Hair loss in men has become more acceptable – and even fashionable – in recent years. Many men even shave their heads to be a part of the current trend. Surveys show that bald men are considered more masculine than those who still have a full head of hair. But balding women present a very  different story.

As women get older, it is not uncommon for their hair to become thinner and for bald patches to appear; however, even women in their 20’s and 30’s can develop thinning hair. Statistics show that about 20 million American women are currently struggling with hair loss.

Types of hair loss in women

One of the most common types of hair loss in women is called Androgenetic Alopecia. It is characterized by diffuse thinning throughout the hair. Current research indicates that this type of hair loss is linked to an imbalance of male-to-female hormones, that can lead to a follicle sensitivity in the scalp. Estrogen and testosterone hormones play a major role in your hair. Testosterone can cause hair follicles to stop producing hair, while estrogen does the opposite. In cases of Adrogenetic Alopecia in women, this hormone imbalance can create other health problems outside of hair loss, including ovarian cysts and early menopause.

Dermatologists report that a condition known as Telogen Effluvium (TE) is the second most common cause of hair loss for women. Little research has been conducted on TE, but scientists believe that it causes a change in the number of active hair follicles. Short-term presentations of TE have been linked to hormonal changes that can sometimes follow childbirth, periods of extreme crash dieting or physical trauma. In recent years, some have speculated that this form of hair loss could be linked to poor nutrition and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Hair Loss and Getting Older

When a woman goes through menopause, her levels of estrogen decline in proportion to her levels of testosterone in her body, which can start to cause some hair loss. Research shows that the majority of women experience hair loss in the post-menopausal stage of their lives. This doesn’t account for the hundreds of younger women who experience hair loss due to genetic factors, while other women experience thinning of the hair for other reasons.

Treating Hair Loss

According to Harvard Medical School, medications are the most common treatment for female hair loss. Generic versions of the well-known Rogaine have been used by women; however, they can cause side effects such as dry scalp and irritation.

Some women are put on hormonal therapy by their doctors, prescribed medications to stop production of the male hormones that cause hair loss. Other women try supplementing their diet with more iron, in response to research that has linked thinning hair to low iron levels (also iron supplementation for hair loss isn’t supported by any strong scientific evidence as of yet).

Another treatment for hair loss is follicle unit transplantation. A narrow strip of scalp is removed and divided into hundreds of small grafts that each contains a few hairs. Each graft is then planted into a slit in the scalp, made by a tiny blade or needle in the section where the hair is missing. The procedure is said to look more natural than the large plugs that were traditionally used many years ago. Some inflammation can occur with follicle unit transplantation, but most people report that cold compresses help soothe the problem.

There are products on the market that claim to be “a miracle cure for baldness,” but beware – there is no such thing as a miracle cure. If you notice that your hair is thinning, instead of spending hundreds of dollars on products with side effects, that have yet to show a high success rate, seek advice from a qualified medical professional first.

So What is Menopause?

Before we address some of the most awkward questions that you may have about menopause, let’s first take a look at what it is and why it happens.  Menopause can happen in your 40’s or 50’s ; however, the average age is 51 years in the United States. Menopause involves the end of your menstruation cycle and therefore the end of your fertility. According to the Mayo Clinic, menopause is defined as occurring 12 months after your last menstrual period.  Some of the symptoms leading up to menopause according to the Mayo Clinic, include: irregular periods, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, weight gain, thinning hair, dry skin and decreased breast fullness.

What Happens During Menopause in a Woman?

Menopause can be caused by a number of things including: a decline of naturally occurring hormones (estrogen and progesterone), having a full hysterectomy (this affects the production of reproductive hormones and less estrogen and progesterone are produced), chemical or radiation therapy and/or primary ovarian insufficiency (where your ovaries do not produce the required levels of reproductive hormones, including estrogen and progesterone).  Whatever the cause of your menopause, you are bound to have questions and concerns about the changes that are happening to your body. Three of the most awkward menopause questions are addressed

Awkward Menopause Question #1 – What can I do about the facial hair that I’ve developed?

Not every women going through menopause will experience increased facial hair growth, but it is a big problem for many women and can be quite upsetting. Facial hair growth in women is caused by an imbalance of hormones.  The imbalance that creates unwanted facial hair growth involves falling levels of estrogen and progesterone and increasing levels of androgens (male hormones).  Thankfully there are a number of options for hair removal that can fit into any budget including: waxing, bleaching, hair removal creams and lotions, electrolysis and laser hair removal.

