Welcome from Dr Maura McGill Hi! I m Dr Maura McGill from Swan Soul Seminars. I m so excited to be finally sitting down and putting together this free Report packed with the information you need to take you from being tired, miserable and frustrated by menopause to joyful, relaxed and sexy, ready to enjoy the wonderful years ahead. It s important to know this is not just another report about how to manage menopause, although the information in here will help answer your questions as well as support you to have a better understanding of menopause and how to improve your health. But before I get ahead of myself, let me take a step back and give you a brief history about myself and why you should be listening to me in the first place. I qualified in medicine young. My grandmother put a kibosh on my plans to escape home early and enrolled me in medicine in Dublin where I m still to this day the youngest doctor to qualify in Ireland. Full of spirit to make a difference in the world I threw myself in the deep end and travelled to Africa to work with refugees in Biafra. The experience I gained there was unparalleled, and although I then went back to Ireland to do more study and get a PhD, my time in Africa had taught me how precious life was, so I quit my PhD and came out to Australia. I was running a successful practice and raising a family and midlife was fast approaching. My friends were having crises that took them off to golf, tennis and china painting. I decided I needed a real challenge so I retired from medicine to study law at Monash University in Melbourne, graduated with honors and went on to become a partner in a large national Australian law firm negotiating major commercial health mergers and acquisitions. Then I hit menopause! I took HRT but with every pill I swallowed I hated it and knew there had to be an alternative so I decided to retire back into medicine to find a more natural approach. SWAN SOUL SEMINARS DR MAURA MCGILL 2011
With my medical and legal background, I understood the risks associated with HRT and feared no-one in asking questions. Ultimately it was only through my 15 years of researching and specialising in women s health and natural menopause management, that I have truly understood all the confusing facts and different approaches available. I have treated thousands of women successfully using Bio-Identical (Natural) Hormones and I m certain that you will benefit from a simple natural approach without loads of contradictory information or piles of unnecessary supplements. I look forward to staying in touch with you and giving you all of the information you need to get through this time of life with comfort and grace and to get back to your old self again. Warm Regards -2 SWAN SOUL SEMINARS DR MAURA MCGILL 2011
Inside this report you will find; Hormone Assessment form containing the relevant medical information your GP needs to make an accurate assessment of your hormone levels so that you can relax knowing you are prepared for your appointment. A step-by-step guide for you on what to do next. Answers to any questions you may have in relation to this Report. A brief introduction to the Sex Hormones The difference between Synthetic (HRT) Hormones and BioIdentical (Natural) Hormones and why I only recommend the natural hormones is explained. Plus a letter from me for you to take to your GP explaining what you need to have tested and why, so you can be confident in working with him/her without worrying about upsetting them. I have also included my contact details for your GP should they wish to contact me in relation to the letter. -3 SWAN SOUL SEMINARS DR MAURA MCGILL 2011
A Step-By-Step Guide On What To Do Next STEP 1 Fill out as much information as you can on The Hormone Assessment. Enter your name and address at the top of Doctor s letter where indicated. STEP 2 Ask your GP if he/she prescribes Bio-Identical (Natural) Hormones. If not, find a Compounding Pharmacy and ask them which GP s local to you refer them patients for Bio-identical (Natural) Hormones. STEP 3 Take The Hormone Assessment Form and letter to your doctor, or a GP (who prescribes Bio-identical Hormones) and let him/her know you would like your hormones balanced naturally. NB when you receive your pathology form; If you are still menstruating, it s important that your blood tests are taken on day 21 of your cycle ie the 21st day after your period started. If you are no longer menstruating you can have your blood test taken at anytime. The results of your blood tests from pathology will automatically be sent to your GP. STEP 4 Once your GP has a full Hormone History & has received the results of your blood tests he/she will write you out a prescription for Bio-Identical (Natural) Hormones for you to have filled at a Compounding Pharmacy. STEP 5 Ask your GP for the results of the 7 Essential Hormones & record them on your Hormone Assessment Form. STEP 6 Store these documents in a safe place. -4 SWAN SOUL SEMINARS DR MAURA MCGILL 2011
