-14 17:22:36','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1266,1,'2013-01-14 12:22:39','2013-01-14 17:22:39','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1261\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1261\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1261\" alt=\"http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-187x300.jpg\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\r\n\r\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\r\n\r\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago?  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\r\n\r\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\r\n\r\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\r\n\r\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all but during the first reading I\'d felt lightheaded.\r\n\r\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all along!\r\n\r\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\r\n\r\nOf course this could simply be the result of peri-menopause - I am 44 after all.  That being said my progesterone cream could have been controlling peri-menopause symptoms and going off the hormones triggered them.\r\n\r\nStay tuned for more information about how you could participate in a Canadian study on peri-menopause and progesterone.','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision-8','','','2013-01-14 12:22:39','2013-01-14 17:22:39','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(1265,1,'2013-01-14 12:22:37','2013-01-14 17:22:37','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/holy-hot-flash/httpwww-dreamstime-com-image10803682/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1261\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1261\" alt=\"http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-187x300.jpg\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\r\n\r\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\r\n\r\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago?  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\r\n\r\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\r\n\r\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\r\n\r\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all but during the first reading I\'d felt lightheaded.\r\n\r\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all along!\r\n\r\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\r\n\r\nOf course this could simply be the result of peri-menopause - I am 44 after all.  That being said my progesterone cream could have been controlling peri-menopause symptoms and going off the hormones triggered them.\r\n\r\nStay tuned for more information about how you could participate in a Canadian study on peri-menopause and progesterone.','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision-7','','','2013-01-14 12:22:37','2013-01-14 17:22:37','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1267,1,'2013-01-14 12:22:39','2013-01-14 17:22:39','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/holy-hot-flash/httpwww-dreamstime-com-image10803682/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1261\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1261\" alt=\"http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-187x300.jpg\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\r\n\r\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\r\n\r\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago?  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\r\n\r\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\r\n\r\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\r\n\r\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all but during the first reading I\'d felt lightheaded.\r\n\r\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all along!\r\n\r\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\r\n\r\nOf course this could simply be the result of peri-menopause - I am 44 after all.  That being said my progesterone cream could have been controlling peri-menopause symptoms and going off the hormones triggered them.\r\n\r\nStay tuned for more information about how you could participate in a Canadian study on peri-menopause and progesterone.','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision-9','','','2013-01-14 12:22:39','2013-01-14 17:22:39','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(1268,1,'2013-01-14 12:26:44','2013-01-14 17:26:44','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/holy-hot-flash/httpwww-dreamstime-com-image10803682/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1261\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1261\" alt=\"http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-187x300.jpg\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\r\n\r\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\r\n\r\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago?  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\r\n\r\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\r\n\r\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\r\n\r\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all but during the first reading I\'d felt lightheaded.\r\n\r\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all week!\r\n\r\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\r\n\r\nOf course this could simply be the result of peri-menopause - I am 44 after all.  That being said my progesterone cream could have been controlling peri-menopause symptoms and going off the hormones triggered them.\r\n\r\nStay tuned for more information about how you could participate in a Canadian study on peri-menopause and progesterone.','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision-10','','','2013-01-14 12:26:44','2013-01-14 17:26:44','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(1269,1,'2013-01-14 12:26:51','2013-01-14 17:26:51','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/holy-hot-flash/httpwww-dreamstime-com-image10803682/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1261\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1261\" alt=\"http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-187x300.jpg\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\r\n\r\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\r\n\r\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago?  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\r\n\r\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\r\n\r\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\r\n\r\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all but during the first reading I\'d felt lightheaded.\r\n\r\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all week!\r\n\r\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\r\n\r\nOf course this could simply be the result of peri-menopause - I am 44 after all.  That being said my progesterone cream could have been controlling peri-menopause symptoms and going off the hormones triggered them.\r\n\r\nStay tuned for more information about how you could participate in a Canadian study on peri-menopause and progesterone.','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-revision-11','','','2013-01-14 12:26:51','2013-01-14 17:26:51','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(1270,1,'2013-01-14 20:27:32','2013-01-15 01:27:32','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/holy-hot-flash/httpwww-dreamstime-com-image10803682/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1261\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1261\" alt=\"http://www.dreamstime.com/-image10803682\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hot-flash-dreamstime-187x300.jpg\" width=\"187\" height=\"300\" /></a>So I have been feeling fabulous since my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day scare</a>.   I was slathering on my progesterone cream with a vengeance - never wanting to live through that panicked state again.  Within a few days of being back on my progesterone I was back to myself.  It was so relieving to feel normal again.  Anxiety is painful, as well as physically and emotionally draining on a person and for those around them.\n\nI was hopeful I would go back to my pre-cold-turkey-going-off-hormones-state of mostly blissful balance, but you know it\'s never that easy right?\n\nI\'ve been feeling these overwhelming moments at random moments in the day where I suddenly feel strange sensations coming over me.  Yesterday we were out for a walk and My Beloved looked over at me and said, \"Your face is bright red\" and at that exact moment I was suddenly feeling hot and my heart started palpitating.  Honest to God I thought could this be a mini anxiety attack - remnants of the sudden panic attack I had less than two weeks ago?  What a disheartening feeling to think that my progesterone wasn\'t keeping the anxiety at bay like I had thought!!\n\nAt the time, we were walking past a drug store and I wanted to go check my blood pressure and pulse because it was making me feel lightheaded.  My blood pressure was 129/079 and my pulse was 104.\n\nThe sensation subsided and we continued for our walk.  About 3 hours later I was walking past the same drug store and was feeling fine so decided to see what the blood pressure cuff had to say!  This time I had been walking at a quick pace for half an hour and my pulse was 95 and my blood pressure was 111/64.\n\nMy usual blood pressure is 110/70. I thought how strange it was that even though the second reading was on the low side I didn\'t feel lightheaded at all but during the first reading I\'d felt lightheaded.\n\nLater that evening I had a sudden memory of the hot flashes I had suffered during my third pregnancy!  Of course it wasn\'t an anxiety attack - it has been hot flashes all week!\n\nYou would think this would be a relief - and it was - but at the same time I have to say the idea that my hormones aren\'t balanced yet made me realize that my road back to bliss isn\'t over yet.\n\nOf course this could simply be the result of peri-menopause - I am 44 after all.  That being said my progesterone cream could have been controlling peri-menopause symptoms and going off the hormones triggered them.\n\nStay tuned for more information about how you could participate in a Canadian study on peri-menopause and progesterone.','Holy Hot Flash!','','inherit','open','open','','1255-autosave','','','2013-01-14 20:27:32','2013-01-15 01:27:32','',1255,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1255-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1271,1,'2013-01-17 20:43:31','2013-01-18 01:43:31','[caption id=\"attachment_1292\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/heart-surgery-for-peri-menopause-heart-palpitations/woman-with-glowing-heart-123rf/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1292\"><img class=\" wp-image-1292 \" alt=\"Image Courtesy of: 123RF Stock Photo/woodoo007\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Woman-with-Glowing-Heart-123RF-300x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a> Image credit: <a href=\"http://www.123rf.com/photo_15563801_woman-glowing-heart-anatomy.html\">woodoo007 / 123RF Stock Photo</a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: verdana, geneva;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\"<a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles</a>\"</span>\r\n</span>\r\n\r\nIt\'s a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior, endocrinologist &amp; founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\r\n\r\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive, suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.   This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\r\n\r\nHere are some of my own personal examples:\r\n\r\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones or discussing <em>why</em> I didn\'t ovulate - my OB/GYN prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug - it works - I get pregnant twice. But 5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone.</strong>  In my view, progesterone w<em>ould</em> have been the natural choice and one of the first things attempted to enhance my ovulation.\r\n\r\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  My OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then would he investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and antidepressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  antidepressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for the entire 6 weeks I took them plus I gained 15 lbs in 6 weeks!\r\n\r\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on antidepressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women.  In my case, I didn\'t want to take antidepressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment solution.</strong>  I sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years in a sub-sedated medicated state and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\r\n\r\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a></span>.  In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me - I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder because he made the subtle suggestion that there is medication and treatment available.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones. Instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> to keep on hand in case it happened again - oral progesterone acts quicker and differently than the cream I usually use.\r\n\r\nWouldn\'t you love to know if the woman who wrote in to Dr. Prior went ahead with the cardiologists recommendation to cut the electrical channels in her heart or followed the suggestion to consider progesterone?   If you have a similar story of finding a better solution to your health problems I\'d love to hear from you.\r\n\r\nTo read about my Postpartum PVC\'s and other Heart Palpitations click here:\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"> <a title=\"Postpartum Anxiety Part 1 – My Heart did Loop-de-loops – I thought I was dying…\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/my-heart-did-loop-de-loops/\" target=\"_blank\">Postpartum Anxiety Part 1 - My Heart Did Loop De-Loops</a></span>  and here: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"Postparmum Anxiety Part 2 – I thought I was dying…again…\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/postpartum-anxiety-part-2-i-thought-i-was-dying-again/\" target=\"_blank\">Postpartum Anxiety Part 2 - I Thought I was Dying Again</a>\r\n</span>\r\n\r\nand here: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">The Power of Hormones</a></span>\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','publish','open','open','','heart-surgery-for-peri-menopause-heart-palpitations','','\nhttp://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/','2013-04-21 22:05:19','2013-04-22 03:05:19','',0,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/?p=1271',0,'post','',0),(1272,1,'2013-01-14 13:41:26','2013-01-14 18:41:26','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be.  <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research in Vancouver, BC.  Apparently\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.  This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: without ever testing my hormones doctor prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug.  5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and get pregnant the first month I start my hormones.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>: suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then will the doctor investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took progesterone for approximately the first trimester.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills (even the supposed low dose birth control pills are full of estrogen).\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision','','','2013-01-14 13:41:26','2013-01-14 18:41:26','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1273,1,'2013-01-14 23:15:51','2013-01-15 04:15:51','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior has another idea - she believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.  This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: without ever testing my hormones doctor prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug.  5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and get pregnant the first month I start my hormones.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>: suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then will the doctor investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took progesterone for approximately the first trimester.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills (even the supposed low dose birth control pills are full of estrogen).\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-2','','','2013-01-14 23:15:51','2013-01-15 04:15:51','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1274,1,'2013-01-14 23:18:07','2013-01-15 04:18:07','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.  This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: without ever testing my hormones doctor prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug.  5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and get pregnant the first month I start my hormones.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>: suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then will the doctor investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took progesterone for approximately the first trimester.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills (even the supposed low dose birth control pills are full of estrogen).\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-3','','','2013-01-14 23:18:07','2013-01-15 04:18:07','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1275,1,'2013-01-15 17:24:41','2013-01-15 22:24:41','For some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\n<pre>[table]DON\'T SAY:, DO SAY:\nIt was for the best, I\'m sorry\nAt least you didn\'t feel the baby move, \"I know you loved your baby from the minute you knew you were  pregnant\"\nYou\'re young you have lots of time, \n\n[/table]</pre>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-6','','','2013-01-15 17:24:41','2013-01-15 22:24:41','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1276,1,'2013-01-15 17:26:00','2013-01-15 22:26:00','For some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\r\n\r\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\r\n<pre>[table]DON\'T SAY:, DO SAY:\r\nIt was for the best, I\'m sorry\r\nAt least you didn\'t feel the baby move, \"I know you loved your baby from the minute you knew you were  pregnant\"\r\nYou\'re young you have lots of time, \r\n\r\n[/table]</pre>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-7','','','2013-01-15 17:26:00','2013-01-15 22:26:00','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1279,1,'2013-01-15 18:14:08','2013-01-15 23:14:08','For some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-10','','','2013-01-15 18:14:08','2013-01-15 23:14:08','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(1277,1,'2013-01-15 18:11:20','2013-01-15 23:11:20','For some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\n<pre></pre>\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;\">Instead of Saying:     </span></td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;\">Try Saying:     </span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It was for the best </span></td>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I\'m sorry                    </span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</span></td>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I know you were already in love with your baby</span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">You\'re young you have lots of  time</span></td>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I\'m here when   you need me</span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">At least you can have fun trying </span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">again</span></td>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Nothing...just listen or give a hug</span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I know how you feel</span></td>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">How are you feeling?</span></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">You need to _________________</span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\n</span>\n\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc -</td>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It\'s not your fault</span></td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-8','','','2013-01-15 18:11:20','2013-01-15 23:11:20','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(1278,1,'2013-01-15 18:12:07','2013-01-15 23:12:07','For some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\r\n\r\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\r\n<pre></pre>\r\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;\">Instead of Saying:     </span></td>\r\n<td valign=\"middle\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva; font-size: medium;\">Try Saying:     </span></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It was for the best </span></td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I\'m sorry                    </span></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</span></td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I know you were already in love with your baby</span></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">You\'re young you have lots of  time</span></td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I\'m here when you need me</span></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">At least you can have fun trying </span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">again</span></td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Nothing...just listen or give a hug</span></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I know how you feel</span></td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">How are you feeling?