When I heard about plant estrogens (phytoestrogens) as a substitute for HRT (hormone replacement therapy), my initial concern was that I might start sprouting green leaves out of my head.  Of course, that would cover that thinning spot of hair that seemed to accompany menopause.  Could a plant growing out of one’s head be considered a fashion statement?  Kind of a Carmen Miranda with green leaves rather than fruit?

Upon doing a bit of research I found out that observation of animals caused further research into other alternatives for HRT.  Some guy had far too much free time on his hands and he was sitting around watching the goats (this had to go on for some time – I don’t know how long goats are pregnant for, but I am sure this was more than a day or two), and he realized something.

Much of the early research on phytoestrogens was done with animals and interest was likely sparked by the observation that sheep that grazed too much on clover became temporarily infertile.
Power-Surge.com

Good grief girl!  Get out of the clover.  It won’t work and your neighbors will think you are nuts.  There are better ways.  But the $64K question is:  “Would I have actually considered that when I was 20?”  I don’t want to know.  

I would like to know however, did the goats do this deliberately?  And if so, why?  Does that blow the theory all to kingdom-come that animals do not engage in sexual activity for fun?  (Except dolphins of course, and I still question the pigs considering the one hour orgasms.)

Goats, dolphins, and pigs aside, we women in our 50-something years need to know the options that are before us as menopause looms on the horizon.  Well, not really a horizon because it is getting closer, or if you are lucky like me, you get to do pre-menopause for 10 years and then finally have it just stop.  Sorta stop.  For the most part stop.  Just enough remains to remind me to keep the clover growing.

Menopause and Phystoestrogens

Adelle Tilton