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Subscribe to RSSThe hug of a middle-aged woman might affect nearby kids and pets in alarming ways -- and it has nothing to do with menopause mood swings.
On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that children who are inadvertently exposed to an estrogen spray to ease hot flashes can develop an upsetting reaction – premature puberty. The FDA has received 8 reports involving children ages 3 to 5 whose reactions have included nipple swelling and breast development in girls and breast enlargement in boys. Pets exposed to the hormone spray have turned up with nipple enlargement and swelling of the vulva in females.
A recent report by the Veterinary Information Network also warns that some pets are inadvertently ingesting topical hormone sprays, creams or gels by licking the area or being petted after the product is applied and then grooming themselves. Side effects have included undersized penises in males and fur loss.
Estrogen and testosterone aren’t the only hormones that cause problems. A psoriasis cream called Dovonex, a derivative of vitamin D — itself a hormone — can cause unusual thirst, appetite loss, and severe vomiting or diarrhea when pets lick it off the skin or chew on the tube, says Michael Stone, an internal medicine specialist at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton, Mass.
To avoid the problem, women shouldn’t let children or pets come in direct contact with the area where the medication was applied, or they should wear clothing that covers it. If contact does occur, wash the child’s skin with soap and water right away, the FDA says. We assume the same goes for pets.
Do you use these kinds of hormone sprays, creams or gels? Will you stop, or just take extra precautions? Leave your comments here.
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I have friends who have used this cream for years. They praised it so highly, that I was always suspicious of it. This article just reinforces my opinion. Glad I do not seem to require the use of anything like this. Big dogs get cancer so readily, this might actually speed up the process. Men get breast cancer, too--could this cream be connected to that in some way? They should have included men in this study, I'm certain that there is plenty of hugging amonst middle-aged adults going on. I'll bet men are more at risk than kids OR pets.
I have used bio identical creams for 11 years and never had a problem. Best thing I have ever done for my health. Much better than taking drugs that doctors will ALWAYS prescribe.
Rheems of scientific data shows homeopathic remedies don't work. Placebo effect at best.
Come on, really?
If a homeopathic patient fails to take their presciption, are they over-dosing?
I've wondered if the use of vaginal hormone products posed a risk to a woman's sex partner...how much of that could be absorbed by the man during sex? I mean, it's designed to be absorbed, isn't it?
Have you had nipple swelling?
I'm so glad to see a warning about this in the news. I have family members who have thought these are just "the" miracle, but I was skeptical from the start. I have a little boy and just knew that accidental exposure could not be good. These topical hormone preparations have to get on clothing, bedding, towels, etc. somewhat - what about mixed laundry? essie222's comment is also valid, I know there are warnings on men's prescription hormone creams about danger to female partners from a relative's experience. I don't think the "natural" female hormone creams in health stores carry warnings as serious and severe. I would love a magic trick to help me through PMS and mood swings and hormonal changes due to aging, but no way would I risk the health of the children around me for it, or the health of my husband for that matter.
I think the meds come w/ instructions folks. I use a spray on my arm every morning & let it dry. To be free of hot flashes is worth the effort to not hug a child until the spray dries or wear a shirt w/ sleeves. The topical formulas are much better for you than oral pills.
What if a child ate lots of soy products...wouldn't it have the same affect?
There have been studies showing soy intake in young children cause the same types of effects. It is not a popular viewpoint because of the push for soy products due to the cheap nature of growing soy.
fur loss in males?
A better way of estrogen delivery for women who are worried about this is to use a sub-lingual drop, meaning a drop of estogen under the tongue. Take the drop right before you go to SLEEP not before hugs and kisses! Also estrogen should not be taken without the balancing effects of progesterone. Please discuss this with your doctor and preferably a doctor that has taken the time to learn about the benefits of bio-identical hormone balancing. You WILL feel better and it can be done safely and dosing calibrated to your exact needs unlike sythnthetic perscription hormones that got all that bad press a few years ago. Do your research and find a doctor who will do his or hers!
while I agree with you, I would personally love to see bio-identicals and sub-liguals covered by insurance. I am forced to use the $4 synthetics because of price. Believe me, it wasn't an easy choice either. My son's medicines cost $600 as our copay. His come first. I simply cant pay the price for the versions that are way better for people.
