Q: I was diagnosed three years ago with the Grave's Disease at the age of 20. I went to a specialist and was put on Tapazole for about three years to regulate it, but every time I came off it, my thyroid levels would go high again. Does any of this affect my sex-drive hormone? About six months ago, when I was going through the on-and-off period using Tapazole, I noticed that I didn't want to be touched by anyone. I felt differently, and even talking about sex turned me off completely. My boyfriend started to notice, and I need to know if that's normal. I had surgery three weeks ago to removed my entire thyroid, and I still feel the same way. Is there anything I can do to get my sex hormone back? I have also been on Ortho Evra, the birth-control patch, for about two years now. Do you think that has something to do with it? Please help!
A: Abnormalities in your thyroid function can affect your sex drive. Now that you have had your thyroid removed, chances are that your symptoms will normalize once you are stable on your replacement thyroid hormone, but that's not 100 percent guaranteed. Some women also note a decrease in sex drive with contraceptive hormones. If you are still symptomatic after several months of thyroid stability, you may want to speak to your doctor about alternative methods for birth control.
Q: I read with interest your response about Noni (January-February 2006). So many people are promoting it. On that note, I have been taking Xango Mangosteen for six months. It also has been touted as the "cure all." What drew my attention to your previous response was your mention that Noni, as reported in one case report, was implicated with liver damage. That does concern me. So far, I have found nothing implicating the Xango Mangosteen. I have been drinking Pomi juice now for almost a year. I can honestly tell you that I used to get colds and bronchitis four or five times a year, I have gone without them for a year now. Thank you for any input you can give me.
A: Noni, Magosteen and Pomi (pomegranate) juices are all very popular. There have unfortunately been few, if any, clinical trials to support their claims. They all have lots of antioxidants and may suppress cancer cells in laboratory experiments. Pomegranate juice recently has been shown to decrease the time of recurrence of prostate cancer cells in one small study. Since they are all full of antioxidants, they may be beneficial for many of the illnesses from which many people in our society suffer. Whether we need to buy these very expensive juices versus just eating plenty of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables remains to be proven in large clinical trials. Drinking these juices probably* won't hurt you, other than putting a dent in your wallet! (*Note: There is one case report of liver damage with Noni juice. See the January-February issue of Balanced Living Magazine.)
Q: Two years ago I started taking birth-control pills solely for the purpose of controlling acne which I have had problems with since puberty and which had worsened when I was about 24. Now my acne is improved more than ever and I am happy with the result, but I think the pill is making me gain weight (about 10 pounds) that I cannot seem to lose with diet and exercise. Do you think that natural progesterone cream would have a similar effect on reducing my acne if I stopped the pill?
A: Many studies have shown that combined oral contraceptives can be very helpful in controlling acne. We have much more data on birth-control pills than natural progesterone creams for acne. Some progesterones (but not all) are anti-androgenic (decrease male hormones) and can reduce acne, but these are all used in combination with estrogen for acne treatment. It may be worth trying in conjunction with topical anti-acne medications. Sources of omega-3 fatty acids (fish-oil supplements) are very anti-inflammatory and may also help with many skin conditions, including acne.
Ed Miller, MD, is a local obstetrician/gynecologist who practices out of Lakewood Hospital. He is a member of the American Holistic Medical Association and may be helpful in guiding you through alternatives for this serious disease. He can be reached at (216) 529-8683.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this column is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition. Seek the advice of a medical professional before making any changes to your diet, supplements or medication.
Tanya Edwards, M.D., M.Ed., is the Medical Director for the Center for Integrative Medicine and is a staff member in the Department of Family Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. As a Family Practice physician, she sees patients at the Cleveland Clinic Independence Family Health Center, and will begin wellness consultations at the new Cleveland Clinic Wellness Center. For the past seven years, she has been teaching complementary and alternative medicine courses at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Some questions in the “Ask Dr. Edwards” column appear courtesy of NetWellness.org.
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