Awkward Menopause Questions #2 – How can I make sex more enjoyable?

In order to have more enjoyable sex, you have to be open and honest with your partner about how your body is feeling.  Along with the vaginal dryness that you may be experiencing can come uncomfortable, and possibly painful, sex.  Vaginal moisturizers are the first line of treatment for better sex.  If this doesn’t work, you can try a water-based lubricant to help make intercourse more pleasurable.  If you still aren’t experiencing pleasurable sex, you may need to speak with your doctor about prescription

Awkward Menopause Questions #3 – What can I do about the vaginal itching/burning that I have?

Decreasing levels of estrogen causes many women to experience vaginal dryness.  As estrogen levels decrease the tissue that lines the vagina becomes thinner and loses moisture and elasticity.  This can lead to an itching, burning sensation because of irritation of the vaginal walls.  The good news is that there are a number of treatments that will help to combat the vaginal dryness that you’re experiencing.  There are a variety of creams, tablets and rings that deliver a small amount of estrogen to the affected area.  Speak to your doctor about which solution is right for you.

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When it comes to your body during menopause, it may be embarrassing to speak to your healthcare professional about the symptoms that you’re experiencing.  But, remember, your doctor is there to help guide you through this naturally occurring process.  Speak up – don’t needlessly suffer with the symptoms of menopause

The Vital Job of Hormones

Hormones are among the most important chemical messengers in the human body. Men and women need the testosterone and estrogen that is in their systems. Hormones help regulate body temperature, sugar levels and blood levels. They are an incredible force in our teenage years and naturally decline as we get older.

Many people worry that as they age their hormones will change to the point where it impacts their lifestyle and well-being, yet the scientific community is saying that we can’t jump to conclusions; that there is no reason to panic about aging as it relates to male and female sex hormones.

Scientists say there is so much we still don’t know about hormones like testosterone and estrogen. They don’t know whether hormone changes control the speed at which we age or are a consequence of other changes in our body.

The Role of Testosterone

According to the U.S Census Bureau 4 to 5 million American men are reported to have low testosterone. Only half will ever experience any significant symptoms as a result. Men have both testosterone and estrogen as do women; however men have much more testosterone, while women produce a higher amount of estrogen.  When men age, many do notice a decline in testosterone levels, but this is considered a normal part of aging. It may mean that the man does not have as much interest in sex, yet research shows absolutely no interest in sex is more likely due to significantly low testosterone levels that can be caused by accidents, cancer or even cancer treatments; as opposed to simply aging.

Women and Estrogen

Estrogen is the sex hormone that is produced to stimulate growth of a female’s sex organs, as well as her breasts and pubic hair. It has the important job of regulating the menstrual cycle.

People think estrogen levels don’t decline until menopause but doctors now know that this is not the case. While the levels may in fact dip more significantly around the age of 50, many physicians will tell you that estrogen production starts to decline in the majority of women before they reach the age of 40.

Endocrinologists’ see patients of all ages for problems associated with hormones. In some cases the issue is related to low levels of estrogen, but it doesn’t always have to do with the aging process.  Sudden weight loss, cancer, cancer treatments, ovarian cysts and benign tumors known as prolactinoma can affect estrogen levels.

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There continues to be debate in the medical and scientific communities about the influence the natural decline of hormones has on us as we age. Some people are convinced that hormone supplements can alter the aging process; however, there doesn’t appear to be enough solid evidence to support supplementation. The hormone replacement therapy debate rages on. No two doctors seem to agree on whether it is good or bad for people. Some anti-aging practitioners like to prescribe human growth hormones to patients as they get older, but to date there is no strong research that shows this helps with aging.

Genetics and Hormones

There are many in the medical field that believe genetics play a role in how we age, not just hormones. For instance, when researchers have adjusted the genes in certain mice, they have been able to almost double their lifespan. Some scientific researchers estimate genetics account for up to as much as 35 per cent of the variation in aging among human beings.

No one is denying that there is a link between declining hormone levels and the passage of time. What researchers are trying to teach the public is that hormones are a good thing…we can’t survive without them and that declining hormone levels as we get older does not necessarily spell doom and gloom; there are so many factors linked to how we age.

