Hormone Replacement Therapy is Controversial: No Doubt About It

To say that hormone replacement therapy is controversial is a vast understatement, largely due to a plethora of contradictory information.

In case you missed it, Newsweek recently launched a pretty vicious attack on Oprah and friends.  Coming after for among other things, her recent public admission to using Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy.  I want to point out a little something that I noticed about that particular issue of Newsweek – the inside front cover of this very same issue of Newsweek has a three page ad for Enbrel. Enbrel is a drug made and sold by a company named Wyeth.  Why is this relevant? Wyeth also happens to be the maker of Premerin and Prempro – the synthetic hormone replacement drug of choice for several decades and the reason many believe for the dangerous side effects associated with HRT (hormone replacement therapy). According to Newsweek’s Media kit a full page four color ad cost $145,745 so triple that and add a few bucks for being on the inside front cover. A half a million dollars might have some influence on their standpoint.

Powerful voices such as Oprah Winfrey’s, Suzanne Sommers and Robin McGraw are threatening the status quo and the status quo doesn’t like it. A point made by traditional doctors and the pharmaceutical companies is that “bio identical” doesn’t make it is safe, It needs to be tested. This is the crux of the issue.  Every woman is different and the testing can’t be truly standardized because dosing is unique to each and every individual woman who uses BHRT. Another factor and even bigger hurdle to studies is the fact that bio identical hormones occur naturally and cannot be patented so there are few with a financial interest in providing the trials.  The good news is that the delivery system (how you receive the hormones) can be patented and several companies have jumped on the bandwagon with protocols and patches and I believe this is a good thing.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the decision to replaced or not to replace  is one of those things you need to do your research and get educated for yourself and then make the decision that is right for you. I have been reading like a wild woman and I am happy to report that I have found a doctor that I like and have faith in. She is an internist who specializes in Bio identical Hormone replacement Therapy for both men and women, she also specializes in nutrition and is equally important to long term health and well being. Finding the right doctor is an important factor in this process.
If you are in Northern California I can recommend Dr Chen, she is professional and thorough. After a full hour, reviewing my health history as well as my current menopause symptoms, She explained what happens to the female cycle as it ages and she described the consequences of the loss of hormones on the female body.
She spelled out several ways of dealing with a rapid decline in hormones and the ensuing imbalance. She described in detail the history of HRT. She compared the procedures, patterns, consequences and history of synthetics HRT with static protocol replacement to bioidentical HRT with Biomimetic Dosing (a protocol that mimics the natural rhythm of a woman’s youth such as the Wiley Protocol. She then explained the choice and consequences of doing nothing. She was matter of fact and allowed me to draw my own conclusions and she encouraged me to read several books which I have since read and will be posting book reviews to this site.

Based on my research and the results of my blood work, I have decided to replace with natural hormones and follow the natural rhythm.  For more information about Bioidentical Hormone Replacement please check out our home page at www.bioidenticalhormonereplacement.net

Additional Blogs Worth Reading

Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy – What Is Bio Identical 

Bio-identical hormones are developed in a lab to produce an exact match for the hormone being replaced.  

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Hot Flashes

"Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Hot Flashes and Sleep"  

Arriving Valentine’s Day 2010 « Stay Young & Sexy

It’s been more than a decade since Dr. Jonathan Wright introduced the concept of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) with the book Natural Hormone Replacement for Women Over 45 (Wright JVW, Morgenthaler J. Smart .  

Everything You Need to Know About Bio-Identical Hormone

An interview about bio-identical estradiol & progesterone in topical cream preparations dosed to mimic the natural hormones produced by a twenty year-old woman.  

Technorati Tags: BHRT, Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Controversial, hormone replacement therapy, Newsweek, Oprah, Oprah Winfrey's, Robin McGraw, Suzanne Sommers

Estrogen Amazing Estrogen!

I am amazed at how important Estrogen is to a woman’s body. According to Elizabeth Vliet, M.D. author of Screaming To Be Heard, there are over 400 functions in the female body where estrogen is directly involved.

It protects women from heart disease and stroke and is central to bone and brain health. It is the substance that keeps collagen present in the skin creating elasticity and the ability to hold moisture thus Estrogen gives skin a youthful appearance and healthy mucus membranes.

Estrogen, specifically estradiol, effects brain chemistry, energy levels, a woman’s moods, sleep patterns and quality of sleep and a whole lot more. Estrogen is an amazing substance and by the time a woman stops having her period (menopause) she has about as much estrogen as the average man!

So why is it that less than 20% of woman in the US replace hormones? The authors and doctors who specialize in hormone replacement who have written books on the subject all point to the exaggerated focus on the increased risk of breast cancer.  This too scared me when I first heard about bio identical hormone replacement therapy. I am glad that I kept reading because this is what I have learned since then.

