Ask The Doctor – Women’s Health Q&A with Dr. Mirabile

Q: I’m 43 years old, I work out 3 times per week, is it just my destiny or are hormones to blame for my increased waistline?  KR

A: This is a constant, recurring question that needs very little explanation! The answer is NO, it is not your destiny and Yes, you can blame your hormones! Why and what you can do follows! Before you pawn off your belongings for liposuction, the thickening waistline most women experience despite crunches and limiting calories can be prevented and treated with balancing your hormones. If you’re in your 30’s, 40’s, and even early 50’s, you most likely are suffering from estrogen dominance.

This dominance of estrogen results from the body’s natural slowdown of progesterone production which leads to weight gain between the navel and hip bones. Progesterone tempers estrogen, regulates sleep, sustains libido, and is your body’s natural anti-anxiety / anti-depressant. The elevation of estrogen to progesterone aids in storage of fat and leads to anxiety, depression, emotional lability, and insomnia.

Foods that can reduce estrogen levels include vegetables containing indole-3-carbinol including broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus, and spinach. Lignans, which naturally occur in flaxseed, attach to estrogen in the digestive tract and makes it easier to rid the body of excess estrogen.

Most importantly and the easiest to do in the busy lives women lead is to boost progesterone with the use of “natural,” bio-identical hormones. These are hormones produced from plant materials creating a progesterone identical to what the body naturally produces. Give us a call, have your levels monitored, and see what you can do with that extra thickening that hampers so many women. Don’t just take the hormones prescribed even if they are bio-identical without monitoring your levels.

Q: I’ve become really irregular in my cycles and noticed that I have had hair growth on areas of my body where it’s not supposed to be. I’ve gained 14 pounds over 12 months and don’t understand what’s going on. A friend said she had similar problems and was diagnosed with PCO disease. What is this and what can I do to stop it? MBL

A: PCO, or polycysic ovarian disease, is a disorder resulting in insulin resistance which is the inability of insulin to be used effectively resulting in more insulin production than normal to be available to cells causing increased androgen, or male hormone production. Weight gain, hair growth, and irregular cycles are hallmarks of the condition and all do not have to be present to make the diagnosis. There is treatment available for both regulation of sugar (metformin) and increased androgen signs (spironolactone). Do not let these complaints continue! Contact your physician and get the treatment you need. This could affect future fertility, increase the risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and uterine cancer.

Q: I have two boys, ages 14 and 16. My friends with daughters talk about the Gardasil HPV vaccine but why should I not be concerned having boys?

A: Until recently, Gardasil was only approved in the United States for females, aged 9 – 26. The vaccine now is approved also for boys in the same age group to prevent HPV (human papillomavirus) which can cause cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal, and oral cancers. The virus is spread by sexual activity and the vaccine is a weapon in prevention. Ask your children’s physician about the vaccine and become familiar with it to decide on its use.

Email Your Questions
Email your questions to docj@jmirabilemd.com to have them answered in our new Q&A on Women’s Health! To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mirabile, please call FOR WOMEN ONLY at 913-541-9495, or visit us online at www.fwoobgyn.com.

FOR WOMEN ONLY
0600 Quivira Road, Suite 110
Overland Park, KS 66215
913-541-9495

1262 West Amity
Louisburg, KS 66053
913-837-3199