HRT could be the world's best sex aid for thousands of women reaching middle age. A survey showed that hormone replacement can make a huge difference to sex as well as reducing hot flushes. Of a group of 300 women interviewed, 50% said that after taking HRT they had re-discovered their sex drive. A total of 47% of women on HRT thought it helped them continue to enjoy sex, 44% felt it had helped them maintain an interest in sex, and 35% believed it had returned sex frequency to what it was. More than 60% said it had helped them to "feel like a woman". Dr Margaret Upsdell, a GP and senior member of the charity Women's Health Concern, which commissioned the survey from NOP, said: "Women should not be suffering in silence with their menopausal symptoms when a discussion about HRT with their doctor may be able to help."
The survey was conducted in the North, Midlands and South of England and included women aged 45 to 64. Most women encounter menopause in their late 40s or early 50s, the average age being 51. About three-quarters experience menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and tiredness.
Mary, a 52-year-old teacher from Oxfordshire, explained how the menopause drove her out of her marital bed. She said: "My nights were disturbed and felt it was unfair to interrupt my husband's sleep. "I felt too exhausted and miserable to contemplate sex, and when we did try it was painful. "I got to the point where I felt my marriage was breaking up due to lack of physical contact. "
After a discussion with her doctor, she decided to try HRT. Three months later, Mary's night sweats had stopped and she and her husband were sleeping together again. www.vivenaturalhormones.com
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) significantly improves muscle function in postmenopausal women, according to a new study. The research showed that muscle function in these women improves down to the muscle fiber level. The finding was published in The Journal of Physiology.
Over the last 10 years, the negative results of several HRT studies put many women off. However, the results of this new report have shown a positive outcome from HRT - a treatment which can relieve symptoms of menopause.
Past studies which have observed walking speed and jumping height have indicated that the treatment decreases the effects of age-related decline in muscle mass and strength. For the first time, these effects have been examined at cellular and molecular levels in this study.
Six pairs of postmenopausal identical twins were involved in the investigation. In order to rule out genetic differences, only one pair of each set of twins underwent HRT. The experts then closely observed muscle biopsies taken from the subjects.
Leading researcher Dr Lars Larsson, from Uppsala University Hospital Sweden, said:
"We found that even though individual muscle fibers did not change in size, the muscles of HRT users showed greater strength by generating a higher maximum force compared to non-HRT users. It is thought that using HRT, at least in part, reduces modifications of muscle contractile proteins that are linked to aging."
HRT is also linked to a more efficient organization of myonuclei - crucial components for the function of muscle fiber.
In females who use HRT, the different myonuclei arrangement makes the most effective use of cellular level protein transport that results in improved muscle function.
Elderly people are more susceptible to falls, and injuries caused by falling down. Such injuries place a significant socioeconomic burden on society and individuals. Older females are more severely affected than older males, because the reduction in the production of female sex hormones weakens their bones and muscles more severely. Dr Larsson concluded:
"Future studies are focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying the aging-related changes in skeletal muscle and the specific effects of HRT on the structure and function of the dominant protein in skeletal muscle, called myosin, which generates force and movement."
The authors believe their study demonstrates the potential for pharmacological interventions, aimed at improving muscle mass and function in older adults, which would improve not only overall health, but also quality of life.
Last year, a study showed that women who receive HRT soon after menopause have a much lower risk of heart attack, heart failure or dying early compared to females of the same age who do not. www.vivenaturalhormones.com
