Women's health pioneer honoured
Katharina Dalton, the pioneering GP who took on the medical establishment by defining PMS and developing trail-blazing treatment of the condition, as well as establishing the National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome, is to be honoured at a Memorial Lecture given by Nicholas Panay, the eminent international menstrual health specialist, at a special event at The Kings Fund in London on December 15, 6-9pm. CLIC HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Chris Ryan, who heads the Association that Dr Dalton helped set up in 1983, says: "Dr Dalton was an undisputed pioneer in our understanding women's reproductive health. She was the first to give clinical definition to the cyclical psychological and physical symptoms experienced premenstrually by millions of women. She was also a founder member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Many in the medical establishment at the time, and still today, refused to recognise PMS. Yet Katharina Dalton is celebrated by women world wide for providing the clinical explanation of their recurrent menstrual related ill health and for proposing self-treatment pathways. This lecture will place her legacy into proper context and encourage a full acknowledgement of her place in the history of women's health."
In his lecture Nick Panay will review the history of PMS, examine the theories of Katharina Dalton before looking at modern management practice. Leading PMS and Menopause experts will then join Mr Panay in open discussion.
For further information call Christopher Ryan on 0870 7772178 or E-mail chris@pms.org.uk
NAPS Annual clinical conference - February 17 2006 - Derby
The next NAPS' annual clinical conference takes place on Friday 17 February 2006 at Derby City General Hospital.
NAPS members will be eligible for a preferential rate of £45.00. For all other delegates the cost will be £65. This includes access to the full day of presentations, refreshments and buffet luncheon.
This will be your opportunity to listen and speak with the top experts in the country - a day packed with interest for clinicians as well as patients. There will be a number of exhibitors and sponsors at the event, including a number from herbal and natural products.
To join us please complete the application form by following the link.
Ease PMS with qarma Evening Primrose Oil
Be one of the first 100 readers to join NAPS and win a free pack of qarma Virgin Organic Evening Primrose Oil capsules worth £7.99 for a pack of 60.
According to Equazen Nutraceuticals, regularly taking qarma, a high quality Virgin Organic Evening Primrose Oil throughout the month, can help ease mood swings and breast pain, and keep lives on track throughout those difficult few days.
Evening Primrose Oil works by helping the body to produce prostaglandins, hormone-like messengers known to have a role in helping to regulate a woman's hormone balance. Dr Maggi Moss, Clinical Research Scientist and expert in the application of Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) says: 'New Organic qarma is a convenient way to ensure a daily intake of essential fatty acids, which play an important role in maintaining a healthy body - in particular skin and the menstrual cycle.'
Women and sleep
Findings of recent surveys by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) in America have shown that biological conditions unique to women such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy or the menopause can have a major impact on sleep.
Premenstrual symptoms and hormonal fluctuations at this time can lead to sleep disturbances for a few days each month with most women taking part in the polls reporting insomnia, hypersomnia and daytime sleepiness. The poll also looks at sleep problems suffered by women experiencing the onset of menopause and gives tips on how to combat these.
To view the full report, visit www.sleepfoundation.org/hottopics/index.php?secid=17
Menstrual Cycle Rhythms Apparent in Brain Images
A recent study in America suggests that women with no menstrual mood changes may use parts of their brains differently over the course of their menstrual cycles.
Emily Stern and her colleagues studied 12 women chosen for their consistently steady moods. During the brain imaging experiment, the women saw printed words with either negative, neutral, or positive connotations and performed behavioural tasks while the researchers recorded blood oxygen patterns in their brains, which corresponds to increased brain region usage.
The women were tested 1-5 days before the onset of menses (premenstrual) and 8-12 days after the onset of menses (postmenstrual). Premenstrual patterns showed greater activity in frontal brain regions that help control emotions.A reciprocal pattern was seen postmenstrually. Since these changes were
not reflected in the women's outward emotional states, the researchers speculate that this greater allocation of the brain's resources may allow these women to compensate for hormonal changes and maintain a consistent emotional state.