Death Rates without hormone replacement statistics:
1.  Rates of death  for women 55 and older – 48% Stroke and Heart Disease
2.  Rates of death for women 55 and older – 1.5% Breast Cancer
3.  Rates of death for women 55 and older – 22.5% Other Cancers
4.  Rates of death for women 55 and older – 28% All other causes
 
Changes in death rates with women who use hormone (Estrogen) replacement
The Benefit 30-40% reduction in deaths due to Stroke and Heart Disease
The Risk – 0.15 % new cancer deaths. Most of the studies regarding cancer and estrogen are based on the use of synthetic estrogen. 

In other words,  a woman takes a slight risk with cancer but she gets a major risk reduction in the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (Heart disease and stroke).
Personal and family health histories are important factors when making these kinds of decisions and as always I suggest you find a good doctor that is well informed about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

For more information on bioidentical hormone replacement visit our home page at
www.bioidenticalhormonereplacement.net

Other Blogs of interest

Women’s Hormonal Imbalance – Menopause, Estrogen, Hot Flashes 

Many women around the world have been associated with various herbs for menopause and to improve their health for thousands of years. Natural Herbs for women ’s health are used, extremely safe and effective. Read more…

Role of Estrogen Supported in Colorectal Cancer Survival 

The finding that younger women with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) survive longer than younger men, which is not seen in older patients supports the idea that estrogen may play a role in improved outcomes in the disease, according to research published online Sept. 29 in Clinical Cancer Research.  Read more…

New Research Findings Two: Nine Ways to Reduce the Risk 

In 2003, the Women`s Health Initiative Study (WHI) showed a 24% increased risk of breast cancer for women using synthetic HRT such as Provera. This was followed closely by the British Million Women Study, which showed a 66% increased … Chlebowski RT, Kuller LH, Prentice RL, "Breast Cancer after Use of Estrogen plus Progestin in Postmenopausal Women," NEJM Vol 360:573-587 February 5, 2009. Fournier et al, "Use of different postmenopausal hormone therapies and risk  Read more…

Hormonal Balance is the Key to Vibrant Health for Women

Dr. John Lee, pioneer researcher of women`s hormones, believed that this feature of estriol means it is highly protective of the DNA blueprint, otherwise our species would not have been successful. Pre-menopausal women who are still producing an adequate amount of estrogen can often regain hormonal balance simply by buying a tube of progesterone cream at a health food store or online health retailer, and applying it as directed for the second 15 days of the month.   Read more…

Women’s Hormone Therapy: Benefits vs. Risks 

Estrogen deficiency and imbalances that occur at menopause can seriously undermine women’s health and quality of life and should not be left untreated.   Read more…

Women’s Health Initiative (whi): Medical Community Undermines Itself

Even though estrogen might cause heart disease, pulmonary embolism, stroke, and breast cancer, the women’s health initiative did not have the statistically significant evidence to prove it. Once again media published conclusions disrupted the therapy regime of millions of patients as well as their confidence in their physicians.   Read more…

Hormone Research Review: Estrogen Dominance: It’s Not Just a Theory

Women’s health issues are caused largely by "Estrogen dominance" where estrogen / progesterone balance is lost due to too much estrogen, too little progesterone or both. Correcting this imbalance using bio-identical (as opposed to fake) progesterone and nutritional supplements will correct or prevent most of the problems such as PMS and pre and post menopausal discomfort and health crisis.   Read more…

Rebecca Booth, MD: What Would Happen if Men Lost their 

Yes, estrogen, testosterone and progesterone elevate feel good chemicals (neurotransmitters)in the brain such as dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. When these magic molecules depart, they are sorely missed by the brain… a mini withdrawal can ensue that feels like we’re being ….. I am surprised you mention the Women"s Health Initiative, since I consider it a major blot on your profession, resulting in untold suffering from the use of non-bio-identical hormones. …   Read more…

Women’s Health And Weight Loss Tip 2

Women’s health and weight loss tip 2 the importance of calcium in a woman s diet. recently i published an article about the importance of exercise in fighting against the bone-brittling disease osteoporosis.    Read more…

Bioidentical Hormones; An Alternative to Premarin

Bioidentical hormones; An Alternative to Premarin. The problem with conjugated estrogen products like Premarin is that it not only contains human-like hormones, they may also contain other hormones that are unlike human estrogens, like horse hormones. Many medical experts question if our bodies really know what to do with these equine estrogens. It is thought that some of the ill effects sometimes experienced by women taking Premarin, such as migraine and fatigue, are caused by these horse hormones.   Read more…

Women’s Sexual Desire – A Natural Way to Boost Sex Drive

There are two key chemicals all women need and there estrogen and testosterone; if either are not produced in sufficient amounts, desire will fall and intercourse can become uncomfortable.  Read more…

Technorati Tags: breast cancer, collagen, Elizabeth Vliet, estradiol, estrogen, heart disease, hormone replacement, M.D., Menopause, replace hormones, Screaming To Be Heard, Stroke and Heart Disease, Women