Dearest:  Elizabeth Plourde is a licensed clinical laboratory scientist. With a 
B.S. in Biological Science, an M.A. in Psychology and currently completing her 
Ph.D., her training is augmented by invaluable experience working for cutting-edge 
medical research laboratories for over a decade.

Elizabeth's education and personal experience provided the necessary background to 
research the "standard medical practices" offered to women today. In view of the 
abrupt halting of the largest study on women and hormones, the WHI (Women's Health 
Initiative) and after a 3 month nationwide lecture series, where she found women 
across the country were already being taken off hormones. 

Elizabeth conveys a new level of understanding for women's health care about 
hormones and questions "standard medical practices" bringing us into the 21st 
century via her lectures and book, "Your Guide to Hysterectomy, Ovary Removal, 
& Hormone Replacement: What All Women Need to Know." 

It's a pleasure to welcome you to Power Surge, Elizabeth. I hope it's all right 
for us to call you Elizabeth. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Thank you. It's a pleasure to have this opportunity.  
Please do call me Elizabeth. 


Dearest:  Let me begin with the first question.... 
In Power Surge, I've been saying for years that conventional HRT, especially 
Premarin and Prempro (with Provera and the HRT used in the WHI study) provide no 
guaranteed protection from heart disease, and we all know that synthetic hormones 
can cause stroke, blood clots and a whole host of adverse side effects, diseases 
and even death. Can you explain more about why the study was halted and what was 
found? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  The study was halted due to the computation that the 
risks outweighed the benefits. They found an increase in heart attacks and blood 
clots and breast cancer, with a decreased risk of colon cancer and fractures. 


Dearest:  And those results were so surprising?


Elizabeth Plourde:  No, the results were not surprising. It is our 
premenopausal estrogen that protects our hearts and Premarin contains mostly horse 
estrogens and our postmenopausal estrogen. It also is orally administered which 
accounts for the increase in blood clots. 


Dearest:  Thanks, Elizabeth. Power Surge endorses only naturally compounded, HIH -
human-identical hormones. What type of hormones do you believe can be beneficial 
for women's hearts and bones without the side effects of the conventional/standard 
HRT that's been prescribed for years?


Elizabeth Plourde:  Our identical hormones, as you say, HIH, are what 
our bodies know how to handle and are what we should be replacing. The other is 
better termed substitution rather than replacement. Our premenopausal hormones 
protected us our entire lives from heart disease and osteoporosis; therefore, 
replacing them can protect us from these diseases. 


Bbecca27:  I am having hot flashes. I have tried Natural progesterone cream and 
Dong Quai, black cohosh supplement. What else can I try? The progesterone cream has 
helped some, but it doesn't work all of the time. I notice that when I get upset, the 
hot flashes are more frequent. I do some yoga and exercise 4 - 5 times a week. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  For many women, our premenopausal estrogen, 17B-estradiol 
is what we need to prevent the hot flashes, so that could be what you 
need to add.


Bbecca27:  Where do I find that? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Are you taking health food store progesterone 
cream, or that prescribed by a doctor? 


Bbecca27:  Health food store. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  It could be that it may not be strong enough for 
you. It is a prescription controlled drug, and the strength you need may need to 
come from a doctor through a compounding pharmacist. That cream is pure 
progesterone. 


Bbecca27:  I had a hysterectomy 12 years ago.  Would that make a difference?  
Thanks, I drink soy milk. Only about 20 mgs though.


Dearest:  BBecca, you might want to take a look at the article, Your Hormones, in 
the Educate Your Body Library of the Web site.  There are links to where you can 
get natural hormones.


Bbecca27:  Thanks 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Soy does not give us our bio-identical hormones. 
That can only be done by a laboratory. It works for some women, but not all. 


Dearest:  But soy isoflavones and lignans can provide a great deal of relief, yes? 
Even though they don't affect our hormone levels -- and without the risks. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Yes, they can for some women. But, there are many 
women for whom it does not. Especially women who have had their ovaries removed or 
damaged by a hysterectomy. For them, only our bio-identical hormones will work. 


Dearest:  Thanks, Elizabeth. 


MrsMary:  I am 32 and I am in surgical menopause. They have tried a lot of different 
medications and now I am on a shot Depo estra something (strongest dose). When will 
I start to feel normal as in the way I used to be before the surgeries? I am also 
allergic to soy. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  I spent 3 years trying everything available, creams, 
patches, shots, oral pills, nothing worked for me.  All women absorb differently, 
and I just don't absorb them. One doctor who works with women like me feels that 
it is about 20% of women who have this problem. I did not feel like me until I 
started on pellets implants.  These are pure hormone implanted under the skin 
with an incision and a stitch, where they slowly dissolve over 4-6 months. 