This is definitely worth noting for everyone that the hormones/drugs are not intended for. Miss use of drugs always represents a increase risk for unforeseen consequences/reactions.
I agree with WIgirl - find a holistic doctor who will do a saliva test for hormones. If your estrogen is low, chances are your progesterone is lower. Being perimenopausal, my doctor recommended Progesterone cream. I love it!! It makes my skin soft, I no longer have sore breasts right before my period (an indication of low progesterone) and overall I feel great. I sleep through the night. I don't have hot flashes. My emotions are on an even keel. I only use it 3 times per week. Also, Dr. John Lee is considered an expert in this field. www.drjohnlee.com
Also, IMHO, the mood swings/PMS symptoms can be greatly reduced by eliminating all refined sugar - including High Fructose Corn Syrup - and caffeine from your diet. Eliminate processed foods. Exercise. T-Tapp is the best routine I've ever done. If you experience fatigue and lower back pain during your period, get your adrenals checked out. Severe PMS? Also check your thyroid as an underactive thyroid can exacerbate PMS. Irritable? B-complex. Bach Flower Remedies will quell a variety of negative emotions - mental arguments that go round and round, depression (also a function of low adrenal and underactive thyroid), fear of losing control. Find a practitioner.
You don't have to live with PMS and by following these few simple rules, you CAN greatly reduce the symptoms. I've done it and I'm living proof.
OK, first of all, this does not just apply to women's hormones----a lot of men are taking testosterone gel for "low T" and this is even more likely to cause problems if not applied properly--men take a lot higher doses of testosterone than women. Both estrogen and testsoterone can be supplemented with pellet inserts---while the number of doctors who are knowledgeable and experts in the field of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is still relatively small, it's growing. I live in NC, but budget carefully to see a specialist in Southern CA, and it's the best money I have ever spent. I have been on bioidentical hormones for 4 years (progesterone, testosterone, and a bit of estriol cream for vaginal dryness---I'm estrogen dominant so I do not need additional supplementation). Not only did the progesterone/hormone balance cure my hot flashes in 3 days, it also cured my season allergies, acid reflux and restless leg syndrome in a week. I got off seven medications (including the antidepressants that doctors are all too willing to prescribe rather than actually figure out what's wrong), have more energy than I did at 30 (I'm 52), my cholesterol dropped 65 points, and icing on the cake, I lost 94 pounds (and am still working on it). A good compounding pharmacy, as well as a knowledgeable doctor, will teach you the proper administration of the creams to minimize exposure to pets/kids. If anyone would like more information on finding a doctor/compounding pharmacy in their area, as well as a list of recommended reading (there are other books out there written by actual healthcare professionals--usually the only ones anyone has heard of are the ones by S. Somers) please feel free to drop me an email at holyhormones@gmail.com. Best wishes to all for hormonal health!
I have vulva pain, and neither my OB/Gyn nor a Urologist have found a reason for it. I am on Tamoxifen for breast cancer that I had 3 1/2 yrs ago. It has caused me to go from post-menopausal to per-menopausal. I have terrible problems with hot flashes and my face and neck sweat profusely much of the time. I don't go anywhere without 1-2 rags to wipe the sweat off my face. My hormones have all been checked and nothing is out of whack. I've been told that the Tamoxifen is probably causing my problems, but I must continue it for another year and a half. No one has mentioned sprays for hot flashes, so I'm guessing that the sprays and cream are contraindicated in a person who has had breast cancer.
