January 18, 2003
Brain research is making it more and more evident that, while our environment and nurturing can make a crucial difference in what kinds of adults we mature into, nature deals us each a very definitive hand, and much of it is in the form of chemicals that our brains produce. If we don’t have enough seratonin, we feel depressed. If we are females and our estrogen and progesterone are out of whack, we get major PMS. (These are just two of hundreds of examples.)
Many of us women have come to recognize that we can control PMS – with everything from herbal supplements to wild yam cream, from progesterone suppositories to Prozac capsules. Because humans have evolved the way we have, it might be “natural” to be at the mercy of our erratic human brain and glandular chemistries, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take our fate into our own hands and alter those defective ebbs and flows. Doing so doesn’t make us less ourselves; indeed, it often frees us from the tyranny of our chemistries and allows us to be so much more our loving, caring, creative, and nurturing selves – in other words, better human beings.
Research has also made the connection between high levels of testosterone and violence/aggression/competitiveness. It has also made the connection between high levels of testosterone and sex drive. It makes sense, then, that men with high levels of testosterone might find their sex drive jumbled up somehow with aggressive and even violent feelings. Note the example that Suzanne posted in her Comment to this BlogSister post: I remember hearing about how the U.S. fighter pilots during the Gulf War in '91 were taking speed and watching porn flicks in the hours and moments before they flew their missions. I would like to see this connection between sexual violence toward women and war be seriously explored.
I suggest that it has been explored in the research on testosterone. Of course it makes perverse sense to rev up the guys’ testosterone with porn flicks and then let them loose to pillage and rape. That’s what high levels of testosterone help to make happen.
Now, if we women understand that it makes both our lives and the lives of all around us better if we get our estrogen and progesterone under control so that we don’t become PMS bitches, why don’t the guys recognize that controlling their testosterone levels would make them so much humane and loveable. It wouldn’t make them less “male,” just as controlling our hormone levels doesn’t make us less “female.” (I don’t even think researchers have come up with any way to keep testosterone levels at a manageable level. Maybe because most medical researchers and funders are male?)
Heh. What if we “crop-dusted” the entire Middle East with some sort of “testosterone reducer?” Would Arafat and Sharon be more inclined to make long, lazy love (it would probably take them longer than usual) instead of hot heavy war?
Or maybe there’s something in the food or water of the Middle East that inhibits the brain’s production of seratonin, resulting in negative, antagonistic feelings. Maybe dumping truckloads of Prozac in the water supply would make compromise seem like not such a bad thing after all.
Just imagine a world with no alpha males, no pissing contests (both metaphorical and actual), no rape, no war, and probably no robber baron megamillionaires either. Of course, football and hockey might become obsolete too, but that’s no big loss for me, anyway.
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Old Comments (11)
Gentry on 19 Jan 2003
I've long thought that pms is more of a blessing than a curse. I like the lightheaded hormonal rush feeling. I also like the monthly reminder that all is well within the major bodily systems affected (without being subjected to the often arbitary judgement of a stranger/doctor). I also think the "bitchiness" from pms comes from fighting it. If one knows that its here, and makes a point of *not* feeling anxious over being a bit more hormonal, pms isn't necissarily a bad-mood inducer. I'm more subject to crowded-bus rage than I am pms, but nobody tries to medicate overcrowded public transportation sufferers. Although now that I think about it, a pack of valium with your monthly metro ticket is a nice idea.
sya on 19 Jan 2003
It's an interesting proposal, although the scientist in me says it's easier said than done!
Elaine on 19 Jan 2003
Maybe I should have said PMDD, because my PMS wreaked havoc with my life -- couldn't focus at work, couldn't deal with kids, major headache, and the stress it all caused usually made me wind up with an upper respiratory something-or-other. It's all a matter of degree. My point was, when our chemistries become the enemies of a every effort we make to have a good human life, we should be encouraged to choose to do something about it.
Everything after the "Heh" was meant to be facetious (I think).
Tom Shugart on 19 Jan 2003
OK, Elaine, you didn't expect this one to pass without a male response, did you? So I've obliged with a blog post.
Elaine on 19 Jan 2003
Hah! I knew it would be you, Tom. And I've left a commment on your post. I can always count on you to respond with both truth and wit. And that ain't easy.
Tom Shugart on 20 Jan 2003
Thanks for the kind words and for the intelligent comments which add some needed heft to my site!
Danielle on 29 Jan 2003
I just read your proposal and I cannot agree more. I am doing research on this subject, praticularlly how hormones lead to violence. Women who are severe PMS suffereers receive progesterone to even out hormone levels. Two women committed murder in 1980 which was the when PMS finally began being recognized. One received progesterone to control her violence before menstration. There really needs to be a way to minimize high amounts of testosterone in violent males. Maybe this would make them less violent, and would only be controlling their hormonal imbalance, not their "manhhod." We don't need more evil in this society, there are enough killings and rapes and controlling testosterone levels, beginning with inmates might create a less violent society. But, your'e right, male researchers apparently do not want to look further into this. My question is...why? What's the harm in trying to control violent, aggressive males?