I get 1 17beta-estradiol, and one testosterone pellet. For me, they last 5 months. I 
also use progesterone cream 10 days a month. 

I fully understand that feeling, but there is an answer for every woman. 

  
Dearest:  Elizabeth, do you have statistics as to approximately how many women 
underwent hysterectomies in the past year? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  The latest numbers are 645,000 a year. 


Dearest:  Good grief! 


HotflashMama:  Could you discuss why fibromyalgia would be caused by low or no 
estrogen? I have had a complete hysterectomy (including ovaries) 3 years ago and 
now have fibromyalgia! What can be done? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  I had fibromyalgia horribly until I had my 
pellets implanted. 2 weeks after they were implanted the symptoms disappeared 
totally and completely and have never been back. I have a whole chapter on it in my 
book. The ovarian hormones interact with the hormones of HPA axis, Hypothalamus, 
Pituitary, and Adrenal glands.  When the ovarian hormones are removed or disrupted 
by surgery, the fibromyalgia syndrome can be set into action and will continue 
until replacing the ovarian hormones. If you are taking them, it could be that you 
are not absorbing them.


HotflashMama:  Can you have pellets if you had uterine cancer?  My doctor isn't 
prescribing hormones at all. I am not taking anything right now. Thank you so much! 


Elizabeth Plourde:  In answer to your question as to whether you can 
take hormones, there are many differing opinions out there about that.  It is a 
whole speciality to itself. My research was for the 90% of women who have 
hysterectomies who do not have cancer.


Dearest:  Elizabeth, is there a connection between menopause and fibromyalgia in 
women who haven't had hysterectomies? I hear so many women being diagnosed with 
fibromyalgia after starting perimenopause.


Elizabeth Plourde:   Fibromyalgia is a disruption in the ovarian 
hormones, no matter what the cause.  It can be triggered by surgery, tubal 
ligations or menopause. 


Dogmama:  What do you recommend for PMS? Been on 17-B-estradiol patch for a week & 
am perimenopausal. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Are you using progesterone? 


Dogmama:  No  


Elizabeth Plourde:  It could be that would help also. It is important 
to always balance estrogen with progesterone. Also, diet and exercise play a role 
in PMS. Lots of vegetables, low salt, and foods without additives can help. 


Sammy:  I am 51 do not get bad flashes but have gained a lot of weight do not take 
anything only soy milk.  Should I be on HRT? I have a low thyroid and take a pill 
for that.


Elizabeth Plourde:  Our ovarian estrogen influences our insulin response. 
Low estrogen can lead to weight gain. Soy milk will not give you 17beta-estradiol, 
if that is what you are low in and need to reestablish your metabolism. 


Sammy:  So if I went on HRT would I lose weight? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  If it is due to low ovarian hormones, it will.


Terry2:  I had a hysterectomy 10 years ago, then had 2 more surgeries to remove my 
ovaries, Before that I was diagnosed with PCOS.  I am not having symptoms from meno, 
but still have symptoms of PCOS.  Do I still need HRT? 


Dearest: PCS, for those who may not know, is Polycystic Ovarian 
Syndrome.


Elizabeth Plourde:  Have you had your hormone levels checked by a 
doctor? 


Terry2:  Not lately.  Not for many years, I'm a Medical Technician.  So please tell 
me which ones I should have done. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone. That 
would help you determine if you need HRT or not.


Dearest:  On the Web site, you can also visit the Ask The Pharmacist, Pete 
Hueseman, who's been our naturally compounded consultant for 7 years. He'll be glad 
to help you out with natural hormones. Just go to the Ask The Experts page from the 
menu. Pete's a registered pharmacist who specializes in menopause.


YoungOldMe:  Do you think hysterectomies cause colon sagging?  What else would you 
recommend for cystocele & uterine prolapse? Just "hang in there?" Thanks!  


Elizabeth Plourde:  Yes, it can cause all the organs to reposition. 
There is a book that is not available yet, but will help women strengthen their 
pelvic floor organs. These problems are caused by surgery and our child birthing 
practices.  The book is called Saving Grace: Healing the Female Pelvic Floor by 
Christine Kent and is not available yet, but will be soon.


Minou:  Last year I had an ovary removed due to endometriosis. My doctor said there 
would be no effects. Are there any? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Sometimes one ovary does not produce enough hormones and women 
can experience many of the symptoms of menopause, or depression, weight gain, 
inability to get out of the house and be around people. 