</span></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">You need to _________________</span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\r\n</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: small;\">(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</span></td>\r\n<td><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It\'s not your fault</span></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-9','','','2013-01-15 18:12:07','2013-01-15 23:12:07','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(1280,1,'2013-01-15 23:20:13','2013-01-16 04:20:13','For some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nAnother way to help is to ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to hold a ceremony offer to help plan something even if it is informal.  Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - consider presenting the mom with a memory box.\n\nThe mom may be so distraught and is sometimes whisked in for a D&amp;C so she may not have time to think about things like this until later.  That was the case with my first miscarriage.   I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend Ava whom you\'ve heard me speak highly of planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nSome people think it\'s weird but I don\'t undertand that reaction.\n\nIn Japan apparently there is a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can  dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-11','','','2013-01-15 23:20:13','2013-01-16 04:20:13','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(1282,1,'2013-01-16 10:26:21','2013-01-16 15:26:21','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.  This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: without ever testing my hormones doctor prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug.  5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and get pregnant the first month I start my hormones.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>: suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then will the doctor investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took progesterone for approximately the first trimester.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  Anti-depressants didn\'t address my problem which was progesterone deficiency and gave me headaches for 6 weeks plus made me gain 15 lbs!\n\nPanic D\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-4','','','2013-01-16 10:26:21','2013-01-16 15:26:21','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1283,1,'2013-01-17 10:36:04','2013-01-17 15:36:04','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.  This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones doctor prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug.  5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone</strong>.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then will the doctor investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  Anti-depressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for 6 weeks plus made me gain 15 lbs!\n\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on anti-depressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women who don\'t mind being on anti-depressants.  In my case, I didn\'t want to be on anti-depressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment</strong> and sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\n\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my New Years Day Panic Attack Scare. In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me and I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder made the subtle suggestion that I need medication.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones but instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> which acts quicker and differently (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\n\nVisit <a title=\"Women to Women - Anxiety Coming Off HRT &amp; Perimenopause\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/anxiety.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women\'s website  </a>- here\'s just a portion of what they about anxiety while coming off HRT and in perimenopause:\n\n\"Women are more than twice as likely as men to feel anxiety, especially during PMS, perimenopause, and menopause. <strong>Anxiety is often the first sign of perimenopause</strong> — for example, women with moderate anxiety are three to five times more likely to experience hot flashes. <strong>Many women also experience rampant anxiety symptoms when transitioning off HRT</strong>.\n\nProgesterone has a particularly soothing effect on your system similar to, and interdependent with, serotonin. When levels begin to drop as a woman approach menopause, this can leave her susceptible to anxiety-related problems, including insomnia. As women approach menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels often fluctuate widely, amplifying any existing anxiety symptoms. In my experience, relief from menopausal anxiety and panic attacks can only be gained once hormonal balance is restored.\"\n\nAlso chec\n\n<a title=\"Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone\" href=\"http://www.hormoneclinic.com.au/anxiety_.php\" target=\"_blank\">Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone\n\n</a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-5','','','2013-01-17 10:36:04','2013-01-17 15:36:04','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1284,1,'2013-01-17 10:36:18','2013-01-17 15:36:18','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\r\n\r\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.  This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\r\n\r\nHere are some of my personal examples:\r\n\r\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones doctor prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug.  5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then will the doctor investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  Anti-depressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for 6 weeks plus made me gain 15 lbs!\r\n\r\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on anti-depressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women who don\'t mind being on anti-depressants.  In my case, I didn\'t want to be on anti-depressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment</strong> and sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\r\n\r\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my New Years Day Panic Attack Scare. In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me and I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder made the subtle suggestion that I need medication.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones but instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> which acts quicker and differently (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\r\n\r\nVisit <a title=\"Women to Women - Anxiety Coming Off HRT &amp; Perimenopause\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/anxiety.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women\'s website  </a>- here\'s just a portion of what they about anxiety while coming off HRT and in perimenopause:\r\n\r\n\"Women are more than twice as likely as men to feel anxiety, especially during PMS, perimenopause, and menopause. <strong>Anxiety is often the first sign of perimenopause</strong> — for example, women with moderate anxiety are three to five times more likely to experience hot flashes. <strong>Many women also experience rampant anxiety symptoms when transitioning off HRT</strong>.\r\n\r\nProgesterone has a particularly soothing effect on your system similar to, and interdependent with, serotonin. When levels begin to drop as a woman approach menopause, this can leave her susceptible to anxiety-related problems, including insomnia. As women approach menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels often fluctuate widely, amplifying any existing anxiety symptoms. In my experience, relief from menopausal anxiety and panic attacks can only be gained once hormonal balance is restored.\"\r\n\r\nAlso check out this doc\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone\" href=\"http://www.hormoneclinic.com.au/anxiety_.php\" target=\"_blank\">Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone\r\n\r\n</a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-6','','','2013-01-17 10:36:18','2013-01-17 15:36:18','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1287,1,'2013-01-17 11:02:58','2013-01-17 16:02:58','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experien','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-9','','','2013-01-17 11:02:58','2013-01-17 16:02:58','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(1285,1,'2013-01-17 10:47:26','2013-01-17 15:47:26','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.  This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones doctor prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug.  5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone</strong>.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then will the doctor investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  Anti-depressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for 6 weeks plus made me gain 15 lbs!\n\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on anti-depressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women who don\'t mind being on anti-depressants.  In my case, I didn\'t want to be on anti-depressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment</strong> and sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\n\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a>. In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me and I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder made the subtle suggestion that I need medication.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones but instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> which acts quicker and differently (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\n\nVisit <a title=\"Women to Women - Anxiety Coming Off HRT &amp; Perimenopause\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/anxiety.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women\'s website  </a>- here\'s just a portion of what they about anxiety while coming off HRT and in perimenopause:\n\n\"Women are more than twice as likely as men to feel anxiety, especially during PMS, perimenopause, and menopause. <strong>Anxiety is often the first sign of perimenopause</strong> — for example, women with moderate anxiety are three to five times more likely to experience hot flashes. <strong>Many women also experience rampant anxiety symptoms when transitioning off HRT</strong>.\n\nProgesterone has a particularly soothing effect on your system similar to, and interdependent with, serotonin. When levels begin to drop as a woman approach menopause, this can leave her susceptible to anxiety-related problems, including insomnia. As women approach menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels often fluctuate widely, amplifying any existing anxiety symptoms. In my experience, relief from menopausal anxiety and panic attacks can only be gained once hormonal balance is restored.\"\n\nAlso check out this well-written article from Australian Dr. MacGeachy who runs The Hormone Clinic and treats his patients with progesterone:  <a title=\"Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone\" href=\"http://www.hormoneclinic.com.au/anxiety_.php\" target=\"_blank\">Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone</a>.\n\nIf you have anxiety related symptoms that you think are being caused by hormonal fluctuations sign up for updates to my blog as I am going to be doing a deep dive into this topic.  I believe thousands upon thousands of women are needlessly suffering throughout their life cycle and it makes my heart ache for these women and their families - My Beloved calls it a Crime Against Women.  We as women need to take action - the first step is advocating for yourself, the second step is reaching out to help others, the third is to speak out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-7','','','2013-01-17 10:47:26','2013-01-17 15:47:26','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1286,1,'2013-01-17 11:02:07','2013-01-17 16:02:07','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.  This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones doctor prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug.  5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone</strong>.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then will the doctor investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  Anti-depressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for 6 weeks plus made me gain 15 lbs!\n\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on anti-depressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women who don\'t mind being on anti-depressants.  In my case, I didn\'t want to be on anti-depressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment</strong> and sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\n\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a>. In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me and I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder made the subtle suggestion that I need medication.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones but instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> which acts quicker and differently (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\n\nVisit <a title=\"Women to Women - Anxiety Coming Off HRT &amp; Perimenopause\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/anxiety.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women\'s website  </a>- here\'s just a portion of what they about anxiety while coming off HRT and in perimenopause:\n\n\"Women are more than twice as likely as men to feel anxiety, especially during PMS, perimenopause, and menopause. <strong>Anxiety is often the first sign of perimenopause</strong> — for example, women with moderate anxiety are three to five times more likely to experience hot flashes. <strong>Many women also experience rampant anxiety symptoms when transitioning off HRT</strong>.\n\nProgesterone has a particularly soothing effect on your system similar to, and interdependent with, serotonin. When levels begin to drop as a woman approach menopause, this can leave her susceptible to anxiety-related problems, including insomnia. As women approach menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels often fluctuate widely, amplifying any existing anxiety symptoms. In my experience, relief from menopausal anxiety and panic attacks can only be gained once hormonal balance is restored.\"\n\nAlso check out this well-written article from Australian Dr. MacGeachy who runs The Hormone Clinic and treats his patients with progesterone:  <a title=\"Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone\" href=\"http://www.hormoneclinic.com.au/anxiety_.php\" target=\"_blank\">Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone</a>.\n\nIf you have anxiety related symptoms that you think are being caused by hormonal fluctuations sign up for updates to my blog as I am going to be doing a deep dive into this topic.  I believe thousands upon thousands of women are needlessly suffering throughout their life cycle and it makes my heart ache for these women and their families - My Beloved calls it a Crime Against Women.  We as women need to take action - the first step is advocating for yourself, the second step is reaching out to help others, the third is to speak out.','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-8','','','2013-01-17 11:02:07','2013-01-17 16:02:07','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(1290,1,'2013-01-17 20:08:54','2013-01-18 01:08:54','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive, suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.   This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my own personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones or discussing <em>why</em> I didn\'t ovulate - my OB/GYN prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug - it works - I get pregnant twice. But 5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone.</strong>  In my view, progesterone w<em>ould</em> have been the natural choice and one of the first things attempted to enhance my ovulation.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  My OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then would he investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  Anti-depressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for the entire 6 weeks I took them plus I gained 15 lbs in 6 weeks!\n\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on anti-depressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women.  In my case, I didn\'t want to take anti-depressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment solution.</strong>  I sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years in a sub-sedated medicated state and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\n\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a>. In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me - I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder because he made the subtle suggestion that there is medication and treatment available.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones. Instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> to keep on hand in case it happened again - oral progesterone acts quicker and differently than the cream I usually use (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\n\nSo I\'d love to know if the woman who wrote in to Dr. Prior went ahead with the cardiologists recommendation to cut the electrical channels in her heart or followed the suggestion to consider progesterone?   If you have a similar story of finding a better solution to your health problems I\'d\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-11','','','2013-01-17 20:08:54','2013-01-18 01:08:54','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(1288,1,'2013-01-17 11:04:05','2013-01-17 16:04:05','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.  This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones doctor prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug.  5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone</strong>.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then will the doctor investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  Anti-depressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for 6 weeks plus made me gain 15 lbs!\n\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on anti-depressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women who don\'t mind being on anti-depressants.  In my case, I didn\'t want to be on anti-depressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment</strong> and sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\n\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a>. In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me and I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder made the subtle suggestion that I need medication.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones but instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> which acts quicker and differently (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\n\nVisit <a title=\"Women to Women - Anxiety Coming Off HRT &amp; Perimenopause\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/anxiety.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women\'s website  </a>- here\'s just a portion of what they about anxiety while coming off HRT and in perimenopause:\n\n\"Women are more than twice as likely as men to feel anxiety, especially during PMS, perimenopause, and menopause. <strong>Anxiety is often the first sign of perimenopause</strong> — for example, women with moderate anxiety are three to five times more likely to experience hot flashes. <strong>Many women also experience rampant anxiety symptoms when transitioning off HRT</strong>.\n\nProgesterone has a particularly soothing effect on your system similar to, and interdependent with, serotonin. When levels begin to drop as a woman approach menopause, this can leave her susceptible to anxiety-related problems, including insomnia. As women approach menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels often fluctuate widely, amplifying any existing anxiety symptoms. In my experience, relief from menopausal anxiety and panic attacks can only be gained once hormonal balance is restored.\"\n\nAlso check out this well-written article from Australian Dr. MacGeachy who runs The Hormone Clinic and treats his patients with progesterone:  <a title=\"Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone\" href=\"http://www.hormoneclinic.com.au/anxiety_.php\" target=\"_blank\">Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone</a>.\n\nIf you have anxiety related symptoms that you think are being caused by hormonal fluctuations sign up for updates to my blog as I am going to be doing a deep dive into this topic.  I believe thousands upon thousands of women are needlessly suffering throughout their life cycle and it makes my heart ache for these women and their families - My Beloved calls it a Crime Against Women.  We as women need to take action - the first step is advocating for yourself, the second step is reaching out to help others, the third is to speak out.