women's health Archives - Page 7 of 11

Vitamin D3 and Lupus

Published on December 4, 2012

3388 views

The untimely death of 23-year-old Sasha McHale, daughter of professional basketball’s Hall of Famer Kevin McHale, recently shocked the world.

Sasha inherited her father’s athleticism, energy, enthusiasm for life, and love of the northern U.S. state of Minnesota. An insidious disease called lupus prematurely snatched Sasha from her family, friends, and life.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks the body’s cells, tissues, and organs, and results in severe inflammation, fatigue, and, in some cases, death. The medical name for the most common form of the lupus is “systemic lupus erythematosus” (SLE). According to the Lupus Foundation of America, about 1.5 million Americans, and over five million people globally, suffer from a form of lupus. Ninety percent of persons diagnosed with the disease are women, many of whom are in their child-bearing years.

Mounting evidence suggests adequate vitamin D3 in the body may protect against the development of autoimmune diseases including lupus. Genetic and environmental factors including vitamin D3 deficiency have been linked to lupus. Sensitivity to sunlight, the primary source of vitamin D3, is common among SLE patients. Scientific research indicates a high prevalence of vitamin D3 deficiency among people suffering SLE:

Researchers at the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic studied 124 female SLE patients to understand, inter alia, their circulating vitamin D3 levels. Eighty-four percent of the women had vitamin D3 blood serum levels less than a sub-optimal reading of 32 ng/mL.

The Medical University of South Carolina conducted a study of vitamin D3 blood serum levels of 123 individuals who had been recently diagnosed with SLE. The findings suggested vitamin D3 deficiency as a possible risk factor for SLE.

Researchers studied 25 Canadian women diagnosed with SLE and found that over half of these patients had less than 20 ng/mL of vitamin D3 circulating in their blood. The research also suggested that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a drug used to treat SLE, may inhibit vitamin D3 production.

A study published in a 2012 edition of the journal Dermato-Endocrinology not only documented the prevalence of low vitamin D3 in SLE patients but recommended oral vitamin D3 supplementation for SLE patients. The researchers lauded the safety, low cost, and wide availability of vitamin D3 supplements as well as their potential effectiveness against SLE progression.

Maintaining adequate vitamin D3 levels may forestall the development of autoimmune diseases including lupus. In addition, vitamin D3’s capability to reduce inflammation may alleviate lupus symptoms. Further research is required to confirm the extent of vitamin D3’s connection with lupus.

Controversy, GMO Research & Women’s Health

by Chandler Marrs, PhD

Published on October 8, 2012

4492 views

If you’ve been on the internet at all over the last several weeks, you’ve likely come across these pictures- the white rats with grotesquely large mammary tumors warning of the dangers of GMO foods. A controversial and not yet even officially published study out of France on the Long term toxicity of Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize is responsible.

In this 2 year study (compared to the 90-120 days for most previous protocols) researchers purportedly demonstrated the ill-effects of glyphosate (active ingredient in Roundup herbicide) and its adjuvants (putatively inactive ingredients that enhance the absorption, distribution or metabolism of the active ingredient), but also inadvertently, and despite the rampant criticism of the study, may have identified a mechanism of action for the growth of these tumors; a disruption of the estrogen pathway perhaps linked to primary kidney and liver damage. Moreover, and again perhaps inadvertently, the research points to a possible player in the development of fibroid type tumors.

How GMO Research is Conducted

There is great debate over the safety of herbicide rendered or engineered, genetically modified organisms (GMO) within the food and water supply. Studies on the side of industry, suggest no major ill-effects, while those on the side of environmentalist indicate differently. Research design likely contributes to the disparate findings. Much research to date has been short-term (90-120 days) and/or has limited the analysis to testing or manipulating only the active ingredient in the herbicide (glyphosate) and not the variety adjuvants found in the total herbicide formulation and that would be dispersed into the natural environment (food, water) post herbicide use.

The current study sought to remedy some of those short-comings and approximate what humans might be exposed to with current regulatory standards in place and in an ‘natural environment’ where exposure rates and types would necessarily vary. (Whether lab rats can approximate human physiology or the lab can be considered a ‘natural environment’ are debates for another day).

The Seralini GMO Study

Using healthy male and female Sprague-Dawley rats, the researchers evaluated the long-term (two years), across a life-span effects, of eating Roundup treated foods (maize) and water with Roundup residue at levels below the currently parts per billion standard and consistent with what humans might be exposed to in the current environment. Control rats were fed non-GMO diets and the test rats were fed varying levels of GM maize (11%, 22% and 33% of the total diet) and water with Roundup – well below the approved levels found in the environment.

