Before I give you a bunch of research that shows the effects of sex hormones on women I am going to try to give you a brief overview of hormones.

First Men have DHEA- converts-> Testosterone and a little estrogen they also have progesterone. Both sexes need adequate Thyroid, Insulin, etc. Testosterone should be much higher than estrogens in healthy males

Women have DHEA- converts-> to Testosterone -> estrogen they also have progesterone.

There are over 30 types of estrogen but primarily you hear about 3. more Testosterone is converted in the female and goes to estrone -converts-> estradiol (aka oestradiol) -> estriol (GOOD anticancer estrogen)
Progesterone and estriol are very high in pregnancy...some MS women seem to do better during pregnancy which has led to some of the sex hormone studies on those with MS.

OK now that I have given you some basic background here are some studies.

1.) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15654051
Sex hormones modulate brain damage in multiple sclerosis: MRI evidence.
RESULTS:
Serum testosterone was significantly lower in women with MS than in controls. The lowest levels were found in women with a greater number of gadolinium enhancing lesions. A positive correlation was observed between testosterone concentrations and both tissue damage on MRI and clinical disability. In men, there was a positive correlation between oestradiol concentrations and brain damage.
CONCLUSIONS:The hormone related modulation of pathological changes supports the hypothesis that sex hormones play a role in the inflammation, damage, and repair mechanisms typical of MS.

2.) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10071166
Correlation between sex hormones and magnetic resonance imaging lesions in multiple sclerosis.
RESULTS:
Patients with high estradiol and low progesterone levels had a significantly greater number of Gd enhancing lesions than those with low levels of both these hormones. Patients with a high estrogen to progesterone ratio had a significantly greater number of active MRI lesions than those with a low ratio.
CONCLUSION: Estradiol and progesterone may influence disease activity in MS. If further studies confirm these results, it may be possible to develop therapy by altering levels of these hormones.

3.) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22347156
Progesterone synthesis in the nervous system: implications for myelination and myelin repair.
"Progesterone (internasal spray) in the brain is derived from the steroidogenic endocrine glands or from local synthesis by neural cells. Stimulating the formation of endogenous progesterone is currently explored as an alternative strategy for neuroprotection, axonal regeneration, and myelin repair."

4.) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17011666
ProTECT: a randomized clinical trial of progesterone for acute traumatic brain injury.

5.) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18447940
Improved outcomes from the administration of progesterone for patients with acute severe traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial.

6.) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15878598
Steroid hormones in multiple sclerosis.

Me- So those women in these MS studies had:
lower than normal testosterone, lower progesterone and estriol
but higher than normal estrodiol (sometimes called bad estrogen because it is the one that tends to be higher in disease states)

So it would seem pertinent to get hormones like TESTOSTERONE, Progesterone, Estriol checked to make sure you are at healthy levels (not low end of normal). As well as make sure your estrodiol is at a healthy lower level.

Realize just because you have MS does NOT mean that you don't have other health issues that need to be addressed. If you have low libido, monthly headaches, PMS, these are all symptoms that you have sex hormone imbalances. Addressing these health issues is valid. I have done it with my health even tho I do not have MS (hubby does) I just have the autoimmune UC. Just because you have MS doesn't mean you should be denied treatment for hormone imbalance symptoms.

If you feel any of this pertains to you then print off the research and speak to your doctor...or don't.

Either way best wishes to all of you,
EP

Replies 10, 16 and 20 cover some info on female hormones (bio-identical vs synthetic)
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Multiple_Sclerosis_MS/forum/14567680-female-question

Symptoms of low testosterone are:
1.) Memory problems for men(could also be low B vitamins, low thyroid or poor circulation)
2.) fatigue (can also be low cortisol if at night, low thyroid if in morning or growth hormone if mild fatigue throughout day)
3.) muscle sagging or atrophy (low growth hormone affects this too)
4.) low libido
5.) belly fat (too much stress[cortisol] and insulin imbalances affect this too. Obviously too much food and too little exercise affects this too.)
6.) depression

If you are a female some of the symptoms of low progesterone are:
1.) heavy and or painful period
2.) swollen breasts before period
3.) anxious (low magnesium can contribute to both this low hormone and feelings)
4.) aggressive / irritable
5.) loss of hair on the head

symptoms of low estrogen are:
1.) wrinkles above the lip
2.) lose of hair on head and or more hair on face
3.) falling breasts
4.) Irregular periods
5.) dry eyes
6.) hot flashes

So what do all of you think of this??