\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-10','','','2013-01-17 11:04:05','2013-01-17 16:04:05','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(1289,1,'2013-01-17 19:21:26','0000-00-00 00:00:00','Visit <a title=\"Women to Women - Anxiety Coming Off HRT &amp; Perimenopause\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/anxiety.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women’s website  </a>- here’s just a portion of what they about anxiety while coming off HRT and in perimenopause:\r\n\r\n“Women are more than twice as likely as men to feel anxiety, especially during PMS, perimenopause, and menopause. <strong>Anxiety is often the first sign of perimenopause</strong> — for example, women with moderate anxiety are three to five times more likely to experience hot flashes. <strong>Many women also experience rampant anxiety symptoms when transitioning off HRT</strong>.\r\n\r\nProgesterone has a particularly soothing effect on your system similar to, and interdependent with, serotonin. When levels begin to drop as a woman approach menopause, this can leave her susceptible to anxiety-related problems, including insomnia. As women approach menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels often fluctuate widely, amplifying any existing anxiety symptoms. In my experience, relief from menopausal anxiety and panic attacks can only be gained once hormonal balance is restored.”\r\n\r\nAlso check out this well-written article from Australian Dr. MacGeachy who runs The Hormone Clinic and treats his patients with progesterone:  <a title=\"Anxiety Attacks - Treatment with Progesterone\" href=\"http://www.hormoneclinic.com.au/anxiety_.php\" target=\"_blank\">Anxiety Attacks – Treatment with Progesterone</a>.\r\n\r\nIf you have anxiety related symptoms that you think are being caused by hormonal fluctuations sign up for updates to my blog as I am going to be doing a deep dive into this topic.  I believe thousands upon thousands of women are needlessly suffering throughout their life cycle and it makes my heart ache for these women and their families – My Beloved calls it a Crime Against Women.  We as women need to take action – the first step is advocating for yourself, the second step is reaching out to help others, the third is to speak out.','Progesterone & Anxiety','','draft','open','open','','progesterone-anxiety','','','2013-01-17 19:21:26','2013-01-18 00:21:26','',0,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/?p=1289',0,'post','',0),(1291,1,'2013-01-17 20:11:41','2013-01-18 01:11:41','I wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be. <a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles?</a> is a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive, suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.   This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my own personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones or discussing <em>why</em> I didn\'t ovulate - my OB/GYN prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug - it works - I get pregnant twice. But 5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone.</strong>  In my view, progesterone w<em>ould</em> have been the natural choice and one of the first things attempted to enhance my ovulation.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  My OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then would he investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  Anti-depressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for the entire 6 weeks I took them plus I gained 15 lbs in 6 weeks!\n\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on anti-depressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women.  In my case, I didn\'t want to take anti-depressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment solution.</strong>  I sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years in a sub-sedated medicated state and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\n\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a>. In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me - I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder because he made the subtle suggestion that there is medication and treatment available.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones. Instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> to keep on hand in case it happened again - oral progesterone acts quicker and differently than the cream I usually use (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\n\nWouldn\'t you love to know if the woman who wrote in to Dr. Prior went ahead with the cardiologists recommendation to cut the electrical channels in her heart or followed the suggestion to consider progesterone?   If you have a similar story of finding a better solution to your health problems I\'d love to hear from you.\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-12','','','2013-01-17 20:11:41','2013-01-18 01:11:41','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(1292,1,'2013-01-17 20:34:56','2013-01-18 01:34:56','','Woman with Glowing Heart 123RF','Image credit: <a href=\'http://www.123rf.com/photo_15563801_woman-glowing-heart-anatomy.html\'>woodoo007 / 123RF Stock Photo</a>','inherit','open','open','','woman-with-glowing-heart-123rf','','','2013-01-17 20:34:56','2013-01-18 01:34:56','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Woman-with-Glowing-Heart-123RF.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1293,1,'2013-01-17 20:37:21','2013-01-18 01:37:21','[caption id=\"attachment_1292\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1292\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1292\"><img class=\" wp-image-1292 \" alt=\"Image Courtesy of: 123RF Stock Photo/woodoo007\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Woman-with-Glowing-Heart-123RF-300x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a> Image credit: <a href=\"http://www.123rf.com/photo_15563801_woman-glowing-heart-anatomy.html\">woodoo007 / 123RF Stock Photo</a>[/caption]\n\nI wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be.\n\n<a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles</a>\n\nis a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive, suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.   This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my own personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones or discussing <em>why</em> I didn\'t ovulate - my OB/GYN prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug - it works - I get pregnant twice. But 5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone.</strong>  In my view, progesterone w<em>ould</em> have been the natural choice and one of the first things attempted to enhance my ovulation.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  My OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then would he investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and anti-depressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  Anti-depressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for the entire 6 weeks I took them plus I gained 15 lbs in 6 weeks!\n\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on anti-depressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women.  In my case, I didn\'t want to take anti-depressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment solution.</strong>  I sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years in a sub-sedated medicated state and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\n\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a>. In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me - I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder because he made the subtle suggestion that there is medication and treatment available.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones. Instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> to keep on hand in case it happened again - oral progesterone acts quicker and differently than the cream I usually use (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\n\nWouldn\'t you love to know if the woman who wrote in to Dr. Prior went ahead with the cardiologists recommendation to cut the electrical channels in her heart or followed the suggestion to consider progesterone?   If you have a similar story of finding a better solution to your health problems I\'d love to hear from you.\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-13','','','2013-01-17 20:37:21','2013-01-18 01:37:21','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(1294,1,'2013-01-17 20:43:23','2013-01-18 01:43:23','[caption id=\"attachment_1292\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1292\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1292\"><img class=\" wp-image-1292 \" alt=\"Image Courtesy of: 123RF Stock Photo/woodoo007\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Woman-with-Glowing-Heart-123RF-300x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a> Image credit: <a href=\"http://www.123rf.com/photo_15563801_woman-glowing-heart-anatomy.html\">woodoo007 / 123RF Stock Photo</a>[/caption]\n\nI wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be.\n\n<span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: verdana, geneva;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\"<a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles</a>\"</span>\n</span>\n\nIt\'s a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive, suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.   This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my own personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones or discussing <em>why</em> I didn\'t ovulate - my OB/GYN prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug - it works - I get pregnant twice. But 5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone.</strong>  In my view, progesterone w<em>ould</em> have been the natural choice and one of the first things attempted to enhance my ovulation.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  My OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then would he investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and antidepressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  antidepressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for the entire 6 weeks I took them plus I gained 15 lbs in 6 weeks!\n\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on antidepressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women.  In my case, I didn\'t want to take antidepressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment solution.</strong>  I sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years in a sub-sedated medicated state and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\n\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a>.  In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me - I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder because he made the subtle suggestion that there is medication and treatment available.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones. Instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> to keep on hand in case it happened again - oral progesterone acts quicker and differently than the cream I usually use (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\n\nWouldn\'t you love to know if the woman who wrote in to Dr. Prior went ahead with the cardiologists recommendation to cut the electrical channels in her heart or followed the suggestion to consider progesterone?   If you have a similar story of finding a better solution to your health problems I\'d love to hear from you.\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-14','','','2013-01-17 20:43:23','2013-01-18 01:43:23','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(1295,1,'2013-01-17 20:43:31','2013-01-18 01:43:31','[caption id=\"attachment_1292\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1292\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1292\"><img class=\" wp-image-1292 \" alt=\"Image Courtesy of: 123RF Stock Photo/woodoo007\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Woman-with-Glowing-Heart-123RF-300x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a> Image credit: <a href=\"http://www.123rf.com/photo_15563801_woman-glowing-heart-anatomy.html\">woodoo007 / 123RF Stock Photo</a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: verdana, geneva;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\"<a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles</a>\"</span>\r\n</span>\r\n\r\nIt\'s a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\r\n\r\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive, suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.   This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\r\n\r\nHere are some of my own personal examples:\r\n\r\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones or discussing <em>why</em> I didn\'t ovulate - my OB/GYN prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug - it works - I get pregnant twice. But 5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone.</strong>  In my view, progesterone w<em>ould</em> have been the natural choice and one of the first things attempted to enhance my ovulation.\r\n\r\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  My OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then would he investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and antidepressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  antidepressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for the entire 6 weeks I took them plus I gained 15 lbs in 6 weeks!\r\n\r\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on antidepressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women.  In my case, I didn\'t want to take antidepressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment solution.</strong>  I sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years in a sub-sedated medicated state and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\r\n\r\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a>.  In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me - I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder because he made the subtle suggestion that there is medication and treatment available.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones. Instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> to keep on hand in case it happened again - oral progesterone acts quicker and differently than the cream I usually use (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\r\n\r\nWouldn\'t you love to know if the woman who wrote in to Dr. Prior went ahead with the cardiologists recommendation to cut the electrical channels in her heart or followed the suggestion to consider progesterone?   If you have a similar story of finding a better solution to your health problems I\'d love to hear from you.\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-15','','','2013-01-17 20:43:31','2013-01-18 01:43:31','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(1296,1,'2013-04-21 22:06:36','2013-04-22 03:06:36','[caption id=\"attachment_1292\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/heart-surgery-for-peri-menopause-heart-palpitations/woman-with-glowing-heart-123rf/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1292\"><img class=\" wp-image-1292 \" alt=\"Image Courtesy of: 123RF Stock Photo/woodoo007\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Woman-with-Glowing-Heart-123RF-300x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a> Image credit: <a href=\"http://www.123rf.com/photo_15563801_woman-glowing-heart-anatomy.html\">woodoo007 / 123RF Stock Photo</a>[/caption]\n\nI wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be.\n\n<span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: verdana, geneva;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\"<a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles</a>\"</span>\n</span>\n\nIt\'s a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior, endocrinologist &amp; founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\n\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive, suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.   This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\n\nHere are some of my own personal examples:\n\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones or discussing <em>why</em> I didn\'t ovulate - my OB/GYN prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug - it works - I get pregnant twice. But 5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone.</strong>  In my view, progesterone w<em>ould</em> have been the natural choice and one of the first things attempted to enhance my ovulation.\n\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  My OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then would he investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\n\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and antidepressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  antidepressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for the entire 6 weeks I took them plus I gained 15 lbs in 6 weeks!\n\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on antidepressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women.  In my case, I didn\'t want to take antidepressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment solution.</strong>  I sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years in a sub-sedated medicated state and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\n\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a></span>.  In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me - I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder because he made the subtle suggestion that there is medication and treatment available.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones. Instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> to keep on hand in case it happened again - oral progesterone acts quicker and differently than the cream I usually use.\n\nWouldn\'t you love to know if the woman who wrote in to Dr. Prior went ahead with the cardiologists recommendation to cut the electrical channels in her heart or followed the suggestion to consider progesterone?   If you have a similar story of finding a better solution to your health problems I\'d love to hear from you.\n\nTo read about my Postpartum PVC\'s and other Heart Palpitations click here:\n\n<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"> <a title=\"Postpartum Anxiety Part 1 – My Heart did Loop-de-loops – I thought I was dying…\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/my-heart-did-loop-de-loops/\" target=\"_blank\">Postpartum Anxiety Part 1 - My Heart Did Loop De-Loops</a></span>  and here: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"Postparmum Anxiety Part 2 – I thought I was dying…again…\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/postpartum-anxiety-part-2-i-thought-i-was-dying-again/\" target=\"_blank\">Postpartum Anxiety Part 2 - I Thought I was Dying Again</a>\n</span>\n\nand here: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">The Power of Hormones</a></span>\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-autosave','','','2013-04-21 22:06:36','2013-04-22 03:06:36','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1297,1,'2013-01-17 20:43:31','2013-01-18 01:43:31','[caption id=\"attachment_1292\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/heart-surgery-for-peri-menopause-heart-palpitations/woman-with-glowing-heart-123rf/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1292\"><img class=\" wp-image-1292 \" alt=\"Image Courtesy of: 123RF Stock Photo/woodoo007\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Woman-with-Glowing-Heart-123RF-300x300.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a> Image credit: <a href=\"http://www.123rf.com/photo_15563801_woman-glowing-heart-anatomy.html\">woodoo007 / 123RF Stock Photo</a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nI wasn\'t all that shocked when I read this article but you might be.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: verdana, geneva;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\"<a title=\"Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research\" href=\"http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/print/310\" target=\"_blank\">Why Does My Heart Feel Like its Doing Hurdles</a>\"</span>\r\n</span>\r\n\r\nIt\'s a Q&amp;A from the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR) in Vancouver, BC.  The article is definitely worth a read if you\'re anywhere near peri-menopause.   I\'ll spoil it for those of you who don\'t want to read the entire thing - in the article a woman mentions that two cardiologists have suggested she undergo heart surgery to cut the electrical channels in her heart.   But Nobel Prize winning endocrinologist, Dr. Jerrilynn C. Prior the founder of CeMCOR has another idea based on her own research.  She believes that the 46 year old woman is experiencing peri-menopausal symtoms that can be treated with....you guessed it.....progesterone!\r\n\r\nI have lived through similar, albiet less invasive, suggestions from doctors who either over-treat, mis-treat or just plain misunderstand what is going on in my body.   This is why I believe so strongly in <strong>self-advocacy</strong>.\r\n\r\nHere are some of my own personal examples:\r\n\r\n<strong>Infertility</strong>: Without ever testing my hormones or discussing <em>why</em> I didn\'t ovulate - my OB/GYN prescribes Chlomid - a fertility drug - it works - I get pregnant twice. But 5 years later I get my hormones balanced and start to ovulate (big surprise there) and <strong>get pregnant the first month I start taking progesterone.</strong>  In my view, progesterone w<em>ould</em> have been the natural choice and one of the first things attempted to enhance my ovulation.