Dr. Steven R. Goldstein MD has over 25 years of
experience in practice and is considered one of the nation’s top gynecologists.
He is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York School of Medicine,
serves as Director of Gynecologic Ultrasound at New York University Medical
Center and is a Certified Menopause Practitioner. He is the co-author of the
book “The Estrogen Alternative”, the first book of its kind addressing the use
of synthetic hormones, and an expert on female
hormone replacement therapy.
Why would a woman need synthetic hormones? As a woman
ages and enters menopause, the body produces less Estrogen and Progesterone
which produces two major symptoms - vaginal dryness and hot flashes. Other
symptoms associated with a lack of estrogen include a lack of concentration, hot
flashes, foggy memory, sleep disturbances, irritability and so on.
However, there are even greater effects due to a loss
of estrogen. There are over three hundred tissues from brain to bone to skin in
a woman’s body that contain receptors for Estrogen. All of a woman’s most
important body tissues contain Estrogen receptors. When the secretion of
Estrogen changes, a woman’s health and well-being reflect those changes.
Breasts, skin and blood vessels rely on Estrogen to stay flexible and toned.
Estrogen keeps the uterus, vagina and the base of the bladder moist.
There are also sites in the brain where Estrogen
receptors are found. Therefore when a woman enters menopause and the body
produces less estrogen, there is a significant impact on a woman’s overall
health above and beyond the symptoms like hot flashes.
To combat this decrease in estrogen during menopause
and the resulting symptoms and adverse impact, Dr Goldstein uses Female
Hormone Replacement Therapy. Here pills, patches or creams are prescribed
to supply estrogen synthetically. The amount of estrogen prescribed is only a
small fraction of what the ovaries normally produce, however it is enough to
help alleviate the symptoms of a lack of Estrogen.