Women's Health Initiative came out with a few studies on female sex hormones and women and found increase risk of breast cancer and stroke. You can see the URLs below but they NEVER mention they were all SYNTHETIC (different from what your body makes). You have to see the JAMA report to find that out. This is leading to a lot of DANGEROUS misinformation.

Synthetic hormone results below show neg results. Specifically, increase risk for breast cancer and stroke.

I will add another reply with a list of BIO-identical studies that concluded they were safe and beneficial.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/press-releases/2002/nhlbi-stops-trial-of-estrogen-plus-progestin-due-to-increased-breast-cancer-risk-lack-of-overall-benefit.html

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/press-releases/2004/nih-asks-participants-in-womens-health-initiative-estrogen-alone-study-to-stop-study-pills-begin-follow-up-phase.html
---------------------------------
JAMA goes into how these studies were on synthetic hormones. You know that because they actually publish the name of the molecule that was tested but WHI studies NEGLECTED that. I guess if you have two different types of cancer drugs you can just say cancer drug was tested but not state which one...that NEVER happens. No wonder docs are so confused.

http://168.105.175.200/davis/6_7/WHI_JAMA_editorial.pdf

Bio-identical hormones studies I found on the web. They all concluded bioidenticals were safe and had positive effects on the brain, heart, MS, etc.

Moyer DL, de Lignieres B, Driguez P, Pez JP. Prevention of endometrial hyperplasia by progesterone during long-term estradiol replacement: influence of bleeding pattern and secretory changes. Fertil Steril. 1993 May;59(5):992-7.


Endometrial Protection: This study showed no endometrial overgrowth (associated with cancer risk), with bio-identical estrogen combined with progesterone.

Gillet JY, Andre G, et al. Induction of amenorrhea during hormone replacement therapy: optimal micronized progesterone dose. A multicenter study. Maturitas. 1994 Aug;19(2):103-15.

Estriol and Breast Cancer Prevention: This 35 year study showed a significant protective role of estriol against breast cancer.

Pentii K. Siiteri, Robert I. Sholtz, Piera M. Cirillo, Richard D. Cohen, Roberta E. Christianson, Barbara J. van den Berg, William R. Hopper, and Barbara A. Cohn – Prospective Study Of Estrogens During Pregnancy And Risk Of Breast Cancer- Public Health Institute
The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command under DAMD17-99-1-9358 supported this work.

Estradiol and Progesterone and Hypertension: This study showed positive effects for women with hypertension and high cholesterol on bio-identical HRT.

Spritzer PM, Vitola D, Vilodre LC, Wender MC, Reis FM, Ruschel S, Castro I. One year follow-up of hormone replacement therapy with percutaneous estradiol and low-dose vaginal natural progesterone in women with mild to moderate hypertension. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2003 Aug;111(5):267-73.

CNS Protection - PDF: This review discusses the protective role of bio-identical estradiol against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Wise PM, Dubal DB, Rau SW, Brown CM, Suzuki S. Are estrogens protective or risk factors in brain injury and neurodegeneration? Reevaluation after the Women’s Health Initiative. Endocr Rev. 2005 May;26(3):308-12. Epub 2005 Apr 25.

Estradiol and Alzheimer’s Protection: This study showed a protective effect of bio-identical estradiol against Alzheimer’s disease markers in postmenopausal women.

Baker LD, Sambamurti K, Craft S, Cherrier M, Raskind MA, Stanczyk FZ, Plymate SR, Asthana S. 17beta-estradiol reduces plasma Abeta40 for HRT-naive postmenopausal women with Alzheimer disease: a preliminary study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2003 Mar-Apr;11(2):239-44.


Estriol and Alzheimer’s: This study shows the protective effect of estrogen against the accumulation of Alzheimer’s associated peptides in human and rat brain cells.

