The Roby Institute Blog

Hi Dr. Roby,
My OB/GYN has spoken to me about giving me progesterone, due to the risk of endometrial cancer from taking estrogen only. What do you think of this? Im nervous about taking progesterone of any kind as when I have in the past, I have flared up. However, I am scared of the cancer risk. What do you think?

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Dr. Roby:

That idea about using progesterone to protect you from cancer is not something that I agree with.

If you are sensitive to progesterone then you certainly do not need to add it. Not only that, the American College of ObGyn stated in a 1997 “position paper” that you did not need to give menstruating women estrogen so long as they had an annual exam to detect early swelling of the uterus. Those types of cancer are slow to develop, over many years. If you get swelling, then we either add progesterone or stop the estrogen. But adding progesterone in the manner which you described is not something I agree with.

This article was originally published Here

Women with low levels of the male hormone testosterone are at greater risk of heart disease, a new study claims.

Research has found for the first time that older women with a ‘deficiency’ of the hormone after the menopause are more likely to have blocked arteries.

Testosterone is usually thought of as the male hormone, but is made in small amounts by the ovaries and is linked to women’s sex drive. Women can already get testosterone patches on prescription to help regain their sex drive when they have had an early menopause because of hysterectomy.

Levels decline naturally after the menopause, but can fall dramatically in women who have had their womb and ovaries removed through surgery, the Daily Mail reports. The research suggests that many more post-menopausal women should be prescribed testosterone patches on the NHS to protect against heart disease.

‘We are increasingly using testosterone to help women and are planning a clinical trial to look at the vascular effect,’ Dr John Stevenson, chairman of Women’s Health Concern, told the paper. (10 July 2007)

Dr. Roby will be appearing on the NBC live television program “San Antonio Living” next Wednesday, July 18th at 10 am. The live interview will feature questions and discussion regarding hormones, allergies, and how individuals can find and maintain an optimal level of health. “San Antonio Living” is a television news-magazine primarily focusing on women’s issues, with topics ranging from health and lifestyle to finance and family.
For more information, visit the NBC San Antonio (WOAI)