The results provide a foundation for studying premenstrual mood disorders and demonstrate that brain processes can change across the menstrual cycle, the researchers say. They also suggest that certain
types of brain imaging studies should take into account participants' menstrual cycle phase.
Commenting on the paper, Nicholas Panay, one of the UK's leading menopause specialists says: "Any studies in the field of neurological aspects of PMS are to be welcomed as this is the key to defining the precise aetiology of PMS. This research gives a fascinating insight into central nervous system thought processes in PMS sufferers."
Article #02818: "Orbitofrontal cortex activity related to emotional processing changes across the menstrual cycle" by Xenia Protopopescu, Hong Pan, Margaret Altemus, Oliver Tuescher, Margaret Polanecsky, Bruce McEwen, David Silbersweig, and Emily Stern
For the full paper go to:www.pnas.org and search Vol 102 No 44 under Neuroscience
To check out the article which appeared in the Guardian go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1599943,00.html
Novogen joins NAPS as corporate supporter
Novogen, world leader in isoflavone research and suppliers of the Redclover standardized extract of isoflavones, an important menopause supplement, has joined NAPS as a new corporate supporter.
"Novogen Redclover is the most clinically studied supplement in women's health and has shown to be effective in the relief of acute menopause symptoms and long term bone and heart health," says UK Manager Steve Beck.
Nicholas Panay, Consultant Gynaecologist at the Queen Charlotte's Hospital, London and leading UK menopause specialist comments: "Redclover isoflavones are recommended on the basis of studies showing they can help maintain health and well-being during and after the menopause. Just as significant, is that isoflavones have been shown to have a good safety profile."
For further information on Novogen Redclover visit www.novogenredclover.com
New study on St John's Wort
A new clinical study into the effects of St John's Wort on premenstrual symptoms is being set up by the University of Leeds in collaboration with Dr Julie Ayres of the Rosalind Bolton PMS clinic at Leeds General Infirmary.
The clinical research is being co-ordinated by Mr. Nigel Simpson, Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Louise Dye, Senior Lecturer in Biological Psychology, Dr Mitch Waterman, Senior Lecturer in Emotion and Cognition, and carried out by Sarah Canning, Rosalind Bolton PhD student and Biss Hartley, research nurse at the Rosalind Bolton clinic.
The study will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial and will look at the effects of the supplementation of St John's Wort on the main premenstrual symptoms, including depression, anxiety, aggression and impulsivity levels. The participants should be aged between 18 and 45 years.
Each woman will be asked to take part in this study for 10 menstrual cycles. The first three menstrual cycles will be used to assess whether women do suffer from PMS and to exclude those suffering from other disorders, including anxiety and depression. Women who meet the inclusion criteria will then be given either St John's Wort (900mg/day) or placebo tablets for the remainder of the study. The participants will be unaware of which tablets they are taking at any given point, although they will take both during the course of the study.
Participants will also be asked to complete weekly symptom diaries. These will consist of seven daily symptom checklists and a longer questionnaire that needs to be completed at the end of the week. Women taking part will also be asked to visit the researcher at the Institute of Psychological Sciences at the University of Leeds a total of 11 times, to have a blood test taken to assess hormone, serotonin and cytokine levels, and to perform an Emotional Stroop Task- a simple cognitive task. This involves looking at a series of words written in different colours, and telling the researcher what colour the word is written in. This will be used to find out how the women react to stimuli depicting premenstrual symptoms compared to stimuli that do not, throughout the various stages of the study.
If you are within commuting distance of Leeds and are interested in taking part or require further information, please click on:
www.psyc.leeds.ac.uk/pmsresearch
www.psyc.leeds.ac.uk/pmsclinic
Teenage depression and PMS
Relationship counsellor, Susan Quilliam gives her reaction to the recent announcement that NHS funds are to be made available for counselling depressed young people.
My first was satisfaction! My second reaction was utter outrage. Why? Because various of my colleagues, friends - and even the nice man from the BBC who interviewed me on the topic when the news broke - dared to ask whether young people needed such support. Do children get depressed? Are some teenagers' moods more than just an overdose of hormones? Should we be taking this seriously?