A Guide to Understanding the McGill Menopause Management Report An Basic Understanding of The Sex Hormones during menopause OESTROGEN is the primary female hormone which grows the eggs and the lining of the womb. PROGESTERONE is the silent female hormone that balances out the Oestrogen function and improves our bones, our mood and hormonal symptoms. TESTOSTERONE is the primary male hormone responsible for sex drive & energy. SHBG is a transport mechanism. Imagine it s like a bus and it s passengers are the hormones, as it circulates around the body each hormone jumps off and locks on to it s matching receptor site. DHEA is the precursor hormone for all the other hormones. Although it is responsible for the production and regulation of all the other hormones it makes testosterone more easily so, it s the easiest way to increase testosterone levels. LH stimulates the release of the sex hormones from the ovaries in women and the Testes in men. In women, LH regulates the Menstrual cycle. The level of LH rises and falls during a woman s menstrual cycle and it becomes inactive at menopause. FSH comes from the Pituitary Gland to stimulate egg production in the ovary. As the ovary gets tired at menopause the FSH increases until the ovary no longer responds. So a high FSH indicates menopause. -5 SWAN SOUL SEMINARS DR MAURA MCGILL 2011
The 3 Facts You Must Know Before You Start Hormone Replacement therapy Because most GP s are generalists dealing with significant events as well as everything from colds, to gout, to blood pressure management, they may not be aware of the SPECIALTIST MANAGEMENT needed during menopause. Unfortunately most GP s fall into the trap of prescribing Hormone Replacement Therapy without the full picture of what s going on in your body. The result is you end up taking the wrong Hormone Replacement Therapy for your specific pattern of hormones. One size does not fit all. 1. ALL the hormones levels must be tested first before prescribing Hormone Replacement Therapy 2. Retest the hormones every 3 months 3. After retesting your hormone levels your GP must adjust the dose of Natural Hormones The Importance of Having ALL Your Hormone Levels Tested Before Taking Hormone Replacement Therapy A comprehensive history of your gynecological status is very important when making a decision about treating your hormones. It s also important to allow for the fact that some of your symptoms may not be a result of an imbalance in your hormone levels. A complete understanding of your gynecological history and that of your female relatives is essential for making a careful plan to successfully relieve your symptoms. Without a detailed understanding of your full medical history, inappropriate decisions may be made with your hormones. This is why before you take any HRT you must first see a doctor for tests. Prescribing hormones is not an easy task even though it is simple. Lots of facts have to be taken into consideration like: your periods or absence of periods, the health of your ovaries and breasts and the health of the ovaries and breasts of your female relatives. -6-
SWAN SOUL SEMINARS DR MAURA MCGILL 2011 All of these have a bearing on whether you should or should not have a prescription for Bio-Identical (Natural) Hormones and which ones you need. The balance between the 7 essential hormones is also crucial so that you do not create a monster problem by emphasising one hormone over all the others beyond what nature intended. Keep a Record of Your Hormone History Empower yourself! Menopause does not come and go overnight. It will often happen over several years. It s important you have a record of all your medical information because with the best will in the world, your information and history are not always easily obtained from your GP if you move house, country etc. It s particularly important to know how long you have been on any prescribed oestrogen as it should not be taken for a period longer than 5 years. Know the Difference Between Synthetic (HRT) Hormones and Bio-Identical (Natural) Hormones The molecular structure of the Bio-Identical (Natural) Hormones is identical to the body s own natural hormones that have been circulating throughout your body your entire life. Your own body already has a highly efficient way to use and eliminate it s own natural