\r\n\r\n<strong>Miscarriage</strong>:  My OB/GYN suggested to try three pregnancies and if they ALL end in early miscarriage only then would he investigate.  After 2 miscarriages I do my own research and demand progesterone - I went on to have 3 children and took <strong>progesterone for approximately the first trimester</strong>.\r\n\r\n<strong>PMS:</strong> I was offered birth control pills and antidepressants which made it worse not better.  My problem was estrogen dominance - birth control pills have estrogen.  antidepressants didn\'t address my problem which was<strong> progesterone deficiency</strong> and gave me headaches for the entire 6 weeks I took them plus I gained 15 lbs in 6 weeks!\r\n\r\n<strong>Postpartum Mood Disorder</strong> - My family doctor was going to put me on antidepressants as soon as the baby was born.  I believe that this is the treatment suggestion most women are given by their doctors and it may even work for some women.  In my case, I didn\'t want to take antidepressants and I already knew that <strong>progesterone was a possible treatment solution.</strong>  I sought out an OB/GYN that prescribed bio-identical hormones.   I truly believe I would have suffered for years in a sub-sedated medicated state and my situation would have been dire had I not taken the steps to find a doctor that provided my body the appropriate treatment for me.\r\n\r\n<strong>Panic Attack</strong> -  I know that most doctors would have written me a prescription for anti-anxiety meds after my <a title=\"The Power of Hormones\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/the-power-of-hormones/\" target=\"_blank\">New Years Day Panic Attack Scare</a>.  In fact, my friend who is a doctor, was concerned for me - I am sure he thinks I have a Panic Disorder because he made the subtle suggestion that there is medication and treatment available.  Let me just say that the panic attack was so scary and if I hadn\'t related it to my hormone situation I would have been begging for anti-anxiety meds! I just wanted the feeling to go away not NOW but RIGHT NOW!  I didn\'t get in to see my own doctor for about a week afterward and by then I had been taking my hormones. Instead of anti-anxiety meds my doctor prescribed <strong>oral progesterone</strong> to keep on hand in case it happened again - oral progesterone acts quicker and differently than the cream I usually use (more about the difference in an upcoming post).\r\n\r\nWouldn\'t you love to know if the woman who wrote in to Dr. Prior went ahead with the cardiologists recommendation to cut the electrical channels in her heart or followed the suggestion to consider progesterone?   If you have a similar story of finding a better solution to your health problems I\'d love to hear from you.\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Heart Surgery for Peri-menopause Heart Palpitations?','','inherit','open','open','','1271-revision-16','','','2013-01-17 20:43:31','2013-01-18 01:43:31','',1271,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1271-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(1299,1,'2013-01-18 10:53:55','2013-01-18 15:53:55','Japanese Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies','Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies','Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies - Image: Dreamstime','inherit','open','open','','httpwww-dreamstime-com-image9682202','','','2013-01-18 10:53:55','2013-01-18 15:53:55','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1300,1,'2013-01-18 11:04:24','2013-01-18 16:04:24','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nAnother way to help is to ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to hold a ceremony offer to help plan something even if it is informal.  Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - consider presenting the mom with a memory box.\n\nThe mom may be so distraught and is sometimes whisked in for a D&amp;C so she may not have time to think about things like this until later.  That was the case with my first miscarriage.   I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend Ava whom you\'ve heard me speak highly of planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nSome people think it\'s weird but I don\'t understand that reaction because for me my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant.  I do understand that not every woman has the same beliefs and may take a more matter-of-fact approach.  But for me, honoring my babies is important.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-12','','','2013-01-18 11:04:24','2013-01-18 16:04:24','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(1301,1,'2013-01-18 11:05:43','2013-01-18 16:05:43','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nAnother way to help is to ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to hold a ceremony offer to help plan something even if it is informal.  Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - consider presenting the mom with a memory box.\n\nThe mom may be so distraught and is sometimes whisked in for a D&amp;C so she may not have time to think about things like this until later.  That was the case with my first miscarriage.   I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend Ava whom you\'ve heard me speak highly of planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nSome people think it\'s weird but I don\'t understand that reaction because for me my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant.  I do understand that not every woman has the same beliefs and may take a more matter-of-fact approach.  But for me, honoring my babies is important.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-13','','','2013-01-18 11:05:43','2013-01-18 16:05:43','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(1302,1,'2013-01-18 11:14:12','2013-01-18 16:14:12','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member -(Keep in mind that these may not be what every mom wants but if you really understand your friend or family member you\'ll know if it\'s appropriate for her.  It doesn\'t hurt anyone to ask.\n<ul>\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that your friend is a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give a card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\n</ul>\nThe mom may be so distraught and is sometimes whisked in for a D&amp;C so she may not have time to think about things like this until later.  That was the case with my first miscarriage.   Of course not all mom\'s will go for this but I know many who will or would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend Ava whom you\'ve heard me speak highly of planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nSome people think it\'s weird but I don\'t understand that reaction because for me my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant.  I do understand that not every woman has the same beliefs and may take a more matter-of-fact approach.  But for me, honoring my babies is important.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-14','','','2013-01-18 11:14:12','2013-01-18 16:14:12','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(1303,1,'2013-01-18 12:04:38','2013-01-18 17:04:38','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member -\n\n(Keep in mind that these may not be what every mom wants but if you really understand your friend or family member you\'ll know if it\'s appropriate for her.  It doesn\'t hurt anyone to ask.)\n<ul>\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that she IS a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\n</ul>\nThe mom may be so distraught and is sometimes whisked in for a D&amp;C so she may not have time to think about things like this until later.  That was the case with my first miscarriage.   Of course not all mom\'s will go for this but I know many who will or would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend Ava whom you\'ve heard me speak highly of planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nSome people think it\'s weird but I don\'t understand that reaction because for me my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant.  I do understand that not every woman has the same beliefs and may take a more matter-of-fact approach.  But for me, honoring my babies is important.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-15','','','2013-01-18 12:04:38','2013-01-18 17:04:38','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(1304,1,'2013-01-18 12:06:51','2013-01-18 17:06:51','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member -\n\n(Keep in mind that these may not be what every mom wants but if you really understand your friend or family member you\'ll know if it\'s appropriate for her.  It doesn\'t hurt anyone to ask.)\n<ul>\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that she IS a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give her a card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\n</ul>\nThe mom may be so distraught and is sometimes whisked in for a D&amp;C so she may not have time to think about things like this until later.  That was the case with my first miscarriage.   Of course not all mom\'s will go for this but I know many who will or would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend Ava whom you\'ve heard me speak highly of planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nSome people think it\'s weird but I don\'t understand that reaction because grieving is a natural reaction to loss. And for me, my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant.  I do understand that not every woman has the same beliefs and may take a more matter-of-fact approach.  But for me, honoring my babies is important.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-16','','','2013-01-18 12:06:51','2013-01-18 17:06:51','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(1305,1,'2013-01-18 12:07:01','2013-01-18 17:07:01','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next but with empty arms.   To be honest people generally don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\r\n\r\nHere are some tips based on my own personal miscarriage experiences:\r\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\r\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\r\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\r\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>You\'re young you have lots of  time</td>\r\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\r\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\r\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>You need to _________________\r\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\r\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member -\r\n\r\n(Keep in mind that these may not be what every mom wants but if you really understand your friend or family member you\'ll know if it\'s appropriate for her.  It doesn\'t hurt anyone to ask.)\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\r\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\r\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that she IS a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give her a card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThe mom may be so distraught and is sometimes whisked in for a D&amp;C so she may not have time to think about things like this until later.  That was the case with my first miscarriage.   Of course not all mom\'s will go for this but I know many who will or would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend Ava whom you\'ve heard me speak highly of planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\r\n\r\nSome people think it\'s weird but I don\'t understand that reaction because grieving is a natural reaction to loss. And for me, my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant.  I do understand that not every woman has the same beliefs and may take a more matter-of-fact approach.  But for me, honoring my babies is important.\r\n\r\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-17','','','2013-01-18 12:07:01','2013-01-18 17:07:01','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(1306,1,'2013-01-18 12:09:55','2013-01-18 17:09:55','','The Felt Cervix Project','The Felt Cervix Project','inherit','open','open','','the-felt-cervix-project','','','2013-01-18 12:09:55','2013-01-18 17:09:55','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1307,1,'2013-01-18 12:13:37','2013-01-18 17:13:37','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1306\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1306\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306\" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\n\nIn the January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States.  I thought I would share some information with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered out during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls saying that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>Some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nCheck out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture which will be presented to the Kinsey Institute.','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-11','','','2013-01-18 12:13:37','2013-01-18 17:13:37','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(1308,1,'2013-01-18 12:16:32','2013-01-18 17:16:32','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1306\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1306\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306\" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\n\nIn the January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States.  I thought I would share some information with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered out during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls saying that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under age 15.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress;</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control;</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>Some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nCheck out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture which will be presented to the Kinsey Institute.','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-12','','','2013-01-18 12:16:32','2013-01-18 17:16:32','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(1311,1,'2013-01-19 01:29:17','2013-01-19 06:29:17','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next BUT with empty arms. To be honest many people don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage. They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and may even end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some tips based on my own personal experiences:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nI don\'t pretend to know what every woman who has suffered the loss of a baby would want or how she would feel.  I only know how I felt and there\'s one word that comes to mind - devastated.\n\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member -\n\n(Keep in mind that these may not be what every mom wants but if you really understand your friend or family member you\'ll know if it\'s appropriate for her. Also remember it doesn\'t hurt anyone to ask.)\n<ul>\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that she IS a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give her a card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\n	<li><strong>Write your friend a poem</strong> like <a title=\"Courtney\'s Mom\'s Poem - Poppy\" href=\"http://beepea.com/2013/01/19/remembering-poppy/\" target=\"_blank\">my girl Courtney\'s mom did</a> or a beautiful handwritten note.</li>\n</ul>\nThe mom may be so distraught and is sometimes whisked in for a D&amp;C so she may not have time to think about things like this until later.  That was the case with my first miscarriage.  I know many moms who would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  Personally, I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend<a title=\"Farewell Dear Ava\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/farewell-dear-ava/\" target=\"_blank\"> Ava, whom you\'ve heard me speak so highly of</a>, planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nI\'ve heard some people express that they think it\'s kind of weird but I don\'t understand that reaction. Grieving is a natural reaction to loss - my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant.  I do understand and respect that not every woman has the same beliefs and may take a more matter-of-fact approach - I\'ve known one or two women like that. In my situation, honoring my babies was and still is important  to this day.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.\n\nHave you named your miscarried baby? Or had a ceremony? Did someone do something special for you?','We Miss our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-18','','','2013-01-19 01:29:17','2013-01-19 06:29:17','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(1315,1,'2013-01-21 11:52:32','2013-01-21 16:52:32','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\n\nBecause January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States  I thought I would share some information.  Even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views. But I\'ve talked with many women who don\'t know anything about it and yet let their daughters get the vaccine just because it\'s offered \"free\" if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the adorable little knitted cervices in the photo above.   I will be','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-13','','','2013-01-21 11:52:32','2013-01-21 16:52:32','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(1316,1,'2013-01-21 11:55:42','2013-01-21 16:55:42','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\n\nBecause January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States  I thought I would share some information.  Even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views. But I\'ve talked with many women who don\'t know anything about it and yet let their daughters get the vaccine just because it\'s offered \"free\" if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the adorable little knitted cervices in the photo above.\n\nRead my blog post and Get to Know Your Cervix!','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-14','','','2013-01-21 11:55:42','2013-01-21 16:55:42','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(1317,1,'2013-01-22 08:14:09','2013-01-22 13:14:09','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\n\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views. But I\'ve talked with many women who don\'t know anything about it and yet let their daughters get the vaccine just because it\'s offered \"free\" if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the adorable little knitted cervices in the photo above.\n\nRead my blog post and <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-15','','','2013-01-22 08:14:09','2013-01-22 13:14:09','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(1318,1,'2013-01-22 08:16:50','2013-01-22 13:16:50','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\n\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views. But I\'ve talked with many women who don\'t know anything about it and yet let their daughters get the vaccine just because it\'s offered \"free\" if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.  To learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the adorable little knitted cervices in the photo above.