Xu H, Gouras GK, Greenfield JP, Vincent B, Naslund J, Mazzarelli L, Fried G, Jovanovic JN, Seeger M, Relkin NR, Liao F, Checler F, Buxbaum JD, Chait BT, Thinakaran G, Sisodia SS, Wang R, Greengard P, Gandy S. Estrogen reduces neuronal generation of Alzheimer beta-amyloid peptides. Nat Med. 1998 Apr;4(4):447-51.

These two studies show a possible benefit of Estriol on patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with the Pregnancy Hormone Estriol - PDF

Nancy L. Sicotte, MD, Stephanie M. Liva, PhD, Rochelle Klutch, RN, Paul Pfieffer, BS, Seth Bouvier, BS, Sylvia Odesa, BS, T. C. Jackson Wu, MD, PhD, and Rhonda R. Voskuhl, MD

Immune Modulation in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with the Pregnancy Hormone Estriol - PDF

Samantha S. Soldan, Ana Isabel Alvarez Retuerto, Nancy L. Sicotte, and Rhonda R. Voskuhl


These two studies show that estrogen maybe effective as a treatment to reduce obesity in post-menopausal women.

Estrogens, Cortisol and Obesity 2003Klopfenstein BJ. Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon. 24-hour Cortisol Production Rates, Free Cortisol, and Intra-Abdominal Fat Are Elevated in Postmenopausal Women but Are Similar in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women Taking Hormone Replacement Therapy. Abstract of research presented at Endocrine Society annual meeting Summer 2003

Estrogens, Cortisol and Obesity 2005

Klopfenstein BJ, Samuels MH, Purnell JQ. Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon Estrogen therapy reduces 24-hour free cortisol levels in postmenopausal women. Abstract of research presented at Endocrine Society annual meeting Summer 2005

Estriol, Endothelial Function and Osteoporosis: This study showed that estriol treatment improved bone density and reduced atherosclerosis parameters in elderly females.

Hayashi T, Ito I, Kano H, Endo H, Iguchi A. Estriol (E3) replacement improves endothelial function and bone mineral density in very elderly women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000 Apr;55(4):B183-90; discussion B191-3.

Estriol, Atherosclerosis and Nitric Oxide: This study shows that estriol has anti-atherosclerotic effects.

Kano H, Hayashi T, Sumi D, Matusi-Hirai H, Tsunekawa T, Endo H, Iguchi A. Estriol retards and stabilizes atherosclerosis through an NO-mediated system. Life Sci. 2002 May 24;71(1):31-42.

Estriol and Urogenital Aging Symptoms: This study showed that topical estriol was safe and effective for incontinence and urinary tract infection in elderly women.

Dessole S, Rubattu G, Ambrosini G, Gallo O, Capobianco G, Cherchi PL, Marci R, Cosmi E. Efficacy of low-dose intravaginal estriol on urogenital aging in postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2004 Jan-Feb;11(1):49-56.

Estriol and Urinary Tract Infections: This study shows that estriol is a safe and effective treatment for urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women.

Raz R, Stamm WE. A controlled trial of intravaginal estriol in postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections. N Engl J Med. 1993 Sep 9;329(11):753-6.

Estriol and Endometrial Cancer Risk 1999: This study showed that when given by the proper “route of administration” (always transdermal, never oral) estriol does not increase risk of endometrial cancer.

Weiderpass E, Baron JA, Adami HO, Magnusson C, Lindgren A, Bergstrom R, Correia N, Persson I. Low-potency estrogen and risk of endometrial cancer: a case-control study. Lancet. 1999 May 29;353(9167):1824-8.

Bio-identical hormones studies I found on the web. They all concluded bioidenticals were safe and had positive effects on the brain, heart, MS, etc.

Moyer DL, de Lignieres B, Driguez P, Pez JP. Prevention of endometrial hyperplasia by progesterone during long-term estradiol replacement: influence of bleeding pattern and secretory changes. Fertil Steril. 1993 May;59(5):992-7.


Endometrial Protection: This study showed no endometrial overgrowth (associated with cancer risk), with bio-identical estrogen combined with progesterone.