Tumors, Toxicity, Death and the GM Diet

Compared to control rats fed a non-GM diet, those fed the GM-maize and Roundup water, died five times sooner and developed huge tumors, often greater than 25% of their body weight and requiring euthanasia to reduce suffering. There were distinct differences between the male and female treated animals. The females died more quickly and developed primarily mammary tumors, followed by a lower percentage of pituitary tumors and kidney and liver toxicity. While the males, demonstrated more severe kidney and liver disease along with skin tumors. The females were more susceptible to the Roundup in the water and both groups were equally susceptible to both the lower and higher percentage (11% and 33%) exposure to GM food, suggesting a threshold effect for disease initiation rather than a cumulative or additive effect.

Endocrine Disruption

The endocrine effects were also telling and pointed to sex-dependent differences in the tumor and disease expression. The ratio of testosterone to estradiol was disrupted in both males and females. Males in the highest Roundup treatment group (33% of total feed maize), demonstrated double the levels of circulating estradiol (see Evolution or Extinction of Men for details on male endocrine disruption) when compared to the control group. Whereas the exposed females showed increased testosterone levels.

Potential Fibroid Connection

The explosive growth of tumors in the female treated rats is notable both because of the large size and location of the tumors (mammary and pituitary) but more so perhaps because of the nature and physiology of the tumors themselves. In all but two cases, the tumors were non-cancerous, non-infective or non-metastatic. The tumors were benign adenomas and fibroadenomas, those commonly found in human women as they age (also common in this strain of lab rat as it ages). Fibroadenomas are comprised of fibrous and glandular tissue located in the breast. Fibroids are similar in tissue composition, but are found in the uterus. In the present study, fibroadenomas were found in the mammary tissue and adenomas in the pituitary gland. There was no mention of uterine fibroids or adenomas in other female reproductive regions. Similarly, although, the authors make no such claim regarding the expression of fibroid type tumors, relative to hormone changes and concurrent liver dysfunction (where the enzymes and proteins involved in the hormone regulation reside), I surmise that perhaps there is a connection there as well. It is conceivable that the combined insult of aging and environmental toxins on liver function alters hormone pathways sufficiently to promote this type of tumor growth.

Controversy and Criticism

As this study was released both pro- and anti-GMO factions got their pants in a bunch. On the anti-GMO side, this study represented proof-positive that GMO foods were bad. The results of this study, and in particular, the pictures of the tumor-ridden rats went viral on the internet. On the pro-GMO side, the criticism was as swift as it was vitriolic, with claims ranging from poor methodology, to outright scientific fraud. I suspect the truth lay somewhere in between.

My Take

Releasing to press first. This merited all sorts of criticism, most of which has no bearing on the actual study but does suggest a less than forthright approach to media relations. However, given the politics surrounding this topic, one can understand this PR approach.

Sprague-Dawley rats are prone to tumors. Yes, they are and as they age, tumors become more frequent. But here we have a little pot and kettle action going on. Sprague-Dawley and other outbred strains of rats and mice, all have predilections for certain diseases and tumors, but are nevertheless what is used in all industry supported (even the studies supporting the safety of GMO) and academic research. The choice of lab rat/mice is important, but even within specific strains there is huge variability. Nullifying the study because the researchers used the same strain of lab rats that other researchers also use, is a weak criticism at best and more than a little disingenuous. Perhaps a better criticism would be the use of lab rats in general to extrapolate human physiology.

Sprague-Dawley rats are prone to tumors as they age. Well guys, so are women. By the time a woman reaches age 50, upwards of 70% of women have fibroid type tumors. And frankly, aging, whether in animals or humans, increases disease expression. Our bodies just don’t work as well when we are older. Simply measuring the effects of a toxin for a short period of time in youthful animals does not, in any way, mirror the real life of the animal or a human, where effects are cumulative over time and sometimes even multiplicative and synergistic.

The study was too long and the control rats were dying too. Life is longer than adolescence. If one wants to evaluate how a treatment or toxin affects an organism over time and as it ages, one has to evaluate across that life span. This study compared tumor progression, disease and death rates between the non-GM controls and the GM fed groups, across the rodent’s life span, which is about 2+/- years. As the rodents aged, both groups developed tumors and some died, but there were more tumors and earlier deaths in the experimental group.

