We can rebuild…

Sometimes a little humor goes a long way.

Happy Friday dear readers!

Wednesday Bubble: there ain’t no men in menopause, part two

This saddens me greatly but maybe it’s true after all. It is really all about us.

But is it?

In early November, I put out a call for male contributors, hoping to find some male voices to fill the obvious void on this blog and lend their perspectives — not just on menopause — but on midlife. I was hoping to find men of all ages who could share their experiences with crazy moms going through hormonal mood swings, partners flashing night and day and in general, this time of life means for the other half of the equation, i.e. men. Let’s face it, we’re not going to come to the table if we don’t understand the issues, right? However, thus far, I’ve had only one courageous man willing to share his POV and another contact me to discuss possibly topics. And the slots remain empty.

Recently, I had a back channel conversation on Twitter with a young male blogger about men’s general lack of interest in discussing the female anatomy or so-called “female problems.” His take? That men are generally apathetic and unaware when it comes to this stuff. And while I know plenty of men, sensitive or not, who would welcome an opportunity to speak their peace in their relationships,  I can’t seem to find any takers for this challenge. Perhaps it’s the term “menopause” in the tagline that causes men to approach trepedatiously.

I thought I’d try again. Three’s a charm, right? I’m not looking for just a discussion on menopause, but a discussion on what it’s like to deal with a woman going through such a drastic transition in her life. I’d eve love posts on what you might imagine it might be like, or how your female partners can change the way that they communicate with you now so that some of the issues that might arise later can be averted or avoided altogether. Anything and everything.

So are there men in menopause? Send me your ideas.  OR  comment and let me know WHY you don’t want to post.

I need you. I really really do!

Wednesday Bubble: Male menopause gets the test

Regular readers of this blog know that I take issue with the term “male menopause,” (aka, andropause) not only because it’s a misnomer but because, in my opinion, it is an overdiagnosed syndrome that may indeed, be a natural part of the aging process in men. So I was heartened to read that University of Pennsylvania researcher Peter Snyder is recruiting men for a new study — the T Trial –  that will investigate whether or not declining energy and physical function,  along with a low libido and memory issues are related to low testosterone levels or to the aging process itself.

According to the trial’s primary sponsor, the National Institute on Aging, a key impetus for this study was the burgeoning marketing of male hormone products as treatment for a variety of conditions. In fact, the market topped out at a whopping $809 million last year alone.  “We hope this trial will establish whether testosterone therapy results in clear benefits for older men,” said Evan C. Hadley, M.D., director of NIA’s Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology.

Although there are questions whether or not the study is of long enough duration to really evaluate if testosterone therapy is valuable, needed or safe, the study is the largest of its kind. Importantly, according to an article last Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer, some endocrinologists believe that andropause is more of a marketing tool than an actual syndrome. One is even quoted as saying that the best remedy for andropause is exercise.

So, what do you think? Is it time to burst this bubble or not?

The Roundup: November news and tidbits

[Credit: Special thanks to artist Darryl Willison of whimsicalwest.com. Please visit his site and support his work.]

Time for November highlights. A new feature, a few guest posts and lots of controversy in this month’s mix:

• Introducing….It’s raining men. It’s a new month and a new feature on Flashfree. I am looking for men to lend their perspectives. Here’s one guys’ take.
• Wednesday Bubble: Equol-ity. Can the plant-based S-equol alleviate hot flashes? The evidence continues to mount in its favor.
• Oh, baby – a new glam parent is born. Forty Weeks’ Julia Beck provides some important tips for Boomer grandparents on breastfeeding and support.
• Be still my heart. When it comes to heart disease, knowledge is power. Heart attacks are on the rise in midlife women. Wondering why?
• Wednesday Bubble: Bifocals, babies, hot steamy flashes of perspective. It is enough. Author Patti Digh graces the pages of Flashfree with her insight and wisdom: time to call in the dumpster.
• Hip fracture, early menopause and age. Researchers show that early menopause is not a risk factor for hip fracture. Here’s what you can do right now to keep your bones in good shape.
• Viva la sweats! Forget the sheets! Who knew that night sweats might actually save your life?
• Wednesday Bubble: One pill makes you…. Coming to bedrooms soon: the new Viagra-like compound for women.
• Dem bones were made for dancing. Who says you can’t have fun while boosting your bone health? ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ are you listening?
• New Flash! Just a spit away… Is comprehensive non-invasive testing on the horizon for women? Researchers say that your saliva may hold important clues to illnesses as you age.
• Wednesday Bubble: NutraFem promises much. Will it deliver? There’s a novel multi-botanical on the market and it’s looking promising for controlling hot flashes and night sweats.
• Battle of the middle-aged bulge: pick your poison. That abdominal donut may cause you to lose your mind, if you don’t have a heart attack first. Time to get moving!