Gillet JY, Andre G, et al. Induction of amenorrhea during hormone replacement therapy: optimal micronized progesterone dose. A multicenter study. Maturitas. 1994 Aug;19(2):103-15.

Estriol and Breast Cancer Prevention: This 35 year study showed a significant protective role of estriol against breast cancer.

Pentii K. Siiteri, Robert I. Sholtz, Piera M. Cirillo, Richard D. Cohen, Roberta E. Christianson, Barbara J. van den Berg, William R. Hopper, and Barbara A. Cohn – Prospective Study Of Estrogens During Pregnancy And Risk Of Breast Cancer- Public Health Institute
The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command under DAMD17-99-1-9358 supported this work.

Estradiol and Progesterone and Hypertension: This study showed positive effects for women with hypertension and high cholesterol on bio-identical HRT.

Spritzer PM, Vitola D, Vilodre LC, Wender MC, Reis FM, Ruschel S, Castro I. One year follow-up of hormone replacement therapy with percutaneous estradiol and low-dose vaginal natural progesterone in women with mild to moderate hypertension. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2003 Aug;111(5):267-73.

CNS Protection - PDF: This review discusses the protective role of bio-identical estradiol against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Wise PM, Dubal DB, Rau SW, Brown CM, Suzuki S. Are estrogens protective or risk factors in brain injury and neurodegeneration? Reevaluation after the Women’s Health Initiative. Endocr Rev. 2005 May;26(3):308-12. Epub 2005 Apr 25.

Estradiol and Alzheimer’s Protection: This study showed a protective effect of bio-identical estradiol against Alzheimer’s disease markers in postmenopausal women.

Baker LD, Sambamurti K, Craft S, Cherrier M, Raskind MA, Stanczyk FZ, Plymate SR, Asthana S. 17beta-estradiol reduces plasma Abeta40 for HRT-naive postmenopausal women with Alzheimer disease: a preliminary study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2003 Mar-Apr;11(2):239-44.


Estriol and Alzheimer’s: This study shows the protective effect of estrogen against the accumulation of Alzheimer’s associated peptides in human and rat brain cells.

Xu H, Gouras GK, Greenfield JP, Vincent B, Naslund J, Mazzarelli L, Fried G, Jovanovic JN, Seeger M, Relkin NR, Liao F, Checler F, Buxbaum JD, Chait BT, Thinakaran G, Sisodia SS, Wang R, Greengard P, Gandy S. Estrogen reduces neuronal generation of Alzheimer beta-amyloid peptides. Nat Med. 1998 Apr;4(4):447-51.

These two studies show a possible benefit of Estriol on patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis with the Pregnancy Hormone Estriol - PDF

Nancy L. Sicotte, MD, Stephanie M. Liva, PhD, Rochelle Klutch, RN, Paul Pfieffer, BS, Seth Bouvier, BS, Sylvia Odesa, BS, T. C. Jackson Wu, MD, PhD, and Rhonda R. Voskuhl, MD

Immune Modulation in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with the Pregnancy Hormone Estriol - PDF

Samantha S. Soldan, Ana Isabel Alvarez Retuerto, Nancy L. Sicotte, and Rhonda R. Voskuhl


These two studies show that estrogen maybe effective as a treatment to reduce obesity in post-menopausal women.

Estrogens, Cortisol and Obesity 2003Klopfenstein BJ. Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon. 24-hour Cortisol Production Rates, Free Cortisol, and Intra-Abdominal Fat Are Elevated in Postmenopausal Women but Are Similar in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women Taking Hormone Replacement Therapy. Abstract of research presented at Endocrine Society annual meeting Summer 2003

Estrogens, Cortisol and Obesity 2005

Klopfenstein BJ, Samuels MH, Purnell JQ. Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon Estrogen therapy reduces 24-hour free cortisol levels in postmenopausal women. Abstract of research presented at Endocrine Society annual meeting Summer 2005

Estriol, Endothelial Function and Osteoporosis: This study showed that estriol treatment improved bone density and reduced atherosclerosis parameters in elderly females.