Failure to observe or measure is not synonymous with non-existence. Neglecting to measure a particular toxin or analyte, a specific symptom or disease process, or failing to evaluate long term effects does not mean that the toxin, analyte, symptom or disease process in question did not happen or does not exist. It simply means that you chose not to measure it. So claiming that a 3-month study in youthful rodents nullifies results from a longer study, regardless of any other methodological issues with either study, is an utterly false, and more than a little dishonest argument.

The dose response-curve was not linear. Damn it, how dare our complex physiology not conform to the simplicity of linear statistics. A common dose-response reaction is highly linear, where a small dose elicits a similarly small response and a larger dose increase the response size. This is not case when dealing with endocrine disruptors. Hormone systems are complex and highly non-linear. Hormone reactions occur at extremely low doses and often interact synergistically with other factors and respond differently over time and with cumulative exposures. This was the case in the current study.

In spite of the flaws with this study and contrary to the criticism, the Seralini study represents one of the only, if not the only, long term evaluation of the effects of Roundup and GM feeding on health. Long term studies, even in rodents, are not common place. They should be.

The next long term study (and there should be many more) should include different strains of rodent, measure additional hormones and steroidogenic proteins altered with liver disease and if they want to be really ingenious, look at the estrogen, androgen and progesterone receptor densities in the tumors.

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Oral Contraceptives Linked to Heart Attack & Stroke

by Elena Perez

Published on September 15, 2012

2115 views

In June, researchers at the University of Copenhagen published the largest cohort study of hormonal contraceptives and their association with heart attacks and strokes. The study followed more than 1.6 million Danish women, ages 15 to 49, for a 15-year period between 1995 and 2009, allowing researchers to observe more than 14 million person-years, or the total number of years that oral contraceptives were used during this study.

The findings are worth mentioning.

Risk of Heart Attack and Thrombotic Stroke

Though researchers stated the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) and thrombotic stroke (stroke from blood clotting) was quite low, the study still showed a link between the two. Overall, 21 strokes and 10 heart attacks occurred for every 100,000 person-years of study.

The Type of Hormone Can Increase Risk

Women who took oral contraceptives with 20 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol increased their risk of heart attack by a factor of 1.7. Using 30 to 40 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol increased strokes by a factor of 1.3 and heart attacks by a factor of 2.3. The type of progestin, however, only changed the risk slightly, according to researchers.

Since the type of hormones used in oral contraceptives can increase the risk of heart attack or thrombotic stroke, women should ask their doctors about the dosage and types of hormones in their oral contraceptives and why the brand was chosen for them. It is important for women to question the prescriptions they are given, because FDA regulations may not be sufficient.

Yasmin is an example of a hormonal contraceptive that uses ethinyl estradiol. AdverseEvents.com has 16,546 adverse reports listed for Yasmin. Of these, 9,847 of the reports suspect that Yasmin is the primary reason for various illnesses, such as pulmonary embolism (blockage of the main artery of the lung), and deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in a deep vein).

In May of 2011, the FDA reported that studies show women using oral contraceptives with drospirenone are two to three times more likely to suffer from venous thromboembolism events (VTE), or blood clotting in the veins. The FDA stated it would evaluate results, but oral contraceptives that contain drospirenone, such as Yasmin, are still on the market.

Understanding the quantity and the type of hormones that are linked to adverse effects can help women determine which oral contraceptives are best for them. Bear in mind that a woman’s choice in oral contraceptives may change over time, depending on factors such as age.

Age Increases Risk of Heart Attack and Thrombotic Stroke

Women using oral contraceptives in the oldest age group, age 45 to 49, were found to have a higher risk of heart attack and thrombotic stroke than women in the youngest age group, between 15 and 19 years of age. The risk of thrombotic stroke increased by a factor of 20, while the risk of heart attack increased by a factor of 100 for women between the ages of 45 and 49.

The researchers felt this information was particularly important, since the risk of blood clotting and heart attack outweigh the risks of pregnancy. Risk of arterial thrombosis, or clotting of the arteries, increases after the age of 30, so women using oral contraceptives should be aware of the increased incidence of heart attack and stroke as they age, and may want to consider alternative forms of birth control.

Correlation Between Level of Education and Risk

The study also found that women with the highest level of education were less likely to have thrombotic strokes and heart attacks. In fact, educated women had half as many thrombotic strokes and only a third of the heart attacks as women with the lowest level of education.

There are a number of reasons that may account for why women with the highest level of education have a lower level of heart attacks and thrombotic stroke.

