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Frequently Asked Questions


Quick Links to FAQ's:

1.
What does Women to Women recommend to HRT users?
2.
What are the symptoms of perimenopause?
3.
Why are Women to Women’s products better than what I get at my local health food store?
4.
How concerned should I be about the NIH study of HRT risks?
5.
Will the Personal Program help me even if I’ve had a hysterectomy?
6.
If I am on the Personal Program, do I need to take other supplements, such as calcium–magnesium?
7.
I’m on a prescription drug. Will the Personal Program interact with my prescription?
8.
I notice the dosages in the Essential Nutrients exceed the Recommended Daily Allowances. Why is that?
9.
I’ve had breast cancer. Does the Personal Program affect my risk of a recurrence?
10.
I have PMS, and I’m in my 20’s. Will the Personal Program help me?
11.
I’m only 31. Can my symptoms really be perimenopause?
12.
I’ve been diagnosed with depression. Is it possible my problems are hormonal?
13.
When’s the best time to take my Essential Nutrients?
14.
I’m concerned about high levels of vitamin A. Is the amount in Essential Nutrients safe?
15.
I recently heard about a study linking folic acid and vitamin B12 to cancer incidence. What can you tell me about this study?
16.
I was wondering why I always have bright-yellow urine after taking your multivitamins. My friend said I was just wasting my money when I mentioned it, so then I asked my doctor about it, and he told me I am just peeing out the vitamins! Should I be concerned?
17.
What are the benefits of joining the Personal Program?

1. What does Women to Women recommend to HRT (hormone replacement therapy) users?

For over a decade, Women to Women has been cautioning women about the risks of synthetic HRT. We believe it should be a last resort, not a first choice. In general, we recommend that everyone first try a natural approach such as the Personal Program. Weaning off HRT should be gradual, however — NOT "cold turkey." We include detailed instructions in your New Member package. You may also be interested in our article on what to expect when you're stopping HRT. (For more FAQ’s on hormones and bioidentical HRT, click here.)

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2. What are the symptoms of perimenopause?

The most common symptoms of perimenopause are hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, irritability or mood swings, unusual weight gain, irregular periods, anxiety, feelings of depression, fuzzy thinking, bloating or gas, headaches, joint pain or stiffness, vaginal dryness, diminished sexual desire, and leaking of urine. Click here for further information on your symptoms. (For more FAQ’s on menopause and perimenopause, click here.)

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3. Why are Women to Women’s products better than what I get at my local health food store?

There are several key differences. First, our products are made to pharmaceutical standards. Second, we use only the finest, most bioavailable nutrient forms, including six patented nutrients, to ensure adequate nutrients actually reach your bloodstream. Third, every production batch is assayed in a laboratory to ensure its purity and potency. In fact, even our essential fatty acids, which are derived from cold water fish, are tested to ensure they contain no mercury. And of course, the Essential Nutrients are completely natural, with no artificial anything. Click here for more information on Essential Nutrients.

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4. How concerned should I be about the NIH study of HRT risks?

Women to Women has a long history of recommending a natural approach to hormonal balance. We believe that synthetic hormones commonly used in hormone replacement therapy should be a last resort, not a first choice. However, this is a matter of personal choice.

We suggest you read our Library article, Perspective on the risks of HRT. You might also visit the website of the Women’s Health Initiative.

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5. Will the Personal Program help me even if I’ve had a hysterectomy?

Yes, the Personal Program will benefit your general health and your hormonal balance, even if you’ve had a hysterectomy, and whether or not you also had your ovaries removed. (Over half the women who keep their ovaries nevertheless suffer loss of ovarian function.) In fact, the Personal Program is especially relevant to women like you, given the heightened risks from long-term use of synthetic HRT (hormone replacement therapy). Note that we generally recommend that women under 40 who have had a hysterectomy consider natural hormone replacement therapy to mimic the body’s natural progression into perimenopause. (For more FAQ’s on hysterectomy and alternatives, click here.)

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6. If I am on the Personal Program, do I need to take other supplements, such as calcium–magnesium?

In general, the Essential Nutrients in the Personal Program is a complete multivitamin, multimineral, fatty acid supplement, and you should not need any other supplements. We recommend you stop all other supplements at the time you start your Personal Program. However, if you are taking other supplements on your practitioner's advice, we urge you to discuss the Personal Program with your practitioner and let him or her adjust your other supplements accordingly.

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7. I’m on a prescription drug. Will the Personal Program interact with my prescription?

The simple answer is no. The Personal Program is an all-natural, preventative program with no known drug interactions. However, you should always disclose your participation in the Program to your primary health care provider, who needs to be aware of any supplements you are taking.

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8. I notice the dosages in the Essential Nutrients exceed the Recommended Daily Allowances. Why is that?

The Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA’s), were set decades ago based on the science of the time. The government has been reviewing the RDA’s for many years and is expected to issue new standards at some future point. In the meantime, nutritionists agree that our true dietary requirements are much higher than the original RDA standards. The dosages in the Essential Nutrients are based on the latest science.

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9. I’ve had breast cancer. Does the Personal Program affect my risk of a recurrence?

Our Personal Program was co-developed by breast specialist/surgeon Dr. Dixie Mills. The Essential Nutrients and dietary program are entirely safe for women with breast cancer or a history of breast cancer, and when used as directed they will not increase your risk of recurrence. We also offer gentle endocrine support in our Personal Program, which we would advise you to discuss with your oncologist or breast specialist before using. In the meantime, you may wish to consider our Personal Program without use of endocrine support, with optional consultation with our Nurse–Educators.

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10. I have PMS, and I’m in my 20’s. Will the Personal Program help me?

PMS is a form of hormonal imbalance just like the symptoms of perimenopause. (In fact, women who have suffered from PMS are more likely to have a difficult perimenopause.) The Personal Program should be effective in helping to mitigate your symptoms.

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11. I’m only 31. Can my symptoms really be perimenopause?

Your symptoms may well be the result of the hormonal imbalances of perimenopause, which can precede menopause by 15 years or more. In fact, if you’re in your early 30’s and experiencing hormonal imbalance, it’s that much more important that you focus on establishing a good foundation of support. The good news is that the fundamentals for creating overall health and hormonal balance are the same at any age, and if you give your body the support it needs now, you can still have a symptom-free menopause.

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12. I’ve been diagnosed with depression. Is it possible that my problems are hormonal?

You should discuss this with your practitioner. It’s common now for physicians to prescribe antidepressants for PMS or perimenopause. Discuss your progress in the Personal Program with your practitioner, and whether you can make adjustments in your medication. In no case is the Personal Program a substitute for antidepressants for depression. It may be possible that your depression is hormonally based, and some women have reported good results on the Program. Your results may vary.

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13. When is the best time to take my Essential Nutrients?

For the same reason it’s a good idea to eat breakfast, we recommend you take your first packet with breakfast. Your body burns fuel during the day when you are busy and stressed, so that’s the best time to give it the nutrients it needs. Take the second packet with your midday meal or snack. We also recommend you eat or drink something nutritious when taking your nutrients to aid absorption, and be sure to drink at least one big glass of water with your Essential Nutrients or shortly thereafter. This approach will help prevent the stomach upset some women experience with nutritional supplements.

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14. I’m concerned about high levels of vitamin A. Is the amount in Essential Nutrients safe?

There are several forms of vitamin A, and they have different effects in the body. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of vitamin A is ~10,000 IU/day, and applies to retinoid forms of vitamin A, which are preformed and used immediately in the body. Essential Nutrients provides 1500 IU retinyl palmitate per day, well below the toxic threshold.

The remaining 8500 IU of vitamin A supplied by Essential Nutrients is in the form of beta-carotene, which is a carotenoid or precursor of vitamin A that must be converted in the body before it is used. Beta-carotene is considered safe and nontoxic. However, you should avoid extremely high levels of beta-carotene (25,000 IU or greater per day) if you smoke, as some studies have shown an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers who supplement with excessive levels of beta-carotene. For non-smokers and smokers who avoid individual vitamin A supplements, Essential Nutrients is a safe choice for optimal vitamin A levels.

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15. I recently heard about a study linking folic acid and vitamin B12 to cancer incidence. What can you tell me about this study?

The recent study quoted by news sources as suggesting that there’s a link between vitamin B and cancer is being questioned by nutrition scientists and industry leaders for validity, protocol, and its results. It is important to note that all of the participants in the study had congestive heart failure due to coronary artery disease, and many were current or former smokers.

Women to Women’s Essential Nutrients offer a much lower dose than those in the study:

  • Folic Acid — Subjects in the study were given 50% more folic acid than the amount of folic acid in our Essential Nutrients
  • Vitamin B12 — Subjects in the study were given 488% more B12 than the amount in our Essential Nutrients

Well-respected industry leaders who commented on this study, including Dr. Andrew Shao, PhD, Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, view the linkage between folic acid and cancer as an inaccurate interpretation of the data. Dr. Shao observed:

“The real headline of this study should read be that smoking increases the risk of lung cancer — the study found that a total of 94 percent of the subjects who developed lung cancer were either current or former smokers. For years, the vast body of scientific evidence has shown that individuals who have smoked at any point in their lives are at a significantly increased risk of developing lung cancer. Most health experts would agree that the number one way to prevent lung cancer is to abstain from smoking.”

You can read the complete text of Dr. Shao’s response to the Vitamin B study, at http://www.crnusa.org/prpdfs/CRNPR09_Responds_to_B_Vitamin_Study_111709.pdf

We recommend that women taking our Essential Nutrients do not use additional supplements, particularly additional B vitamins, as the Essential Nutrients already offers safe, optimal levels of these vitamins.