Hayashi T, Ito I, Kano H, Endo H, Iguchi A. Estriol (E3) replacement improves endothelial function and bone mineral density in very elderly women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000 Apr;55(4):B183-90; discussion B191-3.

Estriol, Atherosclerosis and Nitric Oxide: This study shows that estriol has anti-atherosclerotic effects.

Kano H, Hayashi T, Sumi D, Matusi-Hirai H, Tsunekawa T, Endo H, Iguchi A. Estriol retards and stabilizes atherosclerosis through an NO-mediated system. Life Sci. 2002 May 24;71(1):31-42.

Estriol and Urogenital Aging Symptoms: This study showed that topical estriol was safe and effective for incontinence and urinary tract infection in elderly women.

Dessole S, Rubattu G, Ambrosini G, Gallo O, Capobianco G, Cherchi PL, Marci R, Cosmi E. Efficacy of low-dose intravaginal estriol on urogenital aging in postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2004 Jan-Feb;11(1):49-56.

Estriol and Urinary Tract Infections: This study shows that estriol is a safe and effective treatment for urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women.

Raz R, Stamm WE. A controlled trial of intravaginal estriol in postmenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections. N Engl J Med. 1993 Sep 9;329(11):753-6.

Estriol and Endometrial Cancer Risk 1999: This study showed that when given by the proper “route of administration” (always transdermal, never oral) estriol does not increase risk of endometrial cancer.

Weiderpass E, Baron JA, Adami HO, Magnusson C, Lindgren A, Bergstrom R, Correia N, Persson I. Low-potency estrogen and risk of endometrial cancer: a case-control study. Lancet. 1999 May 29;353(9167):1824-8.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17333341?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=4
French researcher, Agnes Fournier, reported in the January 2008 volume of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment that a follow-up survey of 80,377 (over about 8 years) French women receiving bio-identical estrogen and bio-identical progesterone showed NO increased risk of breast cancer—statistically, very significant.

Fournier A, Berrino F, Clavel-Chapelon F. Unequal risks for breast cancer associated with different hormone replacement therapies: results from the E3N cohort study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Jan;107(1):103-11. Epub 2007 Feb 27.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17333341?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=4
French researcher, Agnes Fournier, reported in the January 2008 volume of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment that a follow-up survey of 80,377 French women receiving bio-identical estrogen and bio-identical progesterone (over about 8 years) showed NO increased risk of breast cancer—statistically, very significant.

Fournier A, Berrino F, Clavel-Chapelon F. Unequal risks for breast cancer associated with different hormone replacement therapies: results from the E3N cohort study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Jan;107(1):103-11. Epub 2007 Feb 27.
--------------------------------------
http://www.drbartnof.com/ has some research for women to look over

http://jeffreydach.com/2012/05/16/bioidentical-hormones-estrogen-protective-and-prevents-coronary-artery-disease.aspx Bioidentical Hormones, Estrogen, Protective and Prevents Coronary Artery Disease

http://jeffreydach.com/2012/01/05/bioidentical-hormones-osteoarthritis-z.aspx
Bioidentical Hormones Prevent and Reverse Osteoarthritis by Jeffrey Dach MD

I just wanted to add that sometimes Aromatase inhibitors are used in older women who are estrogen dominant and have low testosterone. It help to reduce the testosterone from being converted to estrogen...which for these women is already too high.
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/aromatase_inhibitors/

-------------------------------------
See research below on how low testoserone neg effects women's health.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20685832
1.) Low testosterone levels predict all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in women
(2914 women in 4.5 year follow-up study)
Eur J Endocrinol. 2010 Oct;163(4):699-708. Epub 2010 Aug 4.

2.) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20888520
"CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone supplementation improves functional capacity, insulin resistance, and muscle strength in women with advanced CHF. Testosterone seems to be an effective and safe therapy for elderly women with CHF."

