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Menopause traditionally is defined as not having a period for one year. However, clinical experience with saliva testing has shown that a woman can continue to produce Estrogens and Progesterone up to 7 years after her last menses. If a postmenopausal woman was to produce Estrogens and Progesterone and take Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (NHRT) she could be at risk for Estrogen Dominance, increasing risk for cancer and numerous symptoms. To draw attention to this problem, Dr. Bivins coined the term, Postmenopause Dynamic, the production of Estrogens and Progesterone in the postmenopausal woman. William Timmins, N.D. referred originally to this concept as Peri-Postmenopause.
Every postmenopausal woman should know if she is producing a Postmenopause Dynamic prior to beginning NHRT. This is accomplished by providing a saliva sample every other day for 22 days, 11 samples. We will usually see one of two patterns. If the ovaries are essentially not producing hormones we will see a flat pattern and insufficient level of female hormone production. These low levels would suggest supplementing with physiological levels of natural hormones and evaluation of the adrenal glands. Physiological levels are similar to what the body would produce naturally. A woman would rarely achieve stable levels of female hormones if her adrenals were compromised (Cortisol and DHEA).
If there is some ovarian production we will see fluctuating levels of hormones (Postmenopause Dynamic) suggesting a more conservative approach with NHRT. It is not uncommon to simply support the adrenal glands of a woman who is having ovarian production of Estrogens and Progesterone. Supporting the adrenals with other natural hormones and supplements, reviewing diet and lifestyle, often decreases hormonal symptoms.
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