Fitness and survival are by nature estimates of past performance. George Wald Reconsidering Genetic Mutations: What is Baseline?Each person possesses a set of genes that belongs to that person only. It is not possible to state what the “baseline” human genetic makeup is; we can only look at phenotypes (observable characteristics or traits) and the […]
Trigger warning – this article may be difficult for anyone who struggles with grief or a sense of loss over the holidays.I’ve spent the last few years of my life writing about the (somewhat) measurable side effects of hormonal birth control. The impossibly diverse list of consequences range from strokes and skin cancer to migraines […]
As we approach the end of 2019, I would like to thank all of our writers for their contributions and our readers for their support. As you many of you know, Hormones Matter is run as a service to the greater good. Our writers are volunteers. Patients share their stories and researchers and physicians share […]
Neuropathy From Unknown CausesI was diagnosed with “Neuropathy from unknown causes” back in 2005. It started in my feet (coldness, loss of feeling, cramps, stiffness). Then, over the years the numbness worked its way up to my calves, with severe cramps, then thighs and even my biceps got involved (squeeze the bicep, get a cramp). […]
Hello everybody, I am the mother of a clever, 6 year old boy with whom we have great fun but whose health problems are troubling and complicated. The doctors have not been able to figure out what is causing his health problems. He has no siblings. We live in the Netherlands. A Difficult Pregnancy and […]
What Is a Syndrome?A syndrome is the name given to a collection of symptoms and physical signs that have been observed in the past in a single patient or in a group of similar patients. This is often named after the first person to report this set of observations. It is called a syndrome when […]
In general, I try to avoid concentrating on a single type of hormonal birth control when discussing layers of rot among contraceptives. I never want to create the impression that another method might be safe by comparison. The degree of safety (or lack thereof) is not universal. A low-dose combination Pill that may be ‘relatively […]
Mitochondrial Disease with Opthalmoplegia and Hearing LossFour years ago, I was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, the form known as chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO). Mostly, it affects muscles from the neck up but can also affect my heart as well as my overall energy levels. It was a diagnosis I fell into. I had been […]