LP on 02 Aug 2004
I had SEVERE PMS FOR OVER 10 years. Every month - I would be _itchy (you can fill in the blank. I would think about committing suicide one or days a month also (but, I thank the good Lord from keeping from doing such a stupid thing). I think Satan uses our hormones to try to create major problems in our lives - so I have to lean on God to help me through those very rough times). I researched this hormonal problem for years and finally learned about progesterone. I tried the yam cream - no help.
Then I found an all natural compounding pharmacy to help me - 1st we tried the natural REAL progesterone cream but for some reason - I wasn't absorbing it, so the pharmacist and my obgyn decided to put me on a troche which you put between your gum and teeth. I take 100 mg. twice a day - it took several months for them to get me up to that dosage - they start out with just a little and work their way up - so it can be very frustrating until you get it right. That has helped me greatly for the past 4+ years.
It helped with the PMS, but I was also having other mood swings. I found out (from my own research) that I have seasonal affective disorder ( get very depressed when there is a lot of snow or rain. On cloudy days I would get so depressed, that I could barely make it through the day). And, recently started having panic attacks (esp. under great stress). I learned about L5htp. My Dr. wanted me to start taking Zoloft - I said no thanks and started looking for an all natural product - I found this and it works great. You can get it at a natural health food store. The stuff at Walmart isn't nearly as potent. It says to take one a day, but since I was still having "some" problems occassionally - they said I could take 2 a day if needed. My nutritionist said to take 1 in the a.m. 1/2 hour before breakfast and I can take another one later on in the day to help me get a good night's sleep - but not everyone needs to take 2. Mine says 100 mg. on it. Recently I was trying to stretch my progesterone (because of lack of $) and I got _itchy again and crying and weeping - just plain sad and mad! I did not like this person at all nor did others that I hurt because of this hormonal imbalance, so I got back on my meds properly, and that's also when I upped my L5htp to 2 a day and everything is sooooooo much better now! And when the sun is shining - it is just wonderful....I love being me again! And the others around me can see such a big difference.
I'm sorry that this is so long, but this is something that I feel SO strongly about - that I would like to help every woman out there. Seratonin (from L5htp) also comes from sunshine!
If we could only bottle the sunshine. There are full spectrum light bulbs that you can purchase which help also and light boxes, etc. I tried to get my insurance to buy a light box for me but they wouldn't. They really should as this would probably save many violent things from happening.....thanks for listening...I hope I have helped SOMEONE!!! I've been researching things on the internet - it is soooo good to learn of all these new things & I have read a lot about all of this. Good luck to all the women out there! (the think I need help with - if anyone has any ideas) is how to get rid of all this estrogen FAT - that I have accumulated over the past years. I'm not gaining any more now - but want to get rid of what I have! Thanks, LP
LP on 02 Aug 2004
Also, In addition to what I posted above.
You should NEVER take L5HTP if you are already on an antidepressant such as Zoloft, Paxil and others. You would have to go off of them first before you can take the L5HTP. (consult with your physician) (study it on the net-take the info to your Dr)..... and..... in addition to this - and on the subject of the violence and hormonal relationship. I was told one time (by my sister) that most of the women in jail committed their act of violence during PMS! So, ladies - do research and get help if you need it.....your hormonal imbalance is NOT your fault, but it is your responsibility to take control of it. (sorry for the typo in above posting - thing not think)
Thanks, LP
full of TESTOSTERONE on 26 May 2005
Women are way ahead of men? Are you stupid? You need a serious reality check. Look at all that we've invented! Do I really have to spell it out for you? Lets start here, shall we?: The numerous Indian mathematicians Baudhayana, Apastamba, Katyayana, Umaswati, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Brahmagupta, Govindaswami, Mahavira
Pruthudakaswami, Sridhara, Manjula
Aryabhata II to name a few, the religious prophets ie. Bhudda, Christ, etc. and all the others like Einstein, Freud, Gandhi, Socrates, Darwin, Pasteur, Rutherford, Newton, Henry Ford, Faraday, Edison, etc.
You women wouldn't even KNOW about you're estrogen without US men- WE did the research. It is well known that the male brain is hard-wired for goal-oriented highly specific, compartmentalized, rational and efficient activity, so what does that mean you may ask? Well to sum it up: WE get things DONE. We ACT. PERIOD. Not like you giggling nancies who like to watch desperate housewives and waste hours shopping deciding on whether or not to buy ONE freaking pair of pants, and your "pretty" little pink thongs for your lowrise jeans that you'll match oh so delicately with your blouse, when there are MORE important things to do! What usually takes a woman 3 hours to decide upon and buy from a store takes a man 6 MINUTES, TOPS. Half the time you people don't even know what exactly it is that you want! And then you were saying that the world would be better without men? I got news for you:
you wouldn't HAVE a world without us men, you just wouldn't be able to get anything done- look at all the contributions we've made, the aformentioned names can easily attest to that, and no, that's not just the TESTOSTERONE talking...
rigid on 07 Nov 2005
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