The cessation of the occurrence of menstrual cycles is a biological event that occurs among aging women and this is mainly caused by the decrease in the production of hormones by the body.  This concept also serves as the basis in the production of anti-aging products in the market.

Early Menopause and Aging

Previous research studies have shown that early menopause during aging may be caused by various factors including the change in the levels of female hormones, genetics, diseases, and other physiological activities related to aging.  Physicians and health-related organization thus campaign for healthy lifestyles that may also improve the quality of the aging process among women.  Consuming healthy diets may also serve as a natural anti-aging regimen amid decreasing levels of hormones, which can facilitate the aging process with minimal adverse effects on the body.

RELATED READING: Menopause and Hot Flashes

For example, fruits and vegetables contain natural anti-aging compounds that can slow down certain symptoms of aging, such as skin wrinkling. Exercise is also another anti-aging regimen that can maintain various physiological processes of the body.  For an economic point of view, manufacturers have increased the production of anti-aging products that may slow down the process of skin wrinkling.  It appears that placing the phrase “anti-aging” in a cosmetic or facial product will call the attention of an elderly female consumer.

To most women, entering early menopause and the aging process is considered as a bad sign because this event is strongly associated with the advancement in the process of aging.  Women within their 40s thus attempt to find anti-aging regimens that would help them feel and stay young, and ultimately delay their entry into menopause.  However, a recent medical report published in the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy has shown that the occurrence of menopause at an earlier age may also bring in some benefit.

Hormones and Aging – The Research

According to the recent medical report, entering menopause at an earlier age increases the chances of experiencing a milder form of rheumatoid arthritis.  It should be understood that rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that involves the joints of the knees, elbow, toes, and fingers.  The incidence of this rheumatoid arthritis has been earlier reported to be higher among women, possibly due to the hormones that are produced in the female body.  It has been theorized that a change in the levels of female hormones allows the development of rheumatoid arthritis, with earlier reports showing that pregnant women are the least likely individuals to develop this joint disorders because they produce high levels of reproductive hormones during pregnancy.

Early Menopause the Study and Effect on Hormones

The study examined approximately 134 women who had entered menopause at various ages.  These women were screened in terms of the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other medical and behavioral conditions, including levels of hormones.  The study showed that approximately 72% of the women were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, with varying degrees of severity.  However, the women who were diagnosed with a milder form of the inflammatory disease were found to have entered menopause at an earlier age, as compared to women with more severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Severity of Menopause and Hormones

Based on the severity of their rheumatoid arthritis, different types of treatment were thus prescribed for the study participants.  Those with more severe rheumatoid arthritis were given strong medication, whereas women with mild rheumatoid arthritis were prescribed milder drugs.  More importantly, the women who underwent early menopause showed a better quality of life, based on the pain and stiffness that they experience with the mild form of rheumatoid arthritis.

This recent medical report is very interesting because it allows the readers to understand that certain other factors may influence the severity of a specific medical condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis.  In this case, entering early menopause and the cessation of the production of reproductive hormones appears to be not so scary anymore, especially when one considers that this change in life increases the chances of experiencing a milder form of arthritis.  This report also indirectly shows that artificial anti-aging products may not be so helpful to women, especially when early menopause provides some form.

Numerous studies have found that women have a tendency to heal slower than men, and statistical data has found that more women than men suffer from chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Up until recently, the exact reason why women’s bodies heal damage slower and why they are more susceptible to inflammatory disorders has remained a mystery. However, a recent ground breaking study conducted by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, has found that higher levels of estrogen hormones are at least partially to blame.

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Karsten Gronert, Ph.D., and her colleagues at Berkeley, caused mild damage to the front of the eyes of genetically similar female and male mice and used image analysis to analyze the wound healing response. In order to assess the role of estrogen in wound healing, the scientists gave some of the male mice drugs that turn-on specific estrogen hormones and/or estrogen containing eye drops. Using a mass-spectrometry based lipidomic method, the scientists then examined the formation of protective lipid signals—a signifier for wound healing. The scientists found that the presence of estrogen hormones interrupted “15-lipoxygenase-Lipoxin A4,” which is a highly evolved protective lipid circuit. Previous studies have found that 15-lipoxygenase-Lipoxin A4, is an important mechanism that helps to keep inflammation in check and it not only promotes wound healing, it also helps to protect against the development of many diseases. The male mice that were not given the estrogen drops did not experience a 15-lipoxygenase-Lipoxin A4 interruption, and consequently, they had a dramatically improved injury response.