Best wishes to everyone in working with a medical professional to find and address root causes of your health issues. If you are interested in the above PRINT OUT the research and take it to your doctor's appointment so you can discuss your options.
EP

http://cdmrp.army.mil/bcrp/era/abstracts2002/p13_chemoprevention/9919358_abs.pdf
Ann Neuro. 2002 Aug 19;52(4):421-428
PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF ESTROGENS DURING PREGNANCY AND RISK OF BREAST CANCER
by Pentii K. Siiteri, Robert I. Sholtz, Piera M. Cirillo, Richard D. Cohen, Roberta E.

15,000 pregnant women in a 40 year follow-up
The protective association increased monotonically by quartile of estriol percent. Breast cancer risk was reduced by 58% for the 4th quartile of estriol percent compared to the 1st quartile of estriol percent (95% CI=26% reduction to 77% reduction).

Conclusion: findings consistent with an earlier hypothesis that estriol, an estrogen largely of fetal origin that rises 1,000-fold during pregnancy, protects against maternal breast cancer by antagonizing
the effects of the active estrogen, estradiol.

---------------------
Epidemiology. 1996 Jan;7(1):96-100 Breast Cancer and Testosterone
122 women studied. No association of testosterone with breast cancer risk was found
• Study reveals sharp contrasts in breast cancer risk between women with high estrone and low BMI and SHBG, vs. women with low estrone and high BMI and SHBG

Bio-identical vs. Non Bio-identical and Continuous vs. Sequential - Cancer 2003;97:1387-92
• Interview with population-based cohort of 29,508 women in Sweeden (298,649 person-years)
• In women with natural menopause, a significantly HIGHER risk was observed for longer duration of combined continuous NON bio-identical HRT use compared with never users
• Highest risks were associated with the combined continuous and progestin-only therapy (not progesterone) in women with 48 months of use
• Nonsignificant elevated risks also were observed for longer combined sequential, progestin only, and estriol use
• Nonsignificant elevated risks also were observed for longer combined sequential, progestin only, and estriol use
• Use of estradiol without progestins did not increase breast carcinoma risk significantly
• Continued use of progestins (not progesterone) rendered the highest risks
• The yearly risk of breast carcinoma for long-term users of progestins is of the magnitude of 50% the risk of a BRCA1 mutation carrier

http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301295

Philip M. Sarrel, Valentine Y. Njike, Valentina Vinante, and David L. Katz. The Mortality Toll of Estrogen Avoidance: An Analysis of Excess Deaths Among Hysterectomized Women Aged 50 to 59 Years. American Journal of Public Health: September 2013, Vol. 103, No. 9, pp. 1583-1588.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301295

Objectives. We examined the effect of estrogen avoidance on mortality rates among hysterectomized women aged 50 to 59 years.

Methods. We derived a formula to relate the excess mortality among hysterectomized women aged 50 to 59 years assigned to placebo in the Women’s Health Initiative randomized controlled trial to the entire population of comparable women in the United States, incorporating the decline in estrogen use observed between 2002 and 2011.

Results. Over a 10 YEAR span, starting in 2002, a minimum of 18 601 and as many as 91 610 postmenopausal women DIED prematurely because of the AVOIDANCE of estrogen therapy (ET).

Conclusions. Estrogen therapy (ET) in younger postmenopausal women is associated with a decisive REDUCTION in all-cause mortality, but estrogen use in this population is low and continuing to fall. Our data indicate an associated annual mortality toll in the thousands of women aged 50 to 59 years. Informed discussion between these women and their health care providers about the effects of ET is a matter of considerable urgency.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19384117

Obstet Gynecol. 2009 May;113(5):1027-37. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181a11c64.
Ovarian conservation at the time of hysterectomy and long-term health outcomes in the nurses' health study.
Parker WH,

Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To report long-term health outcomes and mortality after oophorectomy or ovarian conservation.
METHODS:
We conducted a prospective, observational study of 29,380 women participants of the Nurses' Health Study who had a hysterectomy for benign disease; 16,345 (55.6%) had hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy, and 13,035 (44.4%) had hysterectomy with ovarian conservation. We evaluated incident events or death due to coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, total cancers, hip fracture, pulmonary embolus, and death from all causes.
RESULTS:
Over 24 years of follow-up, for women with hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy compared with ovarian conservation, the multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) were 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.21) for total mortality, 1.17 (95% CI 1.02-1.35) for fatal plus nonfatal CHD, and 1.14 (95% CI 0.98-1.33) for stroke. Although the risks of breast (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68-0.84), ovarian (HR 0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.09, number needed to treat=220), and total cancers (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84-0.96) decreased after oophorectomy, lung cancer incidence (HR=1.26, 95% CI 1.02-1.56, number needed to harm=190), and total cancer mortality (HR=1.17, 95% CI 1.04-1.32) increased.