\n\nRead my blog post and <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-16','','','2013-01-22 08:16:50','2013-01-22 13:16:50','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(1319,1,'2013-01-22 08:20:16','2013-01-22 13:20:16','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\n\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views. But I\'ve talked with many women who don\'t know anything about it and yet let their daughters get the vaccine just because it\'s offered \"free\" if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\n\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\n\nTo learn more about your cervix, see photos of real cervix\'s throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nRead my blog post and <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-17','','','2013-01-22 08:20:16','2013-01-22 13:20:16','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(1320,1,'2013-01-22 08:21:54','2013-01-22 13:21:54','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\n\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views. But I\'ve talked with many women who don\'t know anything about it and yet let their daughters get the vaccine just because it\'s offered \"free\" if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\n\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\n\nTo learn more about your cervix - see photos of real cervices throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nRead my blog post and <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\n\nLet us know what you think - comments are cool:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-18','','','2013-01-22 08:21:54','2013-01-22 13:21:54','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(1321,1,'2013-01-22 08:22:49','2013-01-22 13:22:49','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\r\n\r\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\r\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\r\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views. But I\'ve talked with many women who don\'t know anything about it and yet let their daughters get the vaccine just because it\'s offered \"free\" if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\r\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\r\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\r\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\r\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\r\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\r\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\r\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\r\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\r\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\r\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\r\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\r\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\r\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\r\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\r\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\r\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\r\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\r\n	<li>smoking</li>\r\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\r\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\r\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\r\n\r\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\r\n\r\nTo learn more about your cervix - see photos of real cervices throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\r\n\r\nRead my blog post and <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\r\n\r\nWould love to hear your thoughts:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-19','','','2013-01-22 08:22:49','2013-01-22 13:22:49','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(1322,1,'2013-01-22 08:23:11','2013-01-22 13:23:11','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\r\n\r\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\r\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\r\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views. But I\'ve talked with many women who don\'t know anything about it and yet let their daughters get the vaccine just because it\'s offered \"free\" if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\r\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\r\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\r\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\r\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\r\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\r\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\r\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\r\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\r\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\r\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\r\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\r\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\r\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\r\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\r\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\r\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\r\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\r\n	<li>smoking</li>\r\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\r\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\r\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\r\n\r\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\r\n\r\nTo learn more about your cervix - see photos of real cervices throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\r\n\r\nRead my blog post and <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\r\n\r\nWould love to hear your thoughts:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-20','','','2013-01-22 08:23:11','2013-01-22 13:23:11','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(1323,1,'2013-01-22 09:45:45','2013-01-22 14:45:45','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\n\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\n<ol>\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.  I\'ve spoken with mom\'s who don\'t know much about the vaccine but let their daughters get the vaccine because it\'s offered. And it\'s free if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\n</ol>\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\n<ul>\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\n<ul>\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"DNA Fragments in Gardasil Vaccine\" href=\"http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=25840\" target=\"_blank\">HPV DNA fragments have been found </a>in vials of Gardasil vaccine which came to light during an autopsy into the sudden, unexpected death of a teenager.  The vaccine has been marketed as containing \"no viral DNA\".  The FDA later came out and said DNA fragments are \"expected\" - you can read about that <a title=\"FDA - Gardasil Vaccine \" href=\"http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm276859.htm\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a>  In response, <a title=\"SaneVax\'s Article questioning FDA\'s Key Facts\" href=\"http://sanevax.org/fda-information-on-gardasil-betrayal-of-the-public-trust/\" target=\"_blank\">SaneVax Inc.\'s article </a>questions the FDA\'s \"Key Facts\" &amp; considers whether the public is being betrayed.  SaneVax Inc is an organization that calls for safe, affordable, effective &amp; necessary vaccines &amp; practises.</li>\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine which you can read about <a title=\"WomentoWomen.com Gardasil Vaccine Article\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\n<ul>\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\n	<li>smoking</li>\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\n\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\n\nTo learn more about your cervix - see photos of real cervices throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\n\nRead my blog post <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\n\nWould love to hear your thoughts:\n\n&nbsp;\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-autosave','','','2013-01-22 09:45:45','2013-01-22 14:45:45','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1324,1,'2013-01-22 08:27:37','2013-01-22 13:27:37','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\r\n\r\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\r\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\r\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views. But I\'ve talked with many women who don\'t know anything about it and yet let their daughters get the vaccine just because it\'s offered \"free\" if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\r\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\r\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\r\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\r\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\r\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\r\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\r\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\r\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\r\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\r\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\r\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\r\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\r\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\r\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\r\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\r\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\r\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\r\n	<li>smoking</li>\r\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\r\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\r\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\r\n\r\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\r\n\r\nTo learn more about your cervix - see photos of real cervices throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\r\n\r\nRead my blog post and <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\r\n\r\nWould love to hear your thoughts:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-21','','','2013-01-22 08:27:37','2013-01-22 13:27:37','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(1325,1,'2013-01-22 08:29:05','2013-01-22 13:29:05','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\r\n\r\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\r\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\r\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.  I\'ve spoken with mom\'s who don\'t know much about the vaccine but let their daughters get the vaccine because it\'s offered. And it\'s free if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\r\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\r\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\r\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\r\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\r\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\r\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\r\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\r\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\r\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\r\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\r\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\r\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\r\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\r\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\r\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\r\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\r\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\r\n	<li>smoking</li>\r\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\r\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\r\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\r\n\r\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\r\n\r\nTo learn more about your cervix - see photos of real cervices throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\r\n\r\nRead my blog post and <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\r\n\r\nWould love to hear your thoughts:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-22','','','2013-01-22 08:29:05','2013-01-22 13:29:05','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(1326,1,'2013-01-22 08:29:41','2013-01-22 13:29:41','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\r\n\r\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\r\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\r\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.  I\'ve spoken with mom\'s who don\'t know much about the vaccine but let their daughters get the vaccine because it\'s offered. And it\'s free if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\r\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\r\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\r\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\r\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\r\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\r\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\r\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\r\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\r\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\r\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\r\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\r\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\r\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\r\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\r\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\r\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\r\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\r\n	<li>smoking</li>\r\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\r\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\r\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\r\n\r\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\r\n\r\nTo learn more about your cervix - see photos of real cervices throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\r\n\r\nRead my blog post and <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\r\n\r\nWould love to hear your thoughts:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-23','','','2013-01-22 08:29:41','2013-01-22 13:29:41','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(1327,1,'2013-01-22 08:51:37','2013-01-22 13:51:37','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\r\n\r\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\r\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\r\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.  I\'ve spoken with mom\'s who don\'t know much about the vaccine but let their daughters get the vaccine because it\'s offered. And it\'s free if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\r\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\r\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"DNA Fragments in Gardasil Vaccine\" href=\"http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=25840\" target=\"_blank\">HPV DNA fragments have been found </a>in vials of Gardasil vaccine which came to light during an autopsy into the sudden, unexpected death of a teenager.  The vaccine has been marketed as containing \"no viral DNA\".  The FDA later came out and said DNA fragments are \"expected\" - you can read about that <a title=\"FDA - Gardasil Vaccine \" href=\"http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm276859.htm\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a>  In response, <a title=\"SaneVax\'s Article questioning FDA\'s Key Facts\" href=\"http://sanevax.org/fda-information-on-gardasil-betrayal-of-the-public-trust/\" target=\"_blank\">SaneVax Inc.\'s article </a>questions the FDA\'s \"Key Facts\" &amp; considers whether the public is being betrayed.  SaneVax Inc is an organization that calls for safe, affordable, effective &amp; necessary vaccines &amp; practises.</li>\r\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\r\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\r\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\r\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\r\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\r\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\r\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\r\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\r\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\r\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\r\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\r\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\r\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\r\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\r\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\r\n	<li>smoking</li>\r\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\r\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\r\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\r\n\r\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\r\n\r\nTo learn more about your cervix - see photos of real cervices throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\r\n\r\nRead my blog post and <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\r\n\r\nWould love to hear your thoughts:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-24','','','2013-01-22 08:51:37','2013-01-22 13:51:37','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(1328,1,'2013-01-22 09:17:04','2013-01-22 14:17:04','[caption id=\"attachment_1306\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453.jpg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1306  \" alt=\"Felt Cervix Project\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-felt-cervix-project-e1358529114453-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> The Felt Cervix Project[/caption]\r\n\r\nJanuary has been designated Cervical Health Awareness Month in the United States and even though this topic isn\'t really about hormones I wanted to share some cervix-y things with you for a few reasons:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>I am amazed at the number of readers that come to my site in search of information about their cervix.</li>\r\n	<li>Guidelines for PAP smears have recently been changed - no longer are annual PAPs being recommended for every age group nor every year (see below).</li>\r\n	<li>The HPV Vaccine is being offered as protection against some cervical cancers. Where I live the HPV vaccine is given to all Grade 7 girls and you guessed it my daughter is in grade 7 this year which is the big reason I got into researching the vaccine. Vaccination is such a personal decision and there are many people who sit on either side of the fence with very passionate views.  I\'ve spoken with mom\'s who don\'t know much about the vaccine but let their daughters get the vaccine because it\'s offered. And it\'s free if you get it at school.  I was actually \"warned\" that if I didn\'t give it to my daughter at school then I would have to pay for it out of my own pocket.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nHere\'s what I discovered during my research:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The guidelines for PAP smears in US, Canada &amp; the UK have been changed.  (I mention these countries because it is where the majority of my readers originate).  Here are the new recommendations according to the <a title=\"Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care\" href=\"http://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/screening-for-cervical-cancer/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care:</a>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged &lt;20 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 20 to 24 we recommend not routinely screening for cervical cancer.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 25 to 29 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; moderate quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged 30 to 69 we recommend routine screening for cervical cancer every 3 years.</strong> (<em>Strong recommendation; high quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n	<li><strong>For women aged ≥70 who have been adequately screened (i.e. 3 successive negative Pap tests in the last 10 years), we recommend that routine screening may cease. For women aged 70 or over who have not been adequately screened we recommend continued screening until 3 negative test results have been obtained.</strong> (<em>Weak recommendation; low quality evidence</em>)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Cervical cancer is preventable yet sadly women are still dying from it.  The most important thing to do is get your PAP smear because cervical cancer is typically very slow developing.</li>\r\n	<li>There are vaccines available for HPV of which two strains (#16 &amp; #18) have been implicated in some cervical cancers.</li>\r\n	<li>The woman who lead the team that developed the vaccine, Dr. Diane Harper, has spoken out <strong>against</strong> giving it to young girls for a number of reasons, one of which is that it\'s efficacy was never tested on young developing girls under a certain age.  Read about that here: <a title=\"CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out\" href=\"http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500690_162-5253431.html\" target=\"_blank\">CBS News - Researcher Speaks Out</a></li>\r\n	<li><a title=\"DNA Fragments in Gardasil Vaccine\" href=\"http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=25840\" target=\"_blank\">HPV DNA fragments have been found </a>in vials of Gardasil vaccine which came to light during an autopsy into the sudden, unexpected death of a teenager.  The vaccine has been marketed as containing \"no viral DNA\".  The FDA later came out and said DNA fragments are \"expected\" - you can read about that <a title=\"FDA - Gardasil Vaccine \" href=\"http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm276859.htm\" target=\"_blank\">here.</a>  In response, <a title=\"SaneVax\'s Article questioning FDA\'s Key Facts\" href=\"http://sanevax.org/fda-information-on-gardasil-betrayal-of-the-public-trust/\" target=\"_blank\">SaneVax Inc.\'s article </a>questions the FDA\'s \"Key Facts\" &amp; considers whether the public is being betrayed.  SaneVax Inc is an organization that calls for safe, affordable, effective &amp; necessary vaccines &amp; practises.</li>\r\n	<li>One of my favorite websites about women\'s health <a title=\"Women to Women\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Women to Women</a> is taking a \"cautious approach\" to the vaccine which you can read about <a title=\"WomentoWomen.com Gardasil Vaccine Article\" href=\"http://www.womentowomen.com/sexualityandfertility/gardasil-landing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.  I respect these female doctors and practitioners on this website so much.  They take a whole person approach to women\'s health and provide so much valuable information on their website.</li>\r\n	<li>You can still get cervical cancer even if you\'ve been vaccinated.</li>\r\n	<li>The vaccine\'s efficacy is approximately 5 years - women were followed in the early studies for 6.4 years.  Here\'s some more info about <a title=\"HPV - Is a Booster Required?\" href=\"http://www.who.int/immunization/HPV_Grad_Booster.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">whether or not there is evidence showing a booster is required to ensure long term protection. </a></li>\r\n	<li>Women vaccinated still need to go for PAP smears, some experts believe that those who receive the vaccine will opt out of PAP smears which are crucial for early detection.</li>\r\n	<li>Even if abnormal cervical cells are found on a PAP they can be treated when caught early with colposcopy, cryotherapy, and LEEP procedures to help prevent cervical cancer.</li>\r\n	<li>Invasive cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon disease in Canada due to the widespread use of screening and the diagnosis and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In 2006, 1,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer; 380 women died from the disease.  