A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that one’s socioeconomic status, which takes into consideration education and occupation, does affect diet and nutrition. If women with the highest level of education are more likely to eat healthy meals and minimize consumption of fried food, their diet could be the reason for the reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke.

It is also likely that women with higher levels of education exercise more, thereby improving their heart conditions. Women with higher educations may be more aware that exercise can help maintain good health. It is also possible that women with lower levels of education have longer work hours and less time to exercise, which could negatively impact coronary health.

In addition to diet and exercise, women with higher levels of education may be more likely to stay abreast of news and current events that highlight which habits are considered healthy (like meditation) or harmful (like smoking), which pharmaceutical drugs are being evaluated (like Yasmin), and who can be trusted to provide unbiased information (question everything).

Share the Knowledge

One of the main researchers, Dr. Lidegaard, received grant support from Bayer Pharma, while lecture fees and travel reimbursements were paid by Bayer Denmark. He also provided testimony in a US legal case involving oral contraceptives and venous thromboembolism. Bayer happens to be the pharmaceutical company that makes Yasmin, the oral contraception reported on AdverseEvents.com.

The other main researcher, Dr. Løkkegaard, received travel reimbursement from Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company that manufactures Lybrel, an oral contraceptive with 20 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol. The Material Safety Data Sheet for Lybrel acknowledges its association with myocardial infarction, strokes, and blood clotting of the veins.

Women who recognize that a conflict of interest may produce biased results may wonder how low the risk of myocardial infarction and thrombotic stroke really is. It’s important to ask questions. It’s important to share knowledge. One way to educate women is by spreading the word.

Iodine Deficiency and Thyroid Disease

by Staff

Published on September 15, 2012

2979 views

Iodine is an essential dietary element needed for proper thyroid function. In the US and many industrialized nations, dietary iodine is found in table salt – iodized salt. Without dietary iodine, hypothyroidism, goiter, weight gain, depression, fatigue ensue. Hypothyroidism, a result of iodine deficiency during pregnancy, is the leading cause of preventable mental retardation and neurological deficits in children.

In the US, approximately 10% of the population is iodine deficient while 50% of Europe is iodine deficient (Zimmerman 2009). Iodine deficiency has been increasing in the US, in women of reproductive age, 14.9% percent are potentially deficient (Hollowell et al. 1998). Similarly, the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism in newborns has also increased in the US over the last two decades (Parkes et al. 2010).

Iodine deficiency in women can lead to overt hypothyroidism and consequent annovulation, infertility, gestational hypertension, spontaneous first-trimester abortion, and stillbirth. Iodine deficiency is also associated with increased risk for thyroid carcinoma in animals and humans.

This deficiency is preventable through supplementation, but it must be identified first. Simple urine tests exist, but are not common in medical practice.

In the coming weeks, Lucine, in partnership with ThyroidChange and others, will be exploring thyroid disease in women. If you have been diagnosed with thyroid disease, tell us your story. We’d like to hear from you.

The Uterus:The Next Great Threat to Humankind

by Chandler Marrs, PhD

Published on August 27, 2012

2531 views

One would have to be living in the outback not to have noticed the flurry of policy and politics surrounding all things women’s health. The Guttmacher Institute reports that there have been over 1100 provisions introduced and 135 laws passed at the state level, this year alone. This is compared to 32 in 2005 and fewer than 20 in 1985.

Not to be outdone by the locals, the US House of Representatives has spent a whopping 38 of the 46 weeks (from January 2011 through July 2012) in session gesticulating about women’s health, at a cost of approximately $249.6 million dollars. So much for reducing government or governmental waste.

The Great Uterine Threat

And it is not the health of the woman per se that is of such great concern to these fine, older men. No, these paramounts of paramour don’t care much about a woman’s heart, lungs, kidneys, liver or even really that other female touchstone, the breasts, no sir. All they care about is her uterus. I would venture a guess that no other human organ faces as much regulatory devotion as the uterus.

This irrepressible and dangerous internal human organ of approximately the size of a fist has 100s of laws associated with it. Indeed the female uterus might be more regulated than guns, toxic waste, food safety and probably even taxes combined. At least with taxes and toxic waste there are loopholes to avoid regulation, not so for the formidable uterine threat.

The Secret Juices of the Omnipotent Uterus

Why has the female uterus spurned such consternation from our nation’s mostly-male leaders? Aside from the obvious as a repository of male fantasy, the demon uterus has the power to induce fear and loathing, especially now that we understand that it can think itself pregnant or not pregnant by emitting its super-secret, all powerful, anti-pregnancy juices. That power must be contained at all costs. Indeed, for such an overt and dangerous threat $249 million is just the beginning. We must spend more money and more time battling the omnipotent uterus.