Dearest:  I've heard women say, "He took everything out!" I read that ovary removal 
is performed in 51% of hysterectomies. I thought the idea was to preserve the 
ovaries. If there is no diagnosis of cancer, why would a doctor remove ovaries? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  491,000 women have their ovaries every year when 
26,000 of them are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The other over 450,000 are only 
out of fear of cancer or wanting to stop ovarian hormone production as in the case 
of other cancers. 


Minou:  I have many peri symptoms like those you mentioned. Do doctors always 
remove an ovary when there is endo on it?


Elizabeth Plourde:  I still am hearing from many women who are urged to have their
ovaries removed because they are just potential cancer sites, and are told they 
will shut down at menopause.  They do not. They keep producing valuable hormones 
and chemicals and protect us from heart disease, our number one killer, and from 
osteoporosis. 550,000 women die from these disease, and 9,000 die from ovarian 
cancer every year. 


Dearest:  Amazing. Thank you, Elizabeth. Minou, did your question get answered? 


Minou:  Yes, but is it customary for doctors to remove an ovary with endo on it?  


Elizabeth Plourde:  Minou - every doctor is different and it depends 
on where and how much endo there is. 


Minou:  Thank you. 


Francine:  What percentage of women have no typical signs during menopause and 
what makes the difference with these people not to experience symptoms? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  In western cultures, approximately 80% of women 
have menopausal symptoms. It can be diet, as Asian women have far less symptoms.


Pammiejo:  What is your opinion on Estratest HS? I had a hysterectomy 10 years ago. 
Hard to find the right HRT.  


Elizabeth Plourde:  It can be very hard. When you don't have ovarian 
function, it is important to replace estrogen and testosterone, which you are 
getting in the Estratest. It is oral, however. I have a whole chart in my book 
which lists the problems with oral hormones. 


Dearest:  The site has thousands of pages on naturally compounded hormones, 
PammieJo, plus message boards where women discuss their experience with 
various types of HRT.


Pammiejo:  Thanks. Having lots of hot flashes. But the Estratest helps the moods a lot. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  One of those is increased risk of blood clots, which is 
seen in the Women's Health Initiative findings. It is also the same principal 
for the increased risk of blood clots with oral contraceptives.


Dearest:  Elizabeth, Dr. Susan Rako, who's been a frequent guest in Power Surge, 
says that Estratest, even Estratest HS (half strength), has too much testosterone in it.  


Elizabeth Plourde:  The other problem with bringing in 17beta 
estradiol orally is that the liver converts it into estrone, which will not help as 
well with menopausal symptoms, nor help the heart. I have found many women who 
write me have been on way too much testosterone. My major problem is that it is 
oral and should not be taken anyway. Dr. Rako specialized in testosterone research 
and knows a lot about it.


Pammiejo:  I've tried the natural Hormones but no luck with them. 

 
Dearest:  Pammie, perhaps you were on the wrong dose.


Pammiejo:  Thanks. 


Cicadae:  I am 52 and status post breast cancer. I cannot have hormones as a 
result. Do you recommend alternatives for mood swing control related to menopause? 
I am not taking hormones.  I was asking about alternatives. 


Dearest:  Cicadae, visit the Recommendations page for alternatives at 
www.power-surge.com/recommend.htm 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Cicadae, there is a huge difference of opinion about hormones 
after breast cancer. A book that could help is "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You 
About Breast Cancer," written by Dr. John Lee. 


Dearest: For those who haven't read his transcript, Dr. John Lee was a guest
in Power Surge. The transcript can be read here.


Frances:  I just reached menopause at age 46. I don't really have any symptoms, but 
found out I have osteopenia. What do you advise? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  All 3 ovarian hormones influence bone health. I 
have a whole chapter on osteoporosis in my book that will help you understand more 
about it. By replacing these hormones, bone strength can be restored. 


MarcyS:  What would be the best way for the hormones to be administered, gels, 
lotions, etc. I'm taking capsules and sublinguals, and it seems to be going very 
well. And do you feel that if you are taking estrogen, and progesterone that you 
have to have testosterone? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  If women have lost ovarian function due to 
surgery, and some naturally menopausal women need to thing about testosterone 
replacement.  All women absorb differently, so it is more trying each one to see 
how they work for you. It needs to come through the skin, or sublingually directly 
into the bloodstream.  Oral pills cause problems, as I wrote earlier.