Invasive cervical cancer incidence has declined from 15.4 per 100,000 in 1977 to 8.0 per 100,000 in 2006, while invasive cervical cancer mortality has declined from\r\n4.8 per 100,000 in 1977 to 2.0 per 100,000 in 2006. (Information taken from the report \"Cervical Cancer Screening in Canada - Monitoring Program Performance 2006-2008\")  Read the report here: <a title=\"Partnership Against Cancer\" href=\"http://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/CPAC_Cervical_CS_Report_E_WEB_Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Partnership Against Cancer</a>. There are no stats that mention if those 2/100,000 had cervical cancer related to the strains #16 or #18.</li>\r\n	<li>The <a title=\"Canadian Women\'s Health Network\" href=\"http://www.cwhn.ca/en/node/45708\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Women’s Health Network</a> and <a title=\"Canadian Cancer Society\" href=\"http://www.cancer.ca/Canada-wide/About%20cancer/Types%20of%20cancer/Causes%20of%20cervical%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Cancer Society</a> lists many factors which increase the likelihood of cervical cancer developing (this is a combined list):\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>poor nutrition and a diet low in vitamins A, folate (a B vitamin) and C, &amp; stress</li>\r\n	<li>not using condoms or other barrier methods of birth control</li>\r\n	<li>having another sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia</li>\r\n	<li>not having regular Pap tests (a test used to detect both dysplasia and cervical cancer)</li>\r\n	<li>becoming sexually active at a young age</li>\r\n	<li>having many sexual partners or a sexual partner who has had many partners</li>\r\n	<li>having a weakened immune system (for example, from taking drugs after an organ transplant or having a disease such as AIDS)</li>\r\n	<li>using birth control pills for a long time</li>\r\n	<li>smoking</li>\r\n	<li>giving birth to many children</li>\r\n	<li>having taken diethylstilbestrol (DES) or being the daughter of a mother who took DES (a form of estrogen that was used between 1940 and 1971 to treat women with certain problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages)</li>\r\n	<li>some women develop cervical cancer without any of these risk factors.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nIn celebration of your cervix - take time to learn the best ways to keep it healthy.\r\n\r\nBe sure to check out the <a title=\"Felted Cervix Project\" href=\"http://feltcervix.blogspot.ca/p/about.html\" target=\"_blank\">Felt Cervix Project</a> - an art project of knitted cervices to highlight the importance of cervical health.  The website has a free pattern for anyone who wants to contribute to the project - consider knitting one and sending it in to be included in the sculpture. Each cervix gets a unique serial number.  I love the activism and creativity Sonya Phillip is bringing to Cervical Health with her Felt Cervix Project!  Look at the little knitted cervices in the photo above - who knew a cervix could be that adorable?\r\n\r\nTo learn more about your cervix - see photos of real cervices throughout the life span visit <a title=\"Beautiful Cervix Project\" href=\"http://www.beautifulcervix.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Beautiful Cervix Project</a>.\r\n\r\nRead my blog post <a title=\"Get to know your Cervix!\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/get-to-know-your-cervix/\">Get to Know Your Cervix!</a>\r\n\r\nWould love to hear your thoughts:\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Email\' type=\'email\' required=\'1\'/][contact-field label=\'Website\' type=\'url\'/][contact-field label=\'Comment\' type=\'textarea\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]','Cervical Health Awareness Month','','inherit','open','open','','1236-revision-25','','','2013-01-22 09:17:04','2013-01-22 14:17:04','',1236,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1236-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0),(1574,1,'2013-02-22 12:01:24','2013-02-22 17:01:24','I recently realized that some people view me as being \"against meds\".   It\'s true I  refused anti-depressants for my PMS and again for my postpartum mood disorder (PPMD).  Finally at my wits\' end with the PMS I took Zoloft for 6 weeks before throwing them out!  It may surprise you to know that I\'m not anti-meds. What I am \"for\", however, is doctors providing patients all the alternatives.  I am for treating the cause.\n\nObviously many people are helped by taking anti-depressants.  Lives are saved by such medications.  But did you know about 1 in 4 people are made worse by taking SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors)? There are studies showing a placebo effect may be at play for some people - this suggestion is controversial.  But here\'s the thing - the number of SSRI\'s being prescribed for everything from acne to PMS to IBS to hot flashes has me concerned.  Anti-depressants aren\'t just being prescribed for depression.  Did you know they are even formulating a new SSRI specifically to treat low libido in women?\n\nThese stats may surprise you:\n<ul>\n	<li>Anti-depressant use in America is up 400 percent in two decades!!</li>\n	<li>11% of Americans take an anti-depressant</li>\n	<li>23% of women age 40 - 59 take antidepressants</li>\n	<li>Anti-depressants are the third most prescribed drug in America</li>\n	<li>14% of people taking an anti-depressant are taking more than one type</li>\n</ul>\nI don\'t think my situation is unique -  I wasn\'t offered alternatives and I was offered anti-depressants for PMS and later for PPMD.  So my position is that year after year, health issue after health issue I was never \"treated\" I was just \"prescribed\".  That\'s what I am against.\n\nWomen\'s health issues are being painted with a mental health brush all too often.   Here\'s how I know this to be true:\n<ul>\n	<li>Millions of women with hypothyroidism are being undiagnosed and misdiagnosed, many are being given anti-depressants without ever checking for thyroid.Dr. Barry Durant-Peatfield, author of \"<em>Your Thyroid and How to Keep It Healthy\" </em>, believes that up to half of all depression is due to unrecognized hypothyroidism.</li>\n	<li>Hormone imbalances can be the culprit in mood disorders</li>\n	<li>Studies show Postpartum Psychosis may be a symptom of an auto-immune thyroid disease (AITD) - a small study in the Netherlands in 2011 showed that 19% of women with postpartum psychosis had an AITD.  So are 19% of postpartum psychosis sufferers being given the wrong meds for their condition?  It appears my friend Courtney is one of those women - <a title=\"BeePea\" href=\"http://beepea.com/2012/04/16/postpartum-ocd-yes-ocd/\" target=\"_blank\">she almost didn\'t survive her son\'s first year</a>.</li>\n	<li>Women, like <a title=\"BeePea.com\" href=\"http://beepea.com/2013/02/14/more-answers/\" target=\"_blank\">my friend Courtney</a> and t<a title=\"HypoThyroidMom\" href=\"http://hypothyroidmom.com/mental-disorder-or-undiagnosed-hypothyroidism/\" target=\"_blank\">his woman Jana</a>, are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder when, in fact, they have Hashimoto\'s Thyroid Disorder.  There\'s a problem with that - a big one in fact - the Lithium prescribed for bipolar destroys their thyroid gland.</li>\n</ul>\nInstead of opening the Endocrine Manual, doctors are scouring the pages of the DSM-IV searching for our mental illness.   Instead of investigating for hormone imbalance or metabolic disorders, prescriptions for anti-depressants and other similar drugs are being written for women in record numbers.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nDisclaimer:  The information provided on this site is not intended as medical advice  - <strong>seek medical advice from a doctor</strong>.  If you take medication it is not advisable to stop taking them without the supervision of your doctor.  Postpartum Psychosis is a medical emergency if you or someone you know is suffering seek medical attention immediately.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Women\'s Health Issues Being Painted with a Mental Health Brush','','inherit','open','open','','1521-revision-7','','','2013-02-22 12:01:24','2013-02-22 17:01:24','',1521,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1521-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1330,1,'2013-01-22 10:30:29','2013-01-22 15:30:29','Check out my guest posts on Dr. Greene!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<a href=\"http://www.drgreene.com/perspectives/2012/08/30/confessions-progesterone-junkie\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-441\" title=\"Dr. Greene\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/drgreene_girl-300x146.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"105\" /></a>\n<ul>\n	<li><a title=\"Confessions of a Progesterone Junkie\" href=\"http://www.drgreene.com/perspectives/2012/08/30/confessions-progesterone-junkie\" target=\"_blank\">Confessions of a Progesterone Junkie</a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"Excuse Me Have You Seen my Libido\" href=\"http://www.drgreene.com/perspectives/2012/08/28/excuse-me-have-you-seen-my-libido\" target=\"_blank\">Excuse Me Have You Seen My Libido</a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"I\'m a Survivor But When Did Mother Nature Get Voted Off the Island\" href=\"http://www.drgreene.com/perspectives/2012/08/29/i%E2%80%99m-survivor-when-did-mother-nature-get-voted-island\" target=\"_blank\">I\'m a Survivor But When Did Mother Nature Get Voted Off the Island</a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"Deep Dark Descent to My Naturopath\'s Office\" href=\"http://www.drgreene.com/perspectives/2012/08/31/deep-dark-descent-my-naturopath%E2%80%99s-office\" target=\"_blank\">The Deep Dark Descent to my Naturopath\'s Office</a></li>\n	<li><a title=\"My Baby Taught Me My ABCs\" href=\"http://www.drgreene.com/perspectives/2012/08/27/my-baby-taught-me-my-abc%E2%80%99s\" target=\"_blank\">My Baby Taught Me My ABC\'s</a></li>\n</ul>','Guest blog Dr. Greene - Draft','','inherit','open','open','','421-revision-9','','','2013-01-22 10:30:29','2013-01-22 15:30:29','',421,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/421-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(1332,1,'2013-03-12 17:06:35','2013-03-12 22:06:35','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sonya-Profile-Pic.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-368\" title=\"sonya\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sonya-Profile-Pic-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\n\nSonya is a survivor of infertility, miscarriages, PMS, and Post Partum Mood Disorders (esp Anxiety).  Fortunately she was able to solve all of her problems by balancing her hormones but had been more than a decade long journey of ups and downs.\n\nShe founded HormoneSoup.com in an effort to raise consciousness around hormone issues in women and spark conversation about using bio-identical hormones to treat issues such as miscarriages, infertility, postpartum mood disorder, and PMS.\n\nSonya began advocating for herself about all things hormonal after spending years seeking answers but finding band-aid solutions.  After being offered anti-depressants for hormonal concerns and hearing other women’s similar stories, Sonya became concerned that women’s issues are being labeled as mental health disorders.  Her journey to bio-identical hormones has led her to amazing doctors and natural practitioners that helped her find real solutions to very common problems.  Seeing and hearing an abundance of misinformation, the goal of HormoneSoup.com is to educate, empower and unite women with resources and knowledgeable practitioners to enable them to find answers sooner and more readily than she did.\n\nMy Call to Action:\n\nFor Women:\n<ul>\n	<li>Be informed</li>\n	<li>See yourself in partnership with your doctor/naturopath – it’s <em>your</em> health afterall</li>\n	<li>Build a healthcare team - whether it\'s your primary care doctor, naturopathic doctor, pharmacist, lab technician - ask questions and develop a rapport with them each and every time you see them.  Consider them part of your team.</li>\n	<li>Trust your intuition</li>\n</ul>\nFor Doctors:\n<ul>\n	<li>More consideration put into diagnostics in women’s issues</li>\n	<li>Please stop painting our health issues with a mental health brush!  We don\'t all need antidepressants and birth control pills!</li>\n	<li>We want treatments that match the cause</li>\n	<li>Doctors who are using bio-identical hormones - speak out about your success stories, about the truth behind the fear generated by the WHI Study results &amp; share information with colleagues</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Who I Am','','inherit','open','open','','482-autosave','','','2013-03-12 17:06:35','2013-03-12 22:06:35','',482,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/482-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1333,1,'2012-09-12 19:45:48','2012-09-13 00:45:48','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sonya-Profile-Pic.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-368\" title=\"sonya\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sonya-Profile-Pic-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSonya is a survivor of infertility, miscarriages, PMS, and Post Partum Mood Disorders (esp Anxiety).&nbsp; Fortunately she was able to solve all of her problems by balancing her hormones but it was a decade long journey of ups and downs.\r\n\r\nShe founded HormoneSoup.com in an effort to raise consciousness around hormone issues in women and spark conversation about using bio-identical hormones to treat issues such as miscarriages, infertility, postpartum mood disorder, and PMS.\r\n\r\nSonya began advocating for herself about all things hormonal after spending years seeking answers but finding band-aid solutions. &nbsp;After being offered anti-depressants for hormonal concerns and hearing other women’s similar stories, Sonya became concerned that women’s issues are being labeled as mental health disorders.&nbsp; Her journey to bio-identical hormones has led her to amazing doctors and natural practitioners that helped her find real solutions to very common problems.&nbsp; Seeing and hearing an abundance of misinformation, the goal of HormoneSoup.com is to educate, empower and unite women with resources and knowledgeable practitioners to enable them to find answers sooner and more readily than she did.\r\n\r\nShe has plans to start a forum on her site to create a safe and supportive place for women to join the hormone conversation and is hoping to find doctors and practitioners who will join the conversation as well.\r\n\r\nSonya’s Call to Action:\r\n\r\nFor Women:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Be informed</li>\r\n	<li>See yourself in partnership with your doctor/naturopath – it’s <em>your</em> health afterall</li>\r\n	<li>Trust your intuition</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nFor Doctors:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>More saliva and blood testing for hormones</li>\r\n	<li>More thought put into diagnostics in women’s issues</li>\r\n	<li>Treatments that match the cause</li>\r\n	<li>Doctors who are using bio-identicals to share more information with colleagues</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Who I Am','','inherit','open','open','','482-revision-5','','','2012-09-12 19:45:48','2012-09-13 00:45:48','',482,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/482-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1334,1,'2013-01-22 10:35:37','2013-01-22 15:35:37','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sonya-Profile-Pic.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-368\" title=\"sonya\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sonya-Profile-Pic-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\r\n\r\nSonya is a survivor of infertility, miscarriages, PMS, and Post Partum Mood Disorders (esp Anxiety).  Fortunately she was able to solve all of her problems by balancing her hormones but it was a decade long journey of ups and downs.\r\n\r\nShe founded HormoneSoup.com in an effort to raise consciousness around hormone issues in women and spark conversation about using bio-identical hormones to treat issues such as miscarriages, infertility, postpartum mood disorder, and PMS.\r\n\r\nSonya began advocating for herself about all things hormonal after spending years seeking answers but finding band-aid solutions.  After being offered anti-depressants for hormonal concerns and hearing other women’s similar stories, Sonya became concerned that women’s issues are being labeled as mental health disorders.  Her journey to bio-identical hormones has led her to amazing doctors and natural practitioners that helped her find real solutions to very common problems.  Seeing and hearing an abundance of misinformation, the goal of HormoneSoup.com is to educate, empower and unite women with resources and knowledgeable practitioners to enable them to find answers sooner and more readily than she did.\r\n\r\nShe has plans to start a forum on her site to create a safe and supportive place for women to join the hormone conversation and is hoping to find doctors and practitioners who will join the conversation as well.\r\n\r\nSonya’s Call to Action:\r\n\r\nFor Women:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Be informed</li>\r\n	<li>See yourself in partnership with your doctor/naturopath – it’s <em>your</em> health afterall</li>\r\n	<li>Trust your intuition</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nFor Doctors:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>More consideration put into diagnostics in women’s issues, such as charting, saliva &amp; blood hormone testing</li>\r\n	<li>Treatments that match the cause</li>\r\n	<li>Doctors who are using bio-identical hormones - share more information with colleagues</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Who I Am','','inherit','open','open','','482-revision-6','','','2013-01-22 10:35:37','2013-01-22 15:35:37','',482,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/482-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1335,1,'2013-01-22 11:00:31','0000-00-00 00:00:00','[caption id=\"attachment_1336\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"74\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1336  \" alt=\"SonyaFounder of Hormone Soup\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sonya-Dec-2012-e1358869185176-150x150.jpg\" width=\"74\" height=\"74\" /> Sonya, Founder Hormone Soup[/caption]\r\n\r\nHormoneSoup was founded as an effort to raise consciousness around hormone issues in women and spark conversation about using bio-identical hormones to treat issues such as miscarriages, infertility, postpartum mood disorder, and PMS.\r\n\r\nSonya began advocating for herself about all things hormonal after spending years seeking answers to her miscarriages, infertility, PMS and PPMD but finding band-aid solutions.  After hearing similar stories from other women, Sonya became concerned that women’s issues aren\'t being properly addressed.\r\n\r\nHer journey toward health has led her to nutritional support &amp; bio-identical hormones through the assistance of some amazing doctors &amp; practitioners.\r\n\r\nThe goal of HormoneSoup is to educate, empower and unite women with resources and knowledgeable practitioners to enable them to find answers sooner and more readily than she did.','Sonya, Founder of Hormone Soup','','draft','open','open','','sonya-founder-of-hormone-soup','','','2013-01-22 11:00:31','2013-01-22 16:00:31','',0,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/?p=1335',0,'post','',0),(1336,1,'2013-01-22 10:37:56','2013-01-22 15:37:56','','Sonya, Founder of Hormone Soup','Sonya\nFounder of Hormone Soup','inherit','open','open','','sonya-dec-2012','','','2013-01-22 10:37:56','2013-01-22 15:37:56','',1335,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sonya-Dec-2012.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1337,1,'2013-01-22 10:44:22','2013-01-22 15:44:22','[caption id=\"attachment_1336\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1336\" alt=\"SonyaFounder of Hormone Soup\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sonya-Dec-2012-e1358869185176-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /> Sonya<br />Founder of Hormone Soup[/caption]\n\nSonya began advocating for herself about all things hormonal after spending years seeking answers but finding band-aid solutions.  After hearing other women’s similar stories, Sonya became concerned that women’s issues aren\'t being properly addressed. Her journey toward health has led her to nutritional support &amp; bio-identical hormones through the assistand some amazing doctors and natural practitioners. that helped her find real solutions to very common problems.  Seeing and hearing an abundance of misinformation, the goal of HormoneSoup.com is to educate, empower and unite women with resources and knowledgeable practitioners to enable them to find answers sooner and more readily than she did.','Sonya, Founder of Hormone Soup','','inherit','open','open','','1335-revision','','','2013-01-22 10:44:22','2013-01-22 15:44:22','',1335,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1335-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1339,1,'2013-01-22 10:51:20','2013-01-22 15:51:20','[caption id=\"attachment_1336\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1336\" alt=\"SonyaFounder of Hormone Soup\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sonya-Dec-2012-e1358869185176-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /> Sonya<br />Founder of Hormone Soup[/caption]\n\nHormoneSoup was founded as an effort to raise consciousness around hormone issues in women and spark conversation about using bio-identical hormones to treat issues such as miscarriages, infertility, postpartum mood disorder, and PMS.