Let’s Regulate Thoughts Too

But I must say Senator Akin, you have it all wrong. You must regulate a woman’s thoughts too and not just her uterus. Because if you do not and more women learn about the true power that they wield, there would be no more unwanted pregnancies, no need for birth control or abortion, no need for fertility treatment –entire industries would collapse and your PAC money would disappear. If more women knew about those secret juices that we control – entire nations built upon male hegemony- would crumble. I bet once we master the ability to think ourselves pregnant or not, it’s only a matter of time that we learn how to master having only female children or progressive males. Just think how we might trim the gene pool once we learn to control our untamed uterine powers. And then Senator Akin, what will you and the other beacons of reproductive wisdom have left to regulate?

Women Eligible for No-Cost Preventive Services

by Elena Perez

Published on August 8, 2012

1626 views

Women are 33% more likely to visit the doctor than men, yet studies have shown that health costs have deterred women from seeking medical attention, even when they are insured. As of August 1, 2012, under the new Affordable Care Act, women can take advantage of certain preventive services without having to pay out-of-pocket costs for new, non-grandfathered private health plans. Keep Reading

Why Hormones Matter to Me

by Lisbeth Prifogle, MFA

Published on July 16, 2012

2369 views

The Problem

A few days ago, I received a text from my older sister, Megan. “Becca [our younger sister] is in the hospital. She started bleeding so heavy she couldn’t leave the bathroom and has cramps so bad she was puking. She was at band and they called an ambulance! I’ll keep you posted.”

My first thought was, oh my god, how embarrassing. My second thought, oh my god, not Becca too. As I’ve written about before, my periods are less than normal. Oh how I envy those women who menstruate like clockwork. Those who can plan weddings, vacations, military exercises, etc. around their cycle without worrying that their bodies will evoke a surprise visit from that miserable old hag, Aunt Flow. As I have also written, I cannot take birth control to regulate my hormones. The various times I have tried, like Becca, I ended up in the ER from extreme heavy flow.

The Consistent Answer – Birth Control

Becca is eighteen years old and not sexually active and has never had a need to be on birth control. Between our mother, who had the same reactions that I did years ago, and my horror stories, I doubt she will ever be tempted to try. Still, I said to Megan and Mom prior to her doctors appointment, “They are going to try to force her to take birth control.” I know because that is the ONLY option I have ever been given. More than once I have had medical professionals glare at me and respond, “Well if you don’t want to take birth control there is nothing I can do for you.”

Becca went to her first gynecologist appointment today (congrats Becca you are a woman now!). Sure enough, Megan called me furious saying, “All they are willing to do is give her more pain killers and prescribe her birth control.”

I responded, “Not that I want to say I told you so, but I told you so. I knew that’s all they would do without any other tests ruling anything more serious out. Ugh, I freaking knew it!”

Side note: We are Irish, German, Scottish (and my Dad swears we’re of Viking descent on his side) and on top of that our hormonal imbalances; needless to say, anger management is not one the Prifogle Women’s strong points.

Becca explained my experiences with birth control to the doctor and expressed that she didn’t want to do that, but the doctor told her and Mom that it was her only option. They scheduled an ultrasound to rule out ovarian cysts, but in all likelihood it will just be something poor Becca has to live with as well.

A multivitamin that has maca root, chaste tree berry and red raspberry leaf tea, as well as acupuncture, have help me, but we’ll see what Becca and Mom decide to do.

Why Hormones Matter and Why I Write

When I started writing for Lucine’s online magazine, Hormone’s Matter, Chandler Marrs told me the statistic that <30% of clinical practice guidelines in OB/Gyn are evidence based. I was in shock, but then I thought of all my horrible experiences with my periods and doctors lack of willingness to do anything about it outside of synthetic hormones (and for some women this is great – I just don’t happen to be in that category of women). As busy and exhausted as I am (and aren’t we all) I continue to research, write and help build this online community because that statistic is ridiculous. Hormonal birth control cannot be the band-aid, cure-all for women’s health any longer! We have to start figuring out what the problem is and dealing with the cause, not the symptoms? It could be as simple as eliminating endocrine disruptors and hormones from our diet/lifestyle or adding exercise, or it might be something more complicated and un- or misdiagnosed. For Becca’s sake, I hope it’s something as simple as a diet change.This isn’t just a female problem either. As John-Brandon Pierre wrote in Why Men Should Care About Women’s Health:

“It is our duty as men to help care for and help provide security for our women. To help strengthen them so that they can live out their lives in the most meaningful way they choose. To support them and help them find answers to the problems that plagues them. In doing so we enrich our future and we do our part to better understand what we cherish the most – our women.”

