Re: Re: OCD & menstruation

August 5, 1999

Hi Mitzi:

Thanks for sharing about your daughter and how she handles her PMS.

I am a breast cancer advocate and feel I must say that anyone needs to

weigh up the risks very carefully when putting young female bodies on

additional hormones. There is considerable scientific evidence that their

bodies, breasts in particular, are particularly sensitive to this kind of

treatment.

I know we have our kids on SSRIs and other antidepressants and are

accustomed to taking risks to help them live better lives, but we do need

to look at long terms risks of hormone treatments. One thing that helps

PMS and OCD and has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk is regular

exercise like competitive swimming or track and field for young females.

This seems to work by lowering body fat and inhibiting ovulation. If

anyone is interested in more information please email me directly.

Good luck, take care, aloha, Kathy (Ha)

kathyh@...

mother of two sons, but proud aunt of Lizzie (15) , a speedy track and fielder

At 10:26 AM 8/5/99 -0700, you wrote:

>From: Mitzi Waltz <infobahn@...>

>

>My daughter is also bipolar, and has wild mood swings along her menstrual

>cycle, which has been irregular and extremely heavy (as in 2 weeks of

>heavy bleeding or more, with no schedule). We noticed that her

>irritability and OCD symptoms were also higher right before and during

>her period. Her solution is not for everyone, but it works for her and

>for us. She has been on Depo-Provera for the past 2 years, a hormone shot

>that is usually used for birth control. She gets her shot more often

>though (every 2 months?) Until recently, she has not had her period at

>all, which is due to the shot.

>She had even better results from actual hormone therapy (oral) - amazing

>remission from mood swings along with control of the bleeding. But that's

>not usually recommended for teens of course, could not continue it

>long-term. I'm not sure if Depo is a great thing either...it can have a

>side-effect of depression for some.

>

>Mitzi Waltz * Author and Editor * http://www.teleport.com/~infobahn

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