For those NEVER having used estrogen therapy(ET), bilateral oophorectomy before age 50 years was associated with an INCREASED risk of ALL-CAUSE mortality, CHD, and stroke. With an approximate 35-year life span after surgery, one additional death would be expected for every nine oophorectomies performed.

CONCLUSION: Compared with ovarian conservation, bilateral oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease is associated with a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer but an increased risk of all-cause mortality, fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease, and lung cancer. In no analysis or age group was oophorectomy associated with increased survival.

Testosterone (T) replacement in women

Note from Me- I will say that in women who are low in T and take T replacement from a medical professional may need to take a aromatase inhibitor to stop the conversion of T into estrogens. Plus take progesterone to counter estrogen levels that may be too high before T replacement. Since estrogen dominance(aka progesterone deficiency) in men or women is bad for your health.

----- Research ---
The impact of testosterone imbalance on depression and women's health
Uwe D. Rohr

"Low as well as high testosterone (T) levels are related to depression and well-being in women, T plasma levels correlate to depression in a parabolic curve: at about 0.4–0.6 ng/ml plasma free T a minimum of depression is detected. Lower levels are related to depression, osteoporosis, declining libido, dyspareunia and an increase in total body fat mass. "

" Testosterone replacement therapy in hypoandrogenic postmenopausal women might not only protect against obesity but also reduce the risk of developing these diseases."

-----------------------
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jwh.1998.7.825
Testosterone Deficiency: A Key Factor in the Increased Cardiovascular Risk to Women Following Hysterectomy or with Natural Aging?
SUSAN RAKO. Journal of Women's Health. September 1998, 7(7): 825-829.
"Studies on the potential cardiovascular protective effects of physiologic levels of testosterone in women are critically needed. Restoring a physiologic level of testosterone to women after hysterectomy not only can improve quality of life in terms of sexual libido, sexual pleasure, and sense of well-being but also can build bones—and may be a key to protecting cardiovascular health. Women developing testosterone deficiency as a consequence of natural aging/menopause may similarly benefit from physiologic testosterone supplementation."

----------
http://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/176053
Advances in the Management of Testosterone Deficiency Editor(s): Jones T.H. (Barnsley/Sheffield). Article Title: Testosterone in Chronic Heart Failure. Malkin C., et al.

"There is developing evidence that of all morbid populations, patients with chronic heart failure in particular are likely to benefit from testosterone treatment.. "

-----
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/13685539809148601
Androgens and cardiovascular disease in men and women. 1998, Vol. 1, No. 1 , Pages 35-50
A. Vermeulen1† and J. M. Kaufman1
"In hyperandrogenic women, insulin resistance as well as an atherogenic lipid profile is observed, and these women are also at increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease."

Me- you need your hormones balanced so low T or High T, like any other hormone, can go to health issues. The key is to have a balance set of hormones to find better health. I add this piece of research to show that if you are high in T adding T is not what you need to do. Get individual tests on things like free testosterone, DHEA-S, progesterone and estrogen. Then get treatment to address your own individual scores/symptoms.
____
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12020-012-9692-1
Endocrine. December 2012, Volume 42, Issue 3, pp 514-520. Androgens for postmenopausal women’s health? Tiziana Montalcini, et al

"Aging is, often, accompanied by a decrease in free testosterone levels, a concomitant reduction in muscle mass and an increase in fat mass. Furthermore, numerous studies showed that total serum testosterone levels were INVERSELY related to the atherosclerosis disease incidence in postmenopausal WOMEN. New therapeutic targets may, therefore, arise understanding how androgen could influence the fat distribution, the metabolic disease onset, the vascular reactivity and cardiovascular risk, in both sex."