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16. I was wondering why I always have bright-yellow urine after taking your multivitamins. My friend said I was just wasting my money when I mentioned it, so then I asked my doctor about it, and he told me I am just peeing out the vitamins! Should I be concerned?

We’re glad you asked, because it's wise of you to take note of any dramatic changes in how your body responds to nutritional supplements. But in this case, no, you need not be concerned. Despite any misinformation you may have heard to the contrary, it’s perfectly normal to have bright-yellow urine after taking nutritional supplements containing riboflavin (vitamin B2), and it does not mean you’re just peeing out riboflavin and other vitamins — it means you’re metabolizing them just fine.

Here’s a brief explanation of the science behind this interesting effect — which you may even want to share with your friends or your healthcare practitioner if you think they’d be interested.

Riboflavin is an integral precursor in the body to coenzymes that are critical for metabolizing carbs, fats, and proteins. It also plays a big role in detoxification pathways. And as if that weren’t enough, it’s essential for cellular energy production. But while riboflavin performs a big job in your body as a B vitamin, one could also describe it as a water-soluble, fluorescent yellowish-orange pigment that gets turned into other molecules that carry and donate electrons along the way, then get excreted, almost exclusively in your urine.

As its name suggests, riboflavin contains a submolecular component called flavin. Flavins are very important ring-shaped organic compounds that are photoreducible, meaning they are able to be reduced by light — which is where they get their ability to “fluoresce.” The word flavin comes from the Latin word flavus, which means yellow.

The pharmaceutical-grade riboflavin we select for inclusion in our multivitamins is a highly bioavailable form, meaning it is rapidly absorbed in your GI tract (about 95% complete within 4½ hours or so), and utilized by your body. Over the next few hours it saturates your tissues and gets metabolized into multiple other flavins with great long names, like 7-hydroxyriboflavin, 8-sulfonylriboflavin, lumiflavin, and 10-hydroxyethylflavin. The names of these riboflavin metabolites aren’t especially important — except you will note that each one carries along with it those special flavin rings that turn pee neon-yellow!

Indeed, riboflavin is the only vitamin known to change the color of our urine. When taking high-grade vitamins containing riboflavin, your body will absorb and metabolize what it needs, while any extra water-soluble derivatives or metabolites will be excreted in your urine, turning it the fluorescent-yellow color you have noticed. So there may be some riboflavin in your urine, too, but rest assured it is not a wasteful amount but a normal and desirable effect. Our multivitamins are carefully formulated to contain optimal amounts of each and every ingredient therein — levels that are based in peer-reviewed scientific research showing maximal absorption and utilization rates — while recognizing the fact that women’s bodies are not all alike in how they function and respond.

So thanks for asking about that sunny yellow glow to your urine — it’s is a healthy thing— it means your tissues are nutrient-replete, and that your multivitamins are doing for you exactly what we designed them for!

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17. What are the benefits of joining the Personal Program?

Purchasing the Personal Program makes you much more than a customer to us – it makes you a Member. Because you’re unique, we invest a lot in personalizing your Program to your needs. You give back as part of our community, supporting our website and publications.

As a Member of the Personal Program, you get many benefits, including:

  • Personalized support: Delivered as you want – by phone, by e-mail, or on-line via My Personal Program, our Members-only section of the website.
  • You’re in control: Want to adjust when or how often you’ll get your automatic resupply? You can make changes on-line to suit your needs at My Personal Program. Want to reorder a supplement? You can do that on-line, too!
  • Ironclad guarantee: Did the Program not give you the results you expected? Our money-back guarantee has you covered – no questions asked.
  • Easy for you: We’ve designed the Program so that you can start wherever you’re most comfortable – with nutrition, exercise, detox, or stress reduction. Start big or start small – the point is to start.
  • Supplemental formulas: The Program is designed to meet your body’s unique needs. You can modify your Program at any time with our special product formulations designed to work synergistically with your Program.
  • My Personal Program: Our Members-only section of the website features a collection of tools Members have requested to enhance their Program experience. Learn more about these tools.
  • Convenient resupply so you never run out: We know how busy our Members are, and that you don’t need another chore on your to-do list – like remembering to re-order your supplements. That’s why we make it convenient for you. Each month, or according to the schedule you design, you’ll receive your supplements automatically, ensuring that you never run out. There’s never any purchase obligation, you can cancel at any time, and you can modify your shipment schedule – it’s simple, convenient, and easy for you.

To learn more about Personal Program membership benefits, click here.

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Ready to start feeling better now?

Try the Personal Program, risk free. It’s a natural, at-home solution to hormonal imbalance that comes with personalized support and a money-back guarantee.

Not sure which plan is right for you? Start by taking our free Hormonal Health Profile. You’ll see what we recommend, plus you’ll get information about your specific symptoms.

 

Last Modified: 12/05/2011

Questions about the Personal Program?

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