Back to the pain. My Urologist told me to see my OB/Gyn and see if I can use Premarin cream on that area, as he has seen women in the past with my problem who were greatly helped by it. But he wouldn't prescribe it because of the breast cancer. He said that Premarin is not supposed to get into the blood stream, but only an OB/Gyn or Oncologist would know whether I could use the cream. I missed an appointment with my OB/Gyn today and will see her next week. It never occurred to me that the cream might hurt my husband. I'm so glad that this came out before my appointment, as I will have a lot more questions to ask of her.
Oh please...would everyone relax. Bio-identical hormones are wonderful....they are nothing to be suspicious of just because people sing their praises. They are molecularly identical (thus bio-"identical") to womens hormones. It is "common sense" to let the cream absorb into your skin before hugging your children. I have an 11yo and an 8yo.....they are fine and always will be! The actual hormone in the cream is absorbed immediately into your skin, what is left (and also absorbs into your skin though not as quickly) is the non-hormonal carrier cream that makes the hormones spreadable into your skin.
People...be more concerned about your prescription drugs (and OTC medicines) harming your children. Again..."common sense" needs to prevail here.
Thank you libragal for such a great post!
couldn't have said it better.....do you know what lack of hormones do to your body....hot flashes, night sweats, lack of sleep, dry vagina, weight gain, mood swings, dry wrinkly skin, hair loss....in other words premature aging! I'm in NY and my alternative doctor does not take insurance...that was the expensive part. But when was the last time your doctor spent 1 1/2 hrs with you without interruptions. I pay $40.00 per month for my cream...he advised against taking the sublingual because some hormones tax your liver. The cream absorbs immediately...don't understand what the fuss is about. The side effects of prescription drug medications are terrible but you see people popping pills every day....because it is so much easier for doctors to give you something to send you away than it is to do the research on alternative methods...why.. because they are married to the pharmaceutical companies.
I'd be much more concerned about what is in your facial products, deodorant, hair products, soaps, makeup and especially what you eat and drink. Do you read ingredient labels on everything you buy...there lurks the real danger....wake up people!
IS YOUR HOME A SAFE HOME?
Most of us, as caring parents, do all that we can to protect our families.
· We always buckle them in car seats or seatbelts in the back seat of the car.
· We are aware of the dangers of lead paint.
· We avoid sugary foods and drinks.
· We regularly visit the pediatrician and dentist.
· We insist they wear bicycle helmets and protective gear.
· Our houses are adequately child proofed.
What most of us don't realize is that one of the biggest threats to our children is the arsenal of toxic chemicals that we have in our homes.
Here are some startling statistics:
· EPA surveys find that indoor air can be 3 - 5 times more chemically polluted than outdoor air.
· After analyzing 2,983 chemicals used in personal care products, 884 were found to be toxic. (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.)
· According to the National Safety Council, more children under the age of four die of accidental poisonings at home than are accidentally killed with guns at home.
· Of chemicals commonly found in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities. (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
· Women who work at home have a 54% greater risk of developing cancer than women who work outside the home?
Children are uniquely vulnerable to household toxins because of their higher metabolic rate. They require more oxygen, and they breathe in two to three times as much air, relative to body size, than adults. Additionally, children are more physically active, also increasing their breathing rate. Finally, children play on and close to the floor where many heavier pollutants settle. In short, our children are breathing in more toxins than adults.
These toxins are suspected to be a factor in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Also linked to toxins are allergies, asthma, learning difficulties, and immune system disorders.
Where are these toxins?
They are in a wide variety of household and personal care products, including:
· Laundry products
· Dish washing products
· Toothpaste and mouthwash
· Deodorants
· Shampoos
· Cleaning Product and more!
What can you do?
There are safer products available in some health food stores and through some Internet based companies. Some of these out-perform the grocery-store brands, and cost less.
If you'd like to know more visit my web site www.ecofriendlyfamilies.info
Oh please is right. Why isn't there the same coverage about the hormones in our processed food (soy in infant formula), in beef, in milk from dairy cows to increase production - on and on. Read up folks, the info is out there.
my question...how many women using these creams have children? I would rather see a percentage applied than the figure of 8 children. How many children out of non-hormone using women have abnormal breast growth anyway? Same for the animal counterparts.