\n\nSonya began advocating for herself about all things hormonal after spending years seeking answers but finding band-aid solutions.  After hearing other women’s similar stories, Sonya became concerned that women’s issues aren\'t being properly addressed.\n\nHer journey toward health has led her to nutritional support &amp; bio-identical hormones through the assistance of some amazing doctors &amp; practitioners.\n\nThe goal of HormoneSoup is to educate, empower and unite women with resources and knowledgeable practitioners to enable them to find answers sooner and more readily than she did.','Sonya, Founder of Hormone Soup','','inherit','open','open','','1335-revision-3','','','2013-01-22 10:51:20','2013-01-22 15:51:20','',1335,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1335-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1338,1,'2013-01-22 10:49:29','2013-01-22 15:49:29','[caption id=\"attachment_1336\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"150\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1336\" alt=\"SonyaFounder of Hormone Soup\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sonya-Dec-2012-e1358869185176-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /> Sonya<br />Founder of Hormone Soup[/caption]\n\nHormoneSoup was founded as an effort to raise consciousness around hormone issues in women and spark conversation about using bio-identical hormones to treat issues such as miscarriages, infertility, postpartum mood disorder, and PMS.\n\nSonya began advocating for herself about all things hormonal after spending years seeking answers but finding band-aid solutions.  After hearing other women’s similar stories, Sonya became concerned that women’s issues aren\'t being properly addressed.\n\nHer journey toward health has led her to nutritional support &amp; bio-identical hormones through the assistance of some amazing doctors &amp; practitioners.  She was able to find real solutions to very common problems. Seeing and hearing an abundance of misinformation, the goal of HormoneSoup is to educate, empower and unite women with resources and knowledgeable practitioners to enable them to find answers sooner and more readily than she did.','Sonya, Founder of Hormone Soup','','inherit','open','open','','1335-revision-2','','','2013-01-22 10:49:29','2013-01-22 15:49:29','',1335,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1335-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1340,1,'2013-01-22 10:54:10','2013-01-22 15:54:10','[caption id=\"attachment_1336\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"105\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1336 \" alt=\"SonyaFounder of Hormone Soup\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sonya-Dec-2012-e1358869185176-150x150.jpg\" width=\"105\" height=\"105\" /> Sonya, Founder Hormone Soup[/caption]\n\nHormoneSoup was founded as an effort to raise consciousness around hormone issues in women and spark conversation about using bio-identical hormones to treat issues such as miscarriages, infertility, postpartum mood disorder, and PMS.\n\nSonya began advocating for herself about all things hormonal after spending years seeking answers to her miscarriages, infertility, PMS and PPMD but finding band-aid   After hearing other women’s similar stories, Sonya became concerned that women’s issues aren\'t being properly addressed.\n\nHer journey toward health has led her to nutritional support &amp; bio-identical hormones through the assistance of some amazing doctors &amp; practitioners.\n\nThe goal of HormoneSoup is to educate, empower and unite women with resources and knowledgeable practitioners to enable them to find answers sooner and more readily than she did.','Sonya, Founder of Hormone Soup','','inherit','open','open','','1335-revision-4','','','2013-01-22 10:54:10','2013-01-22 15:54:10','',1335,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1335-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1341,1,'2013-01-22 10:55:45','2013-01-22 15:55:45','[caption id=\"attachment_1336\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"105\"]<img class=\" wp-image-1336 \" alt=\"SonyaFounder of Hormone Soup\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Sonya-Dec-2012-e1358869185176-150x150.jpg\" width=\"105\" height=\"105\" /> Sonya, Founder Hormone Soup[/caption]\n\nHormoneSoup was founded as an effort to raise consciousness around hormone issues in women and spark conversation about using bio-identical hormones to treat issues such as miscarriages, infertility, postpartum mood disorder, and PMS.\n\nSonya began advocating for herself about all things hormonal after spending years seeking answers to her miscarriages, infertility, PMS and PPMD but finding band-aid solutions.  After hearing similar stories from other women, Sonya became concerned that women’s issues aren\'t being properly addressed.\n\nHer journey toward health has led her to nutritional support &amp; bio-identical hormones through the assistance of some amazing doctors &amp; practitioners.\n\nThe goal of HormoneSoup is to educate, empower and unite women with resources and knowledgeable practitioners to enable them to find answers sooner and more readily than she did.','Sonya, Founder of Hormone Soup','','inherit','open','open','','1335-revision-5','','','2013-01-22 10:55:45','2013-01-22 15:55:45','',1335,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1335-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1347,1,'2012-09-14 08:03:43','2012-09-14 13:03:43','<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Misc-Bio-identical-Hormone-Syringes-150x1501.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-223\" title=\"Bio-identical-Hormone-Syringes-150x150\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Misc-Bio-identical-Hormone-Syringes-150x1501.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>If you\'ve read any of my past blog posts, it will be clear to you that I am a believer in bio-identical hormones. If you read my Guest Blog Post \"Confessions of a Progesterone Junkie\" on drgreene.com you\'ll hear why I\'m not giving up my progesterone cream','Confessing my Progesterone Habit on DrGreene.com!','','inherit','open','open','','453-revision-5','','','2012-09-14 08:03:43','2012-09-14 13:03:43','',453,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/453-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1603,1,'2013-02-25 11:59:05','2013-02-25 16:59:05','[caption id=\"attachment_1602\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"106\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/why-do-i-still-have-thyroid-symptoms.jpeg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1602\" alt=\"Hashimotos is an Autoimmune Disease\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/why-do-i-still-have-thyroid-symptoms-106x150.jpeg\" width=\"106\" height=\"150\" /></a> Hashimotos is an Autoimmune Disease[/caption]\n\nYou could be one of the millions of people who have undiagnosed thyroid disease. An estimated 13 million Americans and 2 million Canadians are walking around unaware they have a thyroid condition. It is 7 - 8 times more common in women! Unfortunately it can take decades to finally get diagnosed.\n\nAnd if that doesn\'t sound dismal enough - once a person gets diagnosed with hypothyroidism they most likely aren\'t aware that they could actually have an auto-immune disease called Hashimotos that created the hypothyroidism in the first place!\n\nUp to 90% of hypothyroid patients actually have <strong>Hashimotos Disease</strong> (also called autoimmune thyroiditis) - that means their body is destroying their thyroid gland.  <strong>By the time people get diagnosed often their gland is well destroyed.  </strong>Like most people diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I take thyroid hormone - problem solved right? Well not exactly.   By the time you\'re hypothyroid your gland isn\'t producing enough thyroid hormone so you have to take thyroid hormone - most likely for the rest of your life.  But taking thyroid hormone is not a cure for Hashimotos and does not change the fact that you have an <strong>auto-immune disease.</strong>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">WHAT YOU DON\'T KNOW CAN HURT YOU:</span></strong>\n\n<strong>50 - 60% of Hashimotos patients have antibodies against other tissues </strong>- not just thyroid.   The point here is that if you don\'t address the autoimmune part of the disease then you may expect other eventual outcomes.\n\nWhy am I so interested in Hashimotos?  I suspect I have Hashimotos and am currently awaiting the results of my anti-body test.   I feel better when I don\'t eat gluten and I may have finally figured out why -  gluten intolerance is common in Hashimotos patients.  Eating gluten creates a further autoimmune response.\n\nAlso I have this inkling that my estrogen dominance is involved in a much more intricate way than is mentioned in most of the literature I\'ve read.  Estrogen seems to be almost included as an after-thought in many articles about thyroid disease or in fact, never even mentioned.  Something in my gut tells me these two hormones are inextricably combined.  I have many questions and if you\'re interested in joining me on my journey, stay tuned as I delve further into these hormones.\n\nIn\n\n&nbsp;\n\nCheck out this video by Dr. Datis Kharrazian, who is an expert in this field and has written the book \"Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms\".\n\n<object width=\"430\" height=\"300\" classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"allowScriptAccess\" value=\"always\" /><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\" /><param name=\"AllowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"src\" value=\"http://www.katu.com/v/?i=96156079\" /><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" /><embed width=\"430\" height=\"300\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.katu.com/v/?i=96156079\" allowScriptAccess=\"always\" wmode=\"transparent\" AllowFullScreen=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" /></object>','What You Don\'t Know Will Hurt You','','inherit','open','open','','1598-revision-3','','','2013-02-25 11:59:05','2013-02-25 16:59:05','',1598,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1598-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1604,1,'2013-02-25 12:22:39','2013-02-25 17:22:39','[caption id=\"attachment_1602\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"106\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/why-do-i-still-have-thyroid-symptoms.jpeg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1602\" alt=\"Hashimotos is an Autoimmune Disease\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/why-do-i-still-have-thyroid-symptoms-106x150.jpeg\" width=\"106\" height=\"150\" /></a> Hashimotos is an Autoimmune Disease[/caption]\n\nYou could be one of the millions of people who have undiagnosed thyroid disease. An estimated 13 million Americans and 2 million Canadians are walking around unaware they have a thyroid condition. It is 7 - 8 times more common in women! Unfortunately it can take decades to finally get diagnosed.\n\nAnd if that doesn\'t sound dismal enough - once a person gets diagnosed with hypothyroidism they most likely aren\'t aware that they could actually have an auto-immune disease called Hashimotos that created the hypothyroidism in the first place!\n\n<strong>Up to 90% of hypothyroid patients actually have Hashimotos Disease</strong> (also called autoimmune thyroiditis) - that means their body is destroying their thyroid gland.  <strong>By the time people get diagnosed often their gland is well destroyed.  </strong>Like most people diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I take thyroid hormone - problem solved right? Well not exactly.   By the time you\'re hypothyroid your gland isn\'t producing enough thyroid hormone so you have to take thyroid hormone - most likely for the rest of your life.  But taking thyroid hormone is not a cure for Hashimotos and does not change the fact that you have an <strong>auto-immune disease.</strong>\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">WHAT YOU DON\'T KNOW CAN HURT YOU:</span></strong>\n\n<strong>50 - 60% of Hashimotos patients have antibodies against other tissues </strong>- not just thyroid.   The point here is that if you don\'t address the autoimmune part of the disease then you may expect other eventual outcomes.\n\nWhy am I so interested in Hashimotos?  I suspect I have Hashimotos and am currently awaiting the results of my anti-body test.  I\'m discovering that interpreting the test results can prove complicated!\n\nWhile finding out I have Hashimotos may answer some questions like why I feel better when I don\'t eat gluten -  gluten intolerance is common in Hashimotos patients.  Eating gluten can trigger a further autoimmune response in a vicious cycle that can last up to 6 months after eating gluten.  So my low-gluten diet strategy that I\'ve been undertaking for quite a while isn\'t going to work!  In fact this weekend I indulged in some luscious bread and very quickly looked like I was 6 months pregnant!  2 days later I am still feeling the uncomfortable effects.  It\'s looking more and more like a 100% gluten-free diet is in my future.\n\nThere\'s so much more and I\n\nIn the meantime check out this video by Dr. Datis Kharrazian, who is an expert in this field and has written the book \"Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms\".\n\n<object width=\"430\" height=\"300\" classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"allowScriptAccess\" value=\"always\" /><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\" /><param name=\"AllowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"src\" value=\"http://www.katu.com/v/?i=96156079\" /><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" /><embed width=\"430\" height=\"300\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.katu.com/v/?i=96156079\" allowScriptAccess=\"always\" wmode=\"transparent\" AllowFullScreen=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" /></object>','What You Don\'t Know Will Hurt You','','inherit','open','open','','1598-revision-4','','','2013-02-25 12:22:39','2013-02-25 17:22:39','',1598,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1598-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1477,1,'2013-02-08 09:09:53','2013-02-08 14:09:53','I\'ve talked about the Postpartum Mood Disorder I suffered especially after my third child was born.  What I\'ve never mentioned yet is something called Postpartum Thyroiditis.  Why haven\'t I discussed it?  Because I only learned about this condition recently.  The more I\'m learning about my thyroid the more I\'m looking back at symptoms throughout my life and realizing that I am probably one of millions of undiagnosed women living with','Postpartum Thyroiditis or Postpartum Mood Disorder','','inherit','open','open','','1476-revision','','','2013-02-08 09:09:53','2013-02-08 14:09:53','',1476,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1476-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1605,1,'2013-02-25 12:26:31','2013-02-25 17:26:31','[caption id=\"attachment_1602\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"106\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/why-do-i-still-have-thyroid-symptoms.jpeg\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1602\" alt=\"Hashimotos is an Autoimmune Disease\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/why-do-i-still-have-thyroid-symptoms-106x150.jpeg\" width=\"106\" height=\"150\" /></a> Hashimotos is an Autoimmune Disease[/caption]\n\nYou could be one of the millions of people who have undiagnosed thyroid disease. An estimated 13 million Americans and 2 million Canadians are walking around unaware they have a thyroid condition. It is 7 - 8 times more common in women! Unfortunately it can take decades to finally get diagnosed.\n\nAnd if that doesn\'t sound dismal enough - once a person gets diagnosed with hypothyroidism they most likely aren\'t aware that they could actually have an auto-immune disease called Hashimotos that created the hypothyroidism in the first place!\n\n<strong>Up to 90% of hypothyroid patients actually have Hashimotos Disease</strong> (also called autoimmune thyroiditis) - that means their body is destroying their thyroid gland.  <strong>By the time people get diagnosed often their gland is well destroyed.  </strong>Like most people diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I take thyroid hormone - problem solved right? Well not exactly.   By the time you\'re hypothyroid your gland isn\'t producing enough thyroid hormone so you have to take thyroid hormone - most likely for the rest of your life.  But taking thyroid hormone is not a cure for Hashimotos and does not change the fact that you have an <strong>auto-immune disease.</strong>\n\n<strong><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">WHAT YOU DON\'T KNOW CAN HURT YOU:</span></strong>\n\n<strong>50 - 60% of Hashimotos patients have antibodies against other tissues </strong>- not just thyroid.   The point here is that if you don\'t address the autoimmune part of the disease then you may expect other eventual outcomes.\n\nWhy am I so interested in Hashimotos?  I suspect I have Hashimotos and am currently awaiting the results of my anti-body test.  I\'m discovering that interpreting the test results can prove complicated!\n\nWhile finding out I have Hashimotos may answer some questions like why I feel better when I don\'t eat gluten -  gluten intolerance is common in Hashimotos patients.  Eating gluten can trigger a further autoimmune response in a vicious cycle that can last up to 6 months after eating gluten.  So my low-gluten diet strategy that I\'ve been undertaking for quite a while isn\'t going to work!  In fact this weekend I indulged in some luscious bread and very quickly looked like I was 6 months pregnant!  2 days later I am still feeling the uncomfortable effects.  It\'s looking more and more like a 100% gluten-free diet is in my future.\n\nIn the meantime check out this video by Dr. Datis Kharrazian, who is an expert in this field and has written the book \"Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms\".\n\n<object width=\"430\" height=\"300\" classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"allowScriptAccess\" value=\"always\" /><param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\" /><param name=\"AllowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"src\" value=\"http://www.katu.com/v/?i=96156079\" /><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" /><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" /><embed width=\"430\" height=\"300\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.katu.com/v/?i=96156079\" allowScriptAccess=\"always\" wmode=\"transparent\" AllowFullScreen=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" /></object>','What You Don\'t Know Will Hurt You','','inherit','open','open','','1598-autosave','','','2013-02-25 12:26:31','2013-02-25 17:26:31','',1598,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1598-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1352,1,'2013-01-24 18:41:11','2013-01-24 23:41:11','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next BUT with empty arms.  I don\'t profess to speak for all women who have had a miscarriage - I know a couple of women who actually thought their miscarriage was a blessing, some who were relieved or who took the news more matter-of-factly than I did.  I don\'t judge them, hopefully they don\'t judge me either.   And it brings me to the biggest thing I can suggest - never pretend to know how the mom must be feeling!  I don\'t pretend to know what every woman who has suffered the loss of a baby would want or how she would feel.\n\nIn my experience many people don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage. They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and may even end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some things I wish had been said differently to me:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young - you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nI only know how I felt and the one word that comes to mind - devastated.\n\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage:\n<ul>\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that she IS a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give her a card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\n	<li><strong>Write your friend a poem</strong> like <a title=\"Courtney\'s Mom\'s Poem - Poppy\" href=\"http://beepea.com/2013/01/19/remembering-poppy/\" target=\"_blank\">my girl Courtney\'s mom did</a> or a beautiful handwritten note.</li>\n</ul>\nThe mom may be so distraught and is sometimes whisked in for a D&amp;C so she may not have time to think about things like this until later.  That was the case with my first miscarriage.  I know many moms who would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  Personally, I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend<a title=\"Farewell Dear Ava\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/farewell-dear-ava/\" target=\"_blank\"> Ava, whom you\'ve heard me speak so highly of</a>, planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nI\'ve heard some people express that they think it\'s kind of weird but I don\'t understand that reaction. Grieving is a natural reaction to loss - my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant and I yearned deeply for a baby.  While understanding and respecting that not every woman has the same beliefs, in my situation, honoring my babies was and still is important  to this day.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.\n\nHave you named your miscarried baby? Or had a ceremony? Did someone do something special for you?  