YoungOldMe:  I take compounded HRT. I am concerned at the lack of studies - I know 
the reasons for the lack, but that doesn't help us. Do you know of any good studies 
or strong evidence as to the safety of the natural hormones? Thanks.


Elizabeth Plourde:  My whole book is a compilation of the biochemical 
evidence, and studies from Europe and Asia where there is more use of the natural 
hormones. There are over 1,000 cited in my book, "Your Guide to Hysterectomy, 
Ovary Removal & Hormone Replacement: What All Women Need to Know."  

I have been on natural hormones for 10 years of the last 16 years, and there are 
many doctors in the U.S. who have been using them for over 20 years. 


GrannyGunt:  I have been on hormone therapy for 10 years and went off by my own 
choice because there is so much talk about it causing cancer. Can you tell me what 
to do for hot flashes? 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Herbal remedies do work for some women, and Asian 
diets rich in fermented soy (tofu, tempeh) rice, seaweed, green tea seem to prevent 
Asian women from having hot flashes. It does not work for all women. The evidence 
is that bioidentical hormones brought in through the skin will be beneficial for 
the heart and not create the problems like blood clots. 


Dearest:  GrannyGunt, also, be sure to visit Power Surge's recommendations page at 
www.power-surge.com/recommend.htm where you'll find a host 
of remedies for various menopausal symptoms.


GrannyGunt:  Thank you.


Cher224:  I am 52, perimenopausal and have tons of symptoms. Everything I read 
confuses me. Doctors place women on different medicines kind of like a trial and 
error basis. I don't think I could take feeling any worse. Am I doing myself any 
physical harm by "going it alone" and relying on herbal tea to calm myself and lots 
of prayer? Thank you. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Have you tried your body's natural hormone, 
17beta-estradiol and progesterone brought in through the skin? 


Cher224:  No, I haven't. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  It could be that this type of regimen could bring 
you a lot of relief. The menopausal symptoms are only the surface symptoms. These 
premenopausal ovarian hormones do many functions for us like saving our hearts and 
bones and mental function that cannot be replaced by anything else if that is what 
you need due to your genetic background. 


Dearest:  There's additional information in an article called Your Hormones at 
www.power-surge.com/educate/yourhormones.htm -- all about the bio-identical hormones 
Elizabeth is talking about. 


Cher224:  But can I still try to go through this without anything?


Dearest:  See above, Cher, and no need to make a martyr out of yourself if 
something natural can help, such as vitamins, mild herbs or natural creams. 


Cher224:  Thank you. 


Dearest:  Email me at Dearest@aol.com if you want some more info. 


Elizabeth Plourde:  Cher224 then it is important to get bone scans 
and heart scans to assure they are fine.


Dearest:  Elizabeth, the numbers you quoted above for hysterectomies performed
is staggering. Why do doctors continue to perform so many hysterectomies? I thought we'd 
have moved past the excess. And shouldn't a woman get a 2nd and even 3rd opinion before 
undergoing an hysterectomy?  


Elizabeth Plourde:  The ovaries and uterus have not been considered valuable 
organs and most doctors have been trained that it is easier to take them out. 
My book describes how nothing could be further from the truth. The ovaries and 
uterus impact every other system in the body. When their importance is finally 
recognized and enough women demand alterative that preserve the functioning of 
these organs, then alternatives will come the forefront that will preserve their 
function. 

Until then, women need to learn as much as they can about their bodies and what 
their uterus and ovaries do for them throughout their lives by reading books like 
mine. That is what my book is dedicated to. When women understand their bodies, 
then they can ask the right questions of their health care providers. Right now the 
2nd and 3rd opinions come from doctors who were schooled in the same schools with 
same myths that these organs are expendable. 

Please, all women, become your own health care advocate and ask for procedures that 
preserve your organs and their functions, as well as medications that our bodies 
know how to process. That they are human and what our body has made before as in 
the case of natural HRT. 


Dearest:  The operative words "demand alternatives" - how true! That's what we've 
been doing in Power Surge for almost 9 years, Elizabeth - educating and empowering 
women to take control of their bodies, their health and treatment. 
 
Elizabeth, thank you for spending this time in Power Surge tonight fielding our 
questions about hysterectomy, ovary removal and hormones. I recommend Elizabeth 
Plourde's book, ""Your Guide to Hysterectomy, Ovary Removal and Hormone Replacement:
What All Women Need to Know" and visit Elizabeth's Web site, www.newvoice.net. 

I hope you can come back to visit with us again very soon. 


Elizabeth Plourde: Thank you all. Sounds great.


  


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Dearest
aka Alice Stamm
Power Surge
Founder, Facilitator, Host


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