During human drug research studies, if someone happens to catch a cold, the law states the manufacturer must list it as a possible side effect,even though the drug had nothing to do with catching a cold.
People who go into panic mode over some report such as the above, scare me. These are the same ones that will keep an otherwise useful product off of the market because of what could be a naturally occuring phenomena. (Not that 3 year olds growing breasts is normal -but it has happened before,without hormone creams involved)
Essie222: That is a very thoughtful post, and I'm sure you're right about your suspicions. People are much too eager to try these things after reading the current "study", and sometimes we learn years or decades later what a mistake they made. The human body can adapt very well to a lot of conditions, without using whatever new thing is the current rage. A good diet, exercise, and clean living will do wonders. Our pets are our family, so we need to include them in these decisions as well, as you point out.
My 2 year old neutered male Yorkie almost died a month ago from an enlarged infected prostate. This problem is nearly unheard of in a neutered dog. He also had enlarged nipples and hair loss. They were confused until they heard that I took hormones. They have traced his problem back to abnormal hormones levels. Until recently, I used a spray on hormone medicine. By petting and cuddling with my puppy, I was transferring hormones to him. I have since stopped using the hormones. I had been concerned about taking them anyway. Contrary to the article that indicates you need to cover the spot where you spray your hormones, I and the veterinarians, feel that the hormones are coming out of all of the pores of my skin. My puppy never touched the spot where I used to spray my hormones. I think that the hormones passed through my skin and came out of the skin on my fingers to him. They need to start issuing warnings with these medicines.
An episode of House featured a man using a hormone cream which caused his children to experience early puberty.
A hug isn't going to cause these side effects. A kid getting into meds over time perhaps - but this is the stupidest thing I've read in a very long time. Can't understand as to pets how anyone would put a hormone cream on themselves and then rub it off on pets. ?? Any thinking going on here?
If you are putting enough on and its "passing through all your pores" you've got to be putting on WAY too much.
From the comments here it looks like those who use these hormones will not believe there is any harm and will not stop using it.
Those people that knock these bioidentical hormones have NO idea how hard it is to go through peri-menopause and menopause. It's not just hot flashes and night sweats (though those are bad enough on their own, sometimes) there are other very real, very painful and sometimes debilitating symptoms. Sure, bioidentical or otherwise, there are always some risks related to HRT, but you have to balance the relief of symptoms to the symptoms themselves. It's just not possible for some women to "grin and bare it" through their "change of life" symptoms! I'm so desparate I even quit smoking to go on the hormones (there's a health benefit in and of itself!)
As far as children and pets...yes, common sense prevails. I have 3 dogs and a cat and I keep my cream where they can't reach and get into it. It's also a vaginal crea1m, so no chance of them licking it off my skin!
Until you walk a mile in someone's shoes, don't criticize them!
agree w/dmrsmom 100% . all it takes is a little comon sence. it's hard to believe that there was a NEED to wright this artical. i use the bio identicals and i like them alot better -they work better than the premerin. and i don't handle the g-kids or my pets after use. - i apply my creams before bed. - just commom sence
This actually happened to my 2 mini-dachshunds when they were 11 weeks old. I used an estrogen cream and would pick them up with residue on my hands. They don't have much hair on their bellies at that age. They went into heat. Didn't find out what the problem was until I took them to the vet. First vet said I should just put them to sleep. Went to another vet and she said just be more careful. All turned out fine with no residual problems.
I take natural hormones, not via creams or gels, but rather through a "troche" which is a wax-like little tablet that melts under my tongue. I wonder if I pass any hormones on to my husband when I kiss him. Anyone know??
Does the same problem happen with men's testosterone cream?
How about a little common sense here....you should not spray any medicine around any other living creature...human or pet. You let the cream or spray absorb before touching anyone or anything...it's really pretty simple. I have used a bio-identical cream for several years and am always careful with the application. Read the directions.