Do you have any other ideas?','Missing our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-19','','','2013-01-24 18:41:11','2013-01-24 23:41:11','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(1354,1,'2013-01-25 07:55:54','2013-01-25 12:55:54','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next BUT with empty arms.  I don\'t profess to speak for all women who have had a miscarriage - I know a couple of women who actually thought their miscarriage was a blessing, some who were relieved or who took the news more matter-of-factly than I did.  I don\'t judge them, hopefully they don\'t judge me either.   And it brings me to the biggest thing I can suggest - never pretend to know how the mom must be feeling!\n\nI don\'t pretend to know what every woman who has suffered the loss of a baby would want or how she would feel.\n\nIn my experience many people don\'t know how to deal with a friend or family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage. They may want to help and be supportive but many people don\'t know what to say and may even end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse.\n\nHere are some things I wish had been said differently to me:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Instead of Saying:</td>\n<td valign=\"middle\">Try Saying:</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young - you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nI only know how I felt and the one word that comes to mind - devastated.\n\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage:\n<ul>\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that she IS a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give her a card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\n	<li><strong>Write your friend a poem</strong> like <a title=\"Courtney\'s Mom\'s Poem - Poppy\" href=\"http://beepea.com/2013/01/19/remembering-poppy/\" target=\"_blank\">my girl Courtney\'s mom did</a> or a beautiful handwritten note.</li>\n</ul>\nThe mom may be so distraught and is sometimes whisked in for a D&amp;C so she may not have time to think about things like this until later.  That was the case with my first miscarriage.  I know many moms who would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  Personally, I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend<a title=\"Farewell Dear Ava\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/farewell-dear-ava/\" target=\"_blank\"> Ava, whom you\'ve heard me speak so highly of</a>, planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nI\'ve heard some people express that they think it\'s kind of weird but I don\'t understand that reaction. Grieving is a natural reaction to loss - my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant and I yearned deeply for a baby.  While understanding and respecting that not every woman has the same beliefs, in my situation, honoring my babies was and still is important  to this day.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.\n\nHave you named your miscarried baby? Or had a ceremony? Did someone do something special for you?  Do you have any other ideas?','Missing our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-20','','','2013-01-25 07:55:54','2013-01-25 12:55:54','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(1357,1,'2013-01-25 09:50:57','2013-01-25 14:50:57','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next  BUT with empty arms.  I don\'t profess to speak for all women who have had a miscarriage - I know a couple of women who felt that their miscarriage was a blessing, some who were relieved or who took the news more matter-of-factly than I did.  I have known moms who miscarried at one point in their life and felt relieved but when it happened again were devastated.  And sadly, I know some moms who carry guilt about their miscarriages.  Here\'s the thing - even though I\'ve been through it, I don\'t pretend to know what every woman who has suffered the loss of a baby would want or how she would feel.  But I know how I felt and the one word that comes to mind - devastated.\n\nI would say a common feeling among moms who have miscarried is that not everyone understands or knows how to deal with a mom who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  Even if they want to help and be supportive some people still don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse or angry or guilty.\n\nHere are some things I wish had been said differently to me:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><em><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Instead of being told:</span></em></td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><em><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It would have been nice to hear:</span></em></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young - you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage:\n<ul>\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that she IS a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give her a card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\n	<li><strong>Write your friend a poem</strong> like <a title=\"Courtney\'s Mom\'s Poem - Poppy\" href=\"http://beepea.com/2013/01/19/remembering-poppy/\" target=\"_blank\">my girl Courtney\'s mom did</a> or a beautiful handwritten note.</li>\n</ul>\nI know many moms who would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  Personally, I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.\n\nMy dear friend<a title=\"Farewell Dear Ava\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/farewell-dear-ava/\" target=\"_blank\"> Ava, whom you\'ve heard me speak so highly of</a>, planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful.  We said a prayer and then one by one we all named our babies out loud and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nI\'ve heard some people express that they think it\'s kind of weird but I don\'t understand that reaction. Grieving is a natural reaction to loss - my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant and I yearned deeply for a baby.  While understanding and respecting that not every woman has the same beliefs, in my situation, honoring my babies was and still is important  to this day.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.\n\nHave you named your miscarried baby? Or had a ceremony? Did someone do something special for you?  Do you have any other ideas y','Missing our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-22','','','2013-01-25 09:50:57','2013-01-25 14:50:57','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(1355,1,'2013-01-25 09:45:20','2013-01-25 14:45:20','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next  BUT with empty arms.  I don\'t profess to speak for all women who have had a miscarriage - I know a couple of women who felt that their miscarriage was a blessing, some who were relieved or who took the news more matter-of-factly than I did.  I have known moms who miscarried at one point in their life and felt relieved but when it happened again were devastated.  And sadly, I know some moms who carry guilt about their miscarriages.  Here\'s the thing - even though I\'ve been through it, I don\'t pretend to know what every woman who has suffered the loss of a baby would want or how she would feel.  But I know how I felt and the one word that comes to mind - devastated.\n\nI would say a common feeling among moms who have miscarried is that not everyone understands or knows how to deal with a mom who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  Even if they want to help and be supportive some people still don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse or angry or guilty.\n\nHere are some things I wish had been said differently to me:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><em><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Instead of being told:</span></em></td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><em><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It would have been nice to hear:</span></em></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young - you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage:\n<ul>\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that she IS a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give her a card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\n	<li><strong>Write your friend a poem</strong> like <a title=\"Courtney\'s Mom\'s Poem - Poppy\" href=\"http://beepea.com/2013/01/19/remembering-poppy/\" target=\"_blank\">my girl Courtney\'s mom did</a> or a beautiful handwritten note.</li>\n</ul>\nI was in shock and distraught and whisked into the hospital the evening I found out so that I could have my D&amp;C the next morning.  I didn\'t even have time to think about things like this until later.  I didn\'t get a chance to talk to anyone who\'d been through it before.  I didn\'t realize that after the D&amp;C I would wonder if the doctor was right - what if they made a mistake and there was still a heartbeat.  I hadn\'t been bleeding or anything.\n\nI know many moms who would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  Personally, I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.  With my second miscarriage I was a bit more prepared and waited to miscarry naturally so it was less \"traumatic\" in that way.   My dear friend<a title=\"Farewell Dear Ava\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/farewell-dear-ava/\" target=\"_blank\"> Ava, whom you\'ve heard me speak so highly of</a>, planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful and we all named our babies and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nI\'ve heard some people express that they think it\'s kind of weird but I don\'t understand that reaction. Grieving is a natural reaction to loss - my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant and I yearned deeply for a baby.  While understanding and respecting that not every woman has the same beliefs, in my situation, honoring my babies was and still is important  to this day.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.\n\nHave you named your miscarried baby? Or had a ceremony? Did someone do something special for you?  Do you have any other ideas?','Missing our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-21','','','2013-01-25 09:45:20','2013-01-25 14:45:20','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(1356,1,'2013-01-25 09:46:15','0000-00-00 00:00:00','I was in shock and distraught and whisked into the hospital the evening I found out so that I could have my D&amp;C the next morning.  I didn\'t even have time to think about things like this until later.  I didn\'t get a chance to talk to anyone who\'d been through it before.  I didn\'t realize that after the D&amp;C I would wonder if the doctor was right - what if they made a mistake and there was still a heartbeat.  I hadn\'t been bleeding or anything.','Living with the What if? after a D&C','','draft','open','open','','living-with-the-what-if-after-a-dc','','','2013-01-25 09:46:15','2013-01-25 14:46:15','',0,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/?p=1356',0,'post','',0),(1358,1,'2013-01-25 09:53:09','2013-01-25 14:53:09','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\n\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\n\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next  BUT with empty arms.  I don\'t profess to speak for all women who have had a miscarriage - I know a couple of women who felt that their miscarriage was a blessing, some who were relieved or who took the news more matter-of-factly than I did.  I have known moms who miscarried at one point in their life and felt relieved but when it happened again were devastated.  And sadly, I know some moms who carry guilt about their miscarriages.  Here\'s the thing - even though I\'ve been through it, I don\'t pretend to know what every woman who has suffered the loss of a baby would want or how she would feel.  But I know how I felt and the one word that comes to mind - devastated.\n\nI would say a common feeling among moms who have miscarried is that not everyone understands or knows how to deal with a mom who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  Even if they want to help and be supportive some people still don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse or angry or guilty.\n\nHere are some things I wish had been said differently to me:\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><em><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Instead of being told:</span></em></td>\n<td valign=\"middle\"><em><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It would have been nice to hear:</span></em></td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You\'re young - you have lots of  time</td>\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>You need to _________________\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage:\n<ul>\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that she IS a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give her a card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\n	<li><strong>Write your friend a poem</strong> like <a title=\"Courtney\'s Mom\'s Poem - Poppy\" href=\"http://beepea.com/2013/01/19/remembering-poppy/\" target=\"_blank\">my girl Courtney\'s mom did</a> or a beautiful handwritten note.</li>\n</ul>\nI know many moms who would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  Personally, I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.\n\nMy dear friend<a title=\"Farewell Dear Ava\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/farewell-dear-ava/\" target=\"_blank\"> Ava, whom you\'ve heard me speak so highly of</a>, planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful.  We said a prayer and then one by one we all named our babies out loud and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\n\nI\'ve heard some people express that they think it\'s kind of weird but I don\'t understand that reaction. Grieving is a natural reaction to loss - my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant and I yearned deeply for a baby.  While understanding and respecting that not every woman has the same beliefs, in my situation, honoring my babies was and still is important  to this day.\n\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.\n\nHave you named your miscarried baby? Or had a ceremony? Did someone do something special for you?  I\'d love to hear any other ideas you\'d like to share.\n\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]\n\n&nbsp;','Missing our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-23','','','2013-01-25 09:53:09','2013-01-25 14:53:09','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(1359,1,'2013-01-25 09:53:28','2013-01-25 14:53:28','[caption id=\"attachment_1299\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"]<a href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/?attachment_id=1299\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1299\"><img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-1299  \" title=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies\" alt=\"Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies -Image: Dreamstime\" src=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Statues-for-Unborn-Children-dreamstime-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a> Jizo Statues for Unborn Babies Image: Dreamstime[/caption]\r\n\r\nFor some reason a lot of old memories have been surfacing for me lately.  I was on a couple of forums recently and was reading the painful and heartfelt posts of mothers who have or are currently miscarrying their babies.  Hearing their stories instantly took me back to the days when I was the woman so desperately trying to<strong><em> stay</em></strong> pregnant, worried over every single twinge and then suffering the deep anguish of losing a baby.  Twice.\r\n\r\nHere\'s the thing about an early miscarriage - It\'s difficult to explain to someone who\'s never been through it how it feels to be pregnant one day and then not the next  BUT with empty arms.  I don\'t profess to speak for all women who have had a miscarriage - I know a couple of women who felt that their miscarriage was a blessing, some who were relieved or who took the news more matter-of-factly than I did.  I have known moms who miscarried at one point in their life and felt relieved but when it happened again were devastated.  And sadly, I know some moms who carry guilt about their miscarriages.  Here\'s the thing - even though I\'ve been through it, I don\'t pretend to know what every woman who has suffered the loss of a baby would want or how she would feel.  But I know how I felt and the one word that comes to mind - devastated.\r\n\r\nI would say a common feeling among moms who have miscarried is that not everyone understands or knows how to deal with a mom who has lost a baby through miscarriage.  Even if they want to help and be supportive some people still don\'t know what to say and often end up saying the wrong things.  You try not to take it personally but really the last thing you feel like doing is listening to comments that make you feel worse or angry or guilty.\r\n\r\nHere are some things I wish had been said differently to me:\r\n<table style=\"border-color: #543053; border-width: 4px; background-color: #e0d6df;\" border=\"4\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><em><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Instead of being told:</span></em></td>\r\n<td valign=\"middle\"><em><span style=\"font-size: small;\">It would have been nice to hear:</span></em></td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td scope=\"rowgroup\">It was for the best</td>\r\n<td>I\'m sorry</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>At least you didn\'t feel your baby move yet</td>\r\n<td>I know you were already in love with your baby</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>You\'re young - you have lots of  time</td>\r\n<td>I\'m here when you need me</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>At least you can have fun trying again</td>\r\n<td>Nothing...just listen or give a hug</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>I know how you feel</td>\r\n<td>How are you feeling?</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>You need to _________________\r\n(stop working so much, stop exercising, relax, etc)</td>\r\n<td>It\'s not your fault</td>\r\n</tr>\r\n</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\nConsider these ways to support your friend/family member who has lost a baby through miscarriage:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Ask the mom who has just lost her baby if she has named her baby or if she would like to <strong>hold a ceremony? </strong> If so,<strong> offer to help plan something</strong> even if it is informal.</li>\r\n	<li>Some hospitals or charity groups provide tiny blankets and bonnets as a keepsake - <strong>consider presenting the mom with a memory box. </strong></li>\r\n	<li> <strong>Acknowledge that she IS a mom </strong>- it\'s just that her baby is in heaven (or whatever your belief system is).<strong>   </strong>This was big one for me - it was comforting to know that someone understood that I felt like a mom.</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Call your friend or give her a card or flowers on Mother\'s Day</strong> and acknowledge that she is a mom!</li>\r\n	<li><strong>Write your friend a poem</strong> like <a title=\"Courtney\'s Mom\'s Poem - Poppy\" href=\"http://beepea.com/2013/01/19/remembering-poppy/\" target=\"_blank\">my girl Courtney\'s mom did</a> or a beautiful handwritten note.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nI know many moms who would have loved someone to reach out to them in such an understanding way.  Personally, I would have appreciated such offers because I didn\'t even think of these things.\r\n\r\nMy dear friend<a title=\"Farewell Dear Ava\" href=\"http://www.hormonesoup.com/farewell-dear-ava/\" target=\"_blank\"> Ava, whom you\'ve heard me speak so highly of</a>, planned a naming ceremony for all of the women whom she had helped get through those tough times.  We all went to a tiny chapel and it was beautiful.  We said a prayer and then one by one we all named our babies out loud and lit a candle in memory of our babies.\r\n\r\nI\'ve heard some people express that they think it\'s kind of weird but I don\'t understand that reaction. Grieving is a natural reaction to loss - my babies were part of me the moment I knew I was pregnant and I yearned deeply for a baby.  While understanding and respecting that not every woman has the same beliefs, in my situation, honoring my babies was and still is important  to this day.\r\n\r\nIn Japan many women must feel the same way.  In fact, the photo above shows a burial ground with rows of little statues formed in the image of a diety called Jizobosatusu.   When a woman loses an unborn child she can dedicate one of these little statues - and the babies will be protected by Jizobosatusu.  The mother may choose to dress the statue, place a bonnet on its little head or leave windmills and other toys.  Gifts for Jizobosatusu are often left to ensure the unborn child makes the journey to the afterlife.  If I ever get to Japan, I would love to participate in this beautiful custom.\r\n\r\nHave you named your miscarried baby? Or had a ceremony? Did someone do something special for you?  I\'d love to hear any other ideas you\'d like to share.\r\n\r\n[contact-form][contact-field label=\'Name\' type=\'name\' required=\'1\'/][/contact-form]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Missing our Miscarried Babies','','inherit','open','open','','1143-revision-24','','','2013-01-25 09:53:28','2013-01-25 14:53:28','',1143,'http://www.hormonesoup.com/1143-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),