The answer to all three questions is, of course, yes. It's estimated 1% of children and 3% of adolescents suffer from depression at some time - lack of years doesn't mean a lack of sensitivity, emotion or external pressure to both 'act your age' and 'for heaven's sake, grow up'.
It is, in fact, the act of growing up that often leads to down times, as young people come to terms with their changing appearance, their changing personality, their changing roles - and their changing relationships with friends, family and partners.
In particular, depression is often triggered by PMS. Not only can all the usual physical symptoms rock a teenage girl's life month after month - and not only is that surge of symptoms set against the background of the natural but often disturbing hormonal shifts of adolescence. But also, this major physical event triggers a major emotional event within a young woman, as she comes to terms with her newfound sexuality. Plus - of course - all this is new; PMS may be doubly horrifying to a girl because she has no prior experience of it.
How to spot such depression? One of the guidelines that accompanied the NHS announcement was that both clinicians and parents should be more aware of young people's emotional states. No need to panic because Katy throws a temper tantrum; but if she withdraws into, loses interest in what previously enthused, alters eating habits or - of course - turns to drugs or drink, alarm bells should ring.
What to do? First and foremost, listen. Teenagers are adept at 'hovering' when they want attention, and a little of that attention, plus a few open ended questions, often opens the flood gates. They need to know that it's OK to admit feeling down, that other young people feel that way too and that - above all - there is help available
What help? The GP is the first port of call - and now, hopefully, will be able to offer emotional support instead of only antidepressants, though of course they may be needed too. If counselling isn't available through the NHS, then the British Association of Counselling (www.bacp.org.uk) contains a list of local therapists. Of course, particularly where PMS is involved, make sure that all the appropriate support is offered to overcome it. In extremis, young people should be aware that The Samaritans are them for them 24/7 on 08457-909090 or email :jo@samaritans.org.
A final thought for those who continue to doubt the seriousness of the issue. Early-life depression more than quadruples the risk of suicide in later life - reason enough for us to be both motivated to solve the issue and to be celebrating the recent move to include counselling in the treatment options!
Private Parts
An easy to read information pack targeted at women with learning disabilities has been launched by Women's Health, an organization which provides health information for women enabling them to make informed decisions about their health.
Sponsored by the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, the information pack entitled Your Private Parts, contains a range of leaflets using simple language and clear graphics. Christine Baker and Dr Carrie Sadler, specialist research GP and NAPS Trustee, found the launch very useful. "The information pack is a very useful tool for women with learning disabilities as well as professional and home carers," comments Dr Sadler.
Dr Sadler has just completed a study in Southampton looking at the views of women with learning disabilities regarding menopause management. Following on from this study, she feels there is strong potential for a similar project on women with learning disabilities and PMS. "This group of women face difficulties in expressing themselves. We feel that we ought to be seeking the views of these women to enable us to manage their symptoms more effectively and help us to provide better PMS services for them. We are hoping to do further research in this field in the future."
Stop Press
NAPS and PMS have been making the news again.
Media volunteer Liz Harrison (used to be Liz Bates) features in an article in Bella, Issue number 44 and Lorraine Kelly flagged up the importance of nutrition and PMS on her GMTV morning show. Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 also discussed menstruation on Monday 31 October.
Take a look at the message board at:
Help NAPS build clinical database
We are building up a database of GPs, practice nurses, complementary therapists and PMS specialists around the country and would like to ask for your help in supplying us with details of health professionals who may have helped you with your PMS problems, or perhaps not!
With these valuable contact details we aim to provide a comprehensive education programme aimed at clinicians, so that we can help improve the responsiveness of health services to the needs of women. We look forward to hearing from you. Just email mygp@pms.org.uk
Ask the doctor
Periods and bloated tummies are highlighted on the BBC Health, Ask the Doctor pages on line.
There is advice on how to deal with this, with exercise, diet, supplements such as vitamin B 6 and Evening Primrose Oil and natural diuretics.
To see for yourself visit