products. In nature, the whole body is washed in hormones - sex hormones, insulin hormones, pituitary hormones, thyroid hormones etc. They are all circulating around the body, which sounds chaotic, yet each individual hormone will only be effective if latched onto it s specific receptor site and your body knows this process. However, the molecular Structure of the Synthetic HRT is very different and therefore functions very differently to your body s own hormones. Instead of each hormone fitting perfectly into each specific receptor site the Synthetic HRT actually blocks the receptor sites and because it s Synthetic has to be dealt with by the body as a foreign substance. A tiny change in the molecular structure of any of these hormones can have a huge impact on an individual eg these tiny changes are what
-7 SWAN SOUL SEMINARS DR MAURA MCGILL 2011 make a woman a woman and a man a man. Messing with nature to the extent of the changes with Synthetic HRT cannot be without risk because they are so dramatically different from Natural Hormones. There are scientific studies to prove the damage done by Synthetic Hormones. The Proven Risks of Taking Synthetic HRT It is a fact that more than 99% of the women that use Bio-Identical (Natural) Hormones can control their menopause and hormonal symptoms naturally. Because these are NATURAL HORMONES they do not carry the known and proven risks of Synthetic HRT like Heart Disease, Stroke, Dementia and Breast Cancer (see Wyeth report to share holders 2002 after WHI Study). If Your Hormones Levels Are Ok and You Still Have Hot Flushes It is important your GP has your WHOLE FAMILY history to be able to manage your hormones effectively. If, once your hormones are balanced using Natural Hormones you find you are still suffering from hot flushes you MUST tell your GP. He/she may request a Thyroid Function test, Urinary Catecholamine's and or a 3 hour Glucose Tolerance test to detect any possible Hypoglycaemia, thyroid or blood pressure problems. These conditions often contribute to and can, in some cases be the ONLY cause of hot flushes. NB It is important that the Glucose Tolerance Test is 3 Hours
-8 SWAN SOUL SEMINARS DR MAURA MCGILL 2011 Dear Doctor Re: YOUR NAME YOUR ADDRESS Thank you for seeing this patient who has visited my website seeking information about managing her menopausal symptoms naturally. I am a long experienced medical practitioner who uses natural hormone therapy in preference to HRT to manage hormonal symptoms whenever that is possible, which is usually 99% of cases. In the report that your patient has downloaded from my site she will have a list of hormones which should be measured at this time: they are Oestrodial, Progesterone, Testosterone, FSH, DHEA & LH. From the relative values of these hormones you will be able to tell whether or not she is currently menopausal, post-menopausal or peri-menopausal. My practice is usually to keep the Oestradiol between 100 & 150 in a post menopausal patient by using natural Oestradiol in either creams, drops or gel form for up to 5 years but not beyond 5 years. I also like to keep their Progesterone levels at about 15% of their current Oestradiol levels, again using natural progesterone creams, drops or gels or whatever is appropriate. I usually start with 20-40mgs progesterone per dose per day and measure the response in 6-8 weeks, adjusting the dose accordingly. Many women will complain at this time of hot flushes and you may find that their Oestradiol is really quite high, under those circumstances their hot flushes are unlikely to be due to low Oestradiol. I would ask that you consider other conditions in that circumstance such as Hypoglycaemia, thyroid, hypertension etc and I leave those investigations to you. If the woman is complaining about low libido, which is very common of course at this time, I try to keep her Testosterone level between 1 & 3
SWAN SOUL SEMINARS DR MAURA MCGILL 2011 although a lot of women get a great lift to their sex life by having it up to 5. The easiest way to get their testosterone up without creating a monster is to actually give DHEA capsules in strengths of 10mg or 15mg or even up to 25mg 3 times per week, this avoids direct testosterone prescription which can sometimes hit the testosterone a little bit too hard and create other problems. I would be very happy to receive an email from you if you feel that you would like to discuss anything further. Please contact me at info@drmauramcgill.com Warm Regards Dr Maura McGill MRCPI, FOM, LLB Expert in Natural Menopause Management, International Speaker & Educator in Menopause. -2 SWAN SOUL SEMINARS DR MAURA MCGILL 2011