The Estrogen, Inflammation and Wound Healing Connection

Excess inflammation results in chronic wounds and an inability of one’s body to repair physical damage. This is not the first study linking the presence of estrogen hormones to increased inflammation, another study which was published in Endocrine Reviews Journal (August 2007) also found that certain estrogen hormones are pro-inflammatory, in other words, they encourage inflammation.

The Berkeley study has given an important clue as to how estrogen affects molecular pathways which promote inflammation. In addition, it “goes a long way to explaining gender differences in inflammation and its resolution,” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal. “We hope that our finding will spur research efforts into delineating sex-specific differences and estrogen regulation of intrinsic circuits that determine the outcome of healthy and routine injury responses,” added Gronert.

This study is fascinating, however there is no real solution to this issue because reducing estrogen hormones in females is like playing with fire and it can cause damage to the female sex organs and even infertility. Nevertheless, Gronert and her associates are optimistic that this new understanding of estrogens’ role in injury response, will help scientists to develop a future methodology that will help to treat and/or prevent the development of diseases which are female-specific.

One of the biggest claims regarding maca, and a big part of what has gained it so much recognition is the impact maca can potentially have on the sexual health, menopause fertility and hormones of men and women.

Researchers readily admit that evidence for maca’s effectiveness is sparse, especially in regards to improving sexual health in men and women, but what is there shows enough promise that more research should be hitting the mainstream soon.

Part of what makes the studies of maca so difficult to garner information from is the indecisive, and argumentative “for” and “against” stance. But with more and more research coming available in favor, the “for” position is showing enough research to prompt further investigation.

A 2010 report published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that maca may have positive effects on sexual desire in healthy menopausal women or healthy adult men.

Researchers also break results down to account for the fact there are several different types of maca, these include yellow, black, and red maca. When it comes to sperm count, black maca appears to have the greatest effect.

So what exactly is the buzz about? And what uses are causing the controversy regarding maca?

Fertility

The research regarding maca and fertility is particularly controversial. The study involved 4 consecutive months of treatment on 9 adults and showed the tie between maca and the quality of sperm in men. Treatment with maca resulted in increased semen volume, sperm count, and sperm motility. Serum levels of testosterone and estradiol were not affected.

Menopause

A study found in the journal Menopause in 2008 showed that maca made an impact on the mood of women who were going through menopause.  14 women who just came through menopause took 3 ½ grams of powdered maca for six weeks and then took a matching placebo for another six weeks. Study results showed that maca aided in the reduction of anxiety levels and depression in women with menopause.

While more research needs to be done in order to solidify the place of maca as an effective supplement, there is a great deal of promise, and no doubt a significant “buzz” when it comes to the possibilities.

Maca is said to act on the hypothalamus-pituitary gland. This hormonal pathway produces the pre-cursers to male and female hormones, as well as having some effect on the adrenal glands. Maca does not necessarily stimulate it, but could behave in a balancing capacity which is why it is so interesting to researchers for sexual health in men and women.

On the surface some problems may not seem all that serious; however, as doctors and scientists have discovered, a lot of these symptoms are due to underlying medical problems that should not be taken lightly.

The most serious sexual health symptoms can be hazardous to both health and relationships. Here are some serious symptoms that should not be ignored:

•              Genital irritations such as pain, lumps, sores, itching or unusual discharge could be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease. If untreated in females it could permanently damage the reproductive organs. When men ignore the symptoms they can become sterile.

•              Erectile dysfunction can be a symptom of many different health related issues. For example, it can be a sign of diabetes, kidney disease, nerve damage, severe depression or even be a result of alcoholism.

•              Low sex drive used to be associated with psychological issues; however, experts now say there are a number of physical reasons people lose their sexual stamina. It can often be associated with low levels of hormones for men. Certain medications taken for depression can also lead to low stamina in both men and women. Below is a list of reasons for low sex drive or stamina.