News Flash! Just a spit away…

Have you ever wondered if  joint aches, memory lapses, dry mouth and other disorders are signs of aging or actually signs of pending illness?  Take heart. Scientists have learned that the protein content of the saliva changes as women age and that some of these changes may actually be markers of disease, in particular, diseases in which the immune system attacks itself, such as lupus.

In a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of Proteome Research, researches analyzed proteins in saliva samples taken from 532 healthy women between the ages of 20 and 30 and 55 and 65.  They found that about half of the protein types were unique in the particular age group. What’s more, older women had almost twice as many immune-type proteins in their saliva than their younger peers. The results remained even after the researchers factored in such things as age, time that the saliva was collected and whether or not the women were menopausal.

Not only researchers hope that proteins in saliva will prove to be useful in diagnosing risk of certain diseases, but they are also investigating ways in which they might be used in tests that will make diagnosis and treatment of certain age-related diseases in women easier. Saliva for example, is far more accessible and less invasive than a blood prick.

Could easier disease diagnosis be only a spit away? What a salicious thought.

The Roundup: October news and tidbits

[Credit: Special thanks to artist Darryl Willison of whimsicalwest.com. Please visit his site and support his work!]

Wow! Where did October go? I missed most of it; hope you didn’t miss a thing. If so, here’s the month’s Roundup:

• Redux: HRT & lung cancer - The risks keep growing and the benefits keep shrinking. HRT and lung cancer deaths – more information.
• Explore your P.A.S.S.I.O.N.: an excerpt from the Fearless Factor – Author and motivational speaker Jacqueline Wales talks about how to put passion back into your life, the non-sexual ilk
• Wednesday Bubble: breast cancer during menopause. Move your body – Researchers say that physical activity can prevent breast cancer. But, intensity and timing play an important role too!
• Got sleep? – No? No worries; you’re in good company. But ‘one size fits all’ probably isn’t going to improve dysfunction.
• Spray that forgetfulness away – Can a testosterone spray help you remember?
• Wednesday Bubble: red or white? Can wine choice affect breast cancer risk – When it comes to breast cancer, moderation is important. Evidently, wine choice is too!
• Tender breasts and HRT: do you need to worry? – New research links tender breasts during HRT to 48% higher risk of breast cancer.
• Ladies of the world, flashers, sweat-ers, mood swingers. It’s World Menopause Day - One of my favourite posts from last year, reprised.
• Cougar Life - Looking for a cub? A new dating site is looking too!
• Wednesday Bubble: herbs for breast cancer prevention - Study findings suggest that use of certain herbal preparations may prevent invasive breast cancer.
• Burn Baby Burn, Reposted – An online survey is looking for women who suffer from burning mouth syndrome.
• Aging Backwards in Minutes: A guest post by Jackie Silver – Got 30 minutes? Author Jackie Silver has some tips on what to do with the time.
• The Domino Effect – Does one menopausal symptom beget another? Yes. And no.
• Wednesday Bubble: Breast Cancer – it’s personal - breast cancer hits close to home and close to the bone. My story.

Cougar Life

Oprah’s talked about it. There’s a National Convention and Dance. Hell, there’s even the Real Cougar Woman, a website dedicated to providing cougars everywhere, with a forum to talk taboo and be real all the way, just like “Kim Catrell, Katie Couric, Demi Moore, Hillary Clinton and Susan Sarandon.” And now, there’s even a new dating site to help you do it….

Billed as “The Ultimate Catch,” Cougar Life, a new online dating site matches ‘Cougars to ‘Cubs.’ Already raising controversy, Cougar Life was recently banned from advertising on ABC’s “Cougar Town.” Say what?!

In any case, ladies, this is the site if you want to snag a cub.

What’s a “cub” you ask? According to the site:

“To snare a true Cougar a man [AKA Cub]  needs to be youthful, fit, unintimidated and of course sexually driven! These men can range from athletes to intellectuals, and from technologists to entrepreneurs and all points in between; they can come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they have in common is the desire to possess a sexually charged older woman.”

The desire to possess a sexually charged older woman.

A male friend once told me that there was a belief among younger men that women in their 40s and 50s were insatiable.

Right.

So, what’s your criteria ladies?  Are you feeling crazed, insatiable, desirous for that sweet young cub? Are you ready to live large on ‘Cougar Life?’ Are you ready to have those cubs feeding out of your hand?

Admittedly, I admire their marketing savvy; someone had to fill this niche and good for them for taking the lead.

Me? I think I’ll skip this game of Life.

Spray that forgetfulness away

Australian researchers are suggesting that a daily testosterone skin spray can boost brain function and memory in menopausal women. If that’s all it takes, heck, sign me up. Thing is, do you grow more hair in unexpected places as well?!

The study, which was presented last month at the North American Menopause Society annual meeting, examined the effectiveness of a daily spray in 10 menopausal women, ages 45 to 60, for 6 months. All women participated in computerized testing for visual and verbal learning and memory before and after treatment and also had MRI scans to examine brain activity.