Thank you for your support and please continue to spread the word about Lucine Biotech and that HORMONES MATTER!

Why Men Should Care About Women’s Health

by John-Brandon Pierre

Published on July 10, 2012

2490 views

To All the Men –

Over the past twenty to thirty years our medical and technological understanding has grown by leaps and bounds. From barely grasping the full effect of various hormones and chemicals in the brain to mapping the hormonal origin of the ability to nurture. We’ve made amazing strides and among these strides has been women’s health and medicine.

Just a few decades ago many men concluded their interest into women’s health with the attitude that we’ll just never understand a woman.

For centuries we have held her body as a mystery. For romanticism that serves a beautiful purpose, but in reality it creates far more problems for the women to which we adorn with such awe. Many times I have heard of gruesome historical stories relating to what some called modern medicine and others called butchery. Back then, by their standards, that was on some low level acceptable. Today it is not. The good news is that modern medicine and technology has brought us a long way to care for our women far better than our forefathers ever could. As a man I try to think forward to the possibility of having a daughter of my own. Part of my role in providing security for her is growing in my understanding of her health.

As men, it should be one of our chief concerns to obtain a significant and ever expanding knowledge base of women and their health as they are our sisters, mothers, wives, and most importantly, our daughters. Today there has been more progress in breast cancer and various areas of illnesses afflicting women than in any time in the history of our species. It is worth mentioning because it has resulted from a multitude of men and women and their tireless effort.

Oxytocin

With advances in medicine and our understanding of women’s health, we now understand a large part of what naturally makes a woman Mother Nature’s chosen nurturer. We understand the “bonding hormone” called oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone that both men and women produce but is produced much more in women during their younger years than in men. This is the hormone responsible for giving a woman the want and need to build incredibly strong and long lasting intimate bonds with their babies and spouses.

A wonderful example of the oxytocin difference in men and women is demonstrated in sex; immediately after sex a woman’s level of oxytocin increases far higher than her partner. There is a longing to be close afterwards and this closeness makes her feel a stronger and more intimate bond beyond just the act of sex. This hormone is also increased after childbirth causing women to have an incredibly strong bond with their newborn. With men it’s almost the complete opposite. We create the same hormone but in much smaller quantities in our younger years. As we age our levels of oxytocin increase making us want closer relationships and bonds with our children, grandchildren, and spouses.

Oxytocin is only a small aspect of women’s health but the reason I point it out is, thirty years ago it was virtually unknown. Other illnesses like breast cancer take center stage and we have thrived to provide an incredible amount of research and options so that breast cancer is an illness that claims fewer lives year after year. Today it is a fight that our women (and a small amount of men) can win.

This is Just the Beginning

There is still much research needed. With research into oxytocin maybe we can understand abnormalities that may result from a low level of this hormone. When a woman suffers emotional trauma, does this hormone become deficient? If so, it would explain why some women who survive emotionally and physically traumatic events struggle to create that bond with their husbands and sometimes their children. Do rape victims produce less oxytocin? If so, how do we help them? What is a normal level and how do we fix this problem. These are just a few of the questions we need to find answers to. New doors that once opened will lead to better lives, relationships, treatments, and medical procedures for women.

As a man, I can’t speak as a woman would about women’s health; however I can speak as a man should. It is our duty as men to help care for and help provide security for our women. To help strengthen them so that they can live out their lives in the most meaningful way they choose. To support them and help them find answers to the problems that plagues them. In doing so we enrich our future and we do our part to better understand what we cherish the most – our women.

About the Author:
John-Brandon Pierre is a United States Marine who has served for eleven years and counting. After motivating individuals in one of the most stressful organizations in the world, both in and out of combat, he became a motivational speaker and life coach. His philosophy is that life has a clear way of testing our fortitude and resolve, and it is through adaptation and perseverance that our species has survived over time. He helps individuals adapt to life through perspective to overcome the obstacles life. Originally from Texas, John-Brandon lives in San Diego, California and keeps a blog at Real World Motivation.

Hormones Matter

Where health, hormones, and a whole bunch of other stuff, make sense.

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