1.            Anemia

2.            Enlarged Prostate

3.            Autoimmune Diseases

4.            Fibromyalgia

5.            Kidney Disease

6.            Hepatitis

7.            Pregnancy

8.            Post Pregnancy (hormones)

9.            Drug use (cocaine)

10.          Stress & depression

When it comes to studies on sexual activity and depression the statistics are overwhelming. One report in the United States showed that 70 per cent of patients that were fighting depression had lost their sexual desire. Countless research papers have indicated patients with major depression or bipolar disorder have an even higher prevalence of dysfunction. Since the depression not only impacts sexual activity, but all aspects of a person’s well being, physicians insist it has to be addressed. In other words, if low sex drive or low sexual stamina suddenly becomes an issue for you, you might want to seek medical attention.

•              When sex hurts it could be due to a number of factors. Pain before or after intercourse can be attributed to birth control methods, allergy medicines, antidepressants you might be taking if you are struggling with depression or it could even have something to do with changes in your hormones.

•              Sex headaches take place just prior to or during an orgasm. They are sudden and severe. Neurologists say for the most part they are nothing to be concerned about, yet in some cases they can be serious; a sign of problems with blood vessels that feed your brain.

Hormones and Depression

Hormones play a large role in sexual health. Hormones can fluctuate in all of us, sometimes dramatically. In most cases, big changes are associated with aging, but not always. The hormones testosterone and estrogen are closely linked to sexual desire. Testosterone is necessary in both men and women for sexual feelings to be present. When testosterone is low in men they can lose their stamina or desire. Estrogen is made from testosterone in women so when a woman is no longer ovulating she can lose her sexual desire. There is hormone replacement therapy for men and women but it is a controversial approach since some studies have linked it to an increase in cancer.

The medical definition of infertility is “the failure to conceive following twelve months of unprotected intercourse.”

Causes of male infertility range from impotence to premature ejaculation to inadequate semen or sperm quality. Approximately one in 1000 men are infertile because of spermatogenic failure.

Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, excessive exercise, stress, alcohol consumption, drug abuse and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can account for some of the infertility problems experienced by men. But researchers say the causes of spermatogenetic failure found in most cases of male infertility remain largely unknown.

Gene Therapy for Male Infertility

According to Sherman J. Silber, M.D., director of the Infertility Center of St. Louis and author of How to Get Pregnant, “modern geneticists have concluded that … most mutations that lead to species evolvement and evolutionary change occur almost exclusively in men.”

This is because roughly “100 to 200 million sperm are produced every day in the testes of the average fertile man, [whereas] a woman has all the eggs she will ever have at birth. Mutations occur only when cells divide and produce inaccurate copies of genes.”

A study published in April 2008 by the Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan, addresses the future prospects of gene therapy for men. According to the study’s abstract, researchers predict that “gene therapy will enable a revolutionary advance for reproductive treatment and provide great benefit for patients with male infertility in the future.”

New Cause of Male Infertility Discovered

In 2011, a new cause of male infertility was discovered by University of California, Davis, researchers in a study conducted by Gary N. Cherr, Theodore L. Tollner et al. Their findings were published in the July 20, 2011, edition of the online journal Science Translational Medicine.

The research team indentified a defective male gene for the protein known as DEFB126 and discovered that some men carry two defective copies.

Under normal conditions, this protein helps sperm swim through cervical mucus and avoid the immune system in order to fertilize an egg. But when mutant copies of the gene are present, the protein is not produced; and without the protein to coat the sperm cells, the sperm gets stuck and is unable to navigate its way to the egg through the mucus.

Can Male Infertility be Cured?

The discovery of this mutation is good news for future treatment of male infertility.

Once a test is developed to detect the mutation, infertile couples can avoid a battery of unnecessary tests searching for other causes, and an appropriate treatment, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), can be selected immediately. IVF does not require sperm to swim through cervical mucus, and with ICSI, the woman’s eggs are removed and directly injected with sperm.

But even better than IVF or ICSI, preliminary research indicates that it may be possible to add synthetic forms of the missing protein to sperm by concentrating the protein in a cream, foam or gel applied directly to the vagina. The sperm would then pick up this coating as it advances into the cervix. Once developed, this non-invasive treatment would, ideally, be available as an at-home kit.

Cherr believes this method of helping infertile couples to conceive is not that far off.