Visual learning, the ability to recall items after seeing them (i.e. verbal learning) and memory significantly improved after treatment. More importantly though, Interestingly, while the speed at which women performed cognitive tests were the same after as before treatment, MRI scans revealed that less brain activity was required to complete the tasks.

The researchers say that women in menopause experience dementia and memory loss at rates that are twice those of men of the same ages. They believe that this may be due, at least in part, to lower levels of testosterone, both in relation to men and in women about half their age. If you believe the results of this study, it’s possible that testosterone treatment may eventually prove effective in preventing declines in brain function that occur with age.

Importantly, delivery of testosterone via a spray as opposed to a skin patch may also account for fewer side effects. However, because this study was only conducted in a small number of women, no conclusions can be drawn at this time.

Sometimes I think it’s better to lose half my brain than to grow hair in unwanted places or set myself up for unwanted side effects. But then again, other times I forget that I feel this way!

The Roundup: September News and Tidbits

[Credit: Special thanks to artist Darryl Willison of whimsicalwest.com. Please visit his site and support his work!]

Because October starts tomorrow, I’m replacing this week’s Wednesday Bubble with the monthly Roundup. Here’s an overview of September’s post in case you missed one or want to revisit it.

Enjoy!

• Wednesday Bubble: Big dietary changes one small step at a time. A guest post by Miz Fit - Carrying around a “freshwoman forty” (or ten)? Fitness expert and author Carla Birnberg shares some tips on how to change your habits, and your body.
• Cougar 101: Pimp your hide -The Cougar Convention hits the West Coast with a roarrrrr. See what a bit of botox, plumped lips and a nip and tuck yield.
• Sinking your teeth into…osteoporosis - Time to bone up on osteoporosis as researchers now link the disease with tooth loss.
• Wednesday Bubble:  Turmeric… too good to be true? – Is this Indian spice hiding some important benefits beneath its yellow facade?
• Overworked, overextended, overstressed and underserved – A global survey reveals that women are not only busier than ever, but they are also shouldering a burden of extreme proportions. What can we do to change this burgeoning problem?
• A is for adiposity, F is for falls, M is for muscle weakness. Together they spell “D” – Research shows the Vitamin D is more important than ever for postmenopausal women: what you need to know.
• Wednesday Bubble: the best medicine – A laugh a day keeps disease at bay. No kidding.
• Calcium conundrum: which supplement should I choose? -When it comes to preventing bone loss, calcium supplements are all the same. Or are they?
• More on breast cancer and HRT – Time to take this killer off the market. More bad news for women who use HRT.
• Wednesday Bubble: Blame it on - Hormones. Women are suicidal and more unhappy than thirty years ago. The reason? Must be menopause.
• Keep it greasy – with Zestra® – Feeling a bit hot below the belt? Despite all the hype, this sensual oil is unlikely to improve your sex life. Or your aroma.

Overworked, overextended, overstressed and underserved

Sound familiar? Results of a global survey (conducted by the Boston Consulting Group) suggest that women are more overworked, overextended, overstressed and underserved than ever. In fact, time demands are the number one challenge that women face in their lives.

Key findings include:

• Women are responsible for a large percentage of global income, owning 40% of all U.S. business and controlling over $12 trillion dollars in consumer spending (globally).
• In the U.S., almost 71% of women in the workforce are mothers, and over half have children under the age of one. Yet, they do most of the work at home as well (88% – grocery shopping; 85% – meal preparation; 84% laundry and cleaning; and 77%, household administration).
• 48% of women say that managing household finances is a major source of stress in their lives, while 81% are concerned about not having enough money for retirement.
• 47% say that time demands represent the “big stress in their lives,” with 45% expressing that they don’t have enough time for themselves.

One of the most disturbing finding deals with women’s expectations of themselves. In fact 44% say that they rarely or never feel powerful. Hmmm, why is this?  Why is it that we feel powerless when we control such a significant portion of the global economy and virtually run our world, both inside and outside the home? And where is the true source of a woman’s power?

Survey results suggest that the source of happiness in women’s lives mostly relates to love, health, honesty and emotional well-being. From this, one might surmise that the source of women’s power lies within their connections, candor and honesty, as well as the opportunity to pursue these things freely. Indeed, when asked what they wanted most, respondents said:

1. More love and connections, both intimate and with family, friends, colleagues and neighbors.
2. Freedom to pursue the path which will allow them to become fulfilled, happy and satisfied.
3. More balance in their lives.
4. Enough money to remove financial pressure.

We live in a world where time is a commodity and where the individual is always being pulled in a zillion directions. Self-image, especially as we age, can be tough, especially when societal messages abound that we are no longer “as beautiful as…“  In fact, in this survey, at least a quarter of women said that they rarely or never felt beautiful.

What gives? We are powerful, we are in control and regardless of age or shape, we, as women, have an inner beauty that when realized, reflects outward and resonates endlessly.

Life is stressful and it appears that as women, we are shouldering a burden of extreme proportions. Not only should we be asking what we are doing to create this paradigm but more importantly, what can we do to change it.

What do you think?