5 Things to know before starting hormone or estrogen replacement therapy

Prior to 2002, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) was recognized as the "go to" treatment for women experiencing the many symptoms of menopause after having a hysterectomy. Although still offered to women before and after hysterectomy surgery, there has been a sharp decline in the sale of estrogen and progestin hormone therapies since 2002. Side effects, bio-identical alternatives, and other holistic alternatives have prompted many doctors and women to seek other ways to assist menopausal women with their symptoms. The common menopausal symptoms that women seek a solution for include: hot flashes, difficulty losing weight, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, constipation, bladder instability, anxiety and mental sluggishness. Although HRT is still widely used today, it is imperative that you know the following 5 things before starting HRT in your own life.

1.) Premarin (including Prempro, Premphase, Prempac, and Premelle) is a drug made up of conjugated estrogens obtained from the urine of pregnant mares and its name is derived from its origin: Pregnant Mares' Urine (PREgnant MARes' urINe). Premarin is an estrogen/progestin hormone replacement therapy that utilizes conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs) as active ingredients.

2.) The Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 288 No. 1, July 3, 2002) published a study on the effects of estrogen replacement therapy derived from conjugated equine estrogens and its effects on coronary heart disease (CHD). This study found that women on estrogen replacement therapy did not reduce their chances of coronary heart disease, but had an increased risk of CHD within the first year of use. Estrogen replacement has been shown to increase chances of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in a vein) and pulmonary embolism (blot clot in the lungs).

3.) In The Archives of Internal Medicine (Vol. 165 No. 17, September 26, 2005), The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) reported the results of another clinicaltrial of conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs), that involved 10,739 postmenopausal women with hysterectomy, aged 50 to 79 years. This study was stopped early "owing to lack of overall health benefit and increased risk of stroke."

4.) It has been demonstrated through multiple studies that hormone replacement therapy increases the chance of cancer in the lungs, uterus, endometrium, and the ovaries. The New England Journal of Medicine (Vol.360 No. 6, February 5, 2009) concluded "The increased risk of breast cancer associated with the use of estrogen plus progestin declined markedly soon after discontinuation of combined hormone therapy [in the study] and was unrelated to changes in frequency of mammography."

5.) There are natural alternatives to toxic and harmful drugs used as hormone replacement therapy that may help you with your female related symptoms. Whole food nutritional supplements (not chemical imitation supplements) that include mineral support such as calcium, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, etc. often assist in hormone production. Increasing good fats through the diet and supplements such as cod liver oil, black currant seed oil, evening primrose oil, etc also assist in hormone production and provide the building blocks that your hormone system will need. Herbal tincture approaches often include chaste tree, withania, and licorice which stimulate hormonal activity. When minerals, healthy fats, and herbal tinctures do not provide the desired relief, phyto-hormone extracts are often successful. Phyto-based hormone alternatives are plant derived compounds that mimic the natural hormones your body should already be creating, and these are generally used after nutritional supplementation if your hormone imbalance remains symptomatic.

By working with a holistic doctor that encourages diet modifications, exercise, nutritional supplementation, and phyto-hormone approaches, many women often have amazing success in reducing the symptoms related to menopause without the side effects that come from traditional hormone replacement therapy. Always remember there are alternatives to your health and wellness goals.

Dr. Chase Hayden, DC, QN is a holistic doctor that incorporates applied kinesiology, quantum neurology rehabilitation, and functional nutrition in his practice. He is the owner of The Hayden Institute in Houston, TX where the majority of his general practice are women seeking the relief of PMS, menopause, infertility, and other female related symptoms through alternative approaches. He is happily married and currently has two children. For more information regarding Dr. Chase Hayden and his services, please visit http://www.DrChaseHayden.com

 

Top 6 Natural Estrogen Replacements!

Try these natural estrogen replacements rather than using hormone replacement therapy!

These herbal supplements contain plant estrogen, or phytoestrogen, which produces estrogen like effects in your body and can help to relieve your symptoms of menopause.

1. Angelica Herb

This herb is also called, "don quai." It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat not only symptoms of menopause, but also hypertension, and heart, liver, and spleen issues.

Women can take it as a pill, liquid extract, or a tea to treat vaginal dryness, menstrual cramps, hot flashes, digestive problems.

2. Licorice Root

This herb has been used by the Greeks, Hindus, Chinese, and Egyptians. It balances hormones and helps to treat fatigue, vaginal dryness, breast tenderness, headaches, and digestive issues.

You can get your dose of licorice root in the form of drops, capsules, or teas.

Although the licorice candy is quite delicious, know that it does not contain any of this beneficial herb. Most licorice candy is flavored with anise, not licorice.

3. Red Clover

The isoflavones in red clover suggest that it can reduce hot flashes in menopausal women. More good news? It may help reduce our risk of developing osteoporosis by boosting bone density.

People also use red clover to treat skin problems like eczema and psoriasis.

4. Black Cohosh and Menopause

This is one of the most popular herbs for menopause. Women use it to treat hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, depression, and menstrual cramps. Native American women called this "cramp bark" because it was so beneficial in treating menstrual cramps.

As with the other herbs here, you can take black cohosh in a liquid or pill form.

5. Soy Estrogen

Getting soy estrogen can help treat hot flashes, vaginal dryness, migraines, and symptoms of PMS. It can also help to prevent osteoporosis and lower your cholesterol.

You've got options if you're looking to boost your estrogen with soy estrogen. You can drink soy milk, eat tofu, soy nuts, edamame, or mix some soy protein powder into your fruit smoothies.

6. Flax Seeds

Flax seeds are so good for you! They contain phytoestrogens, omega 3s, and fiber.

In order to get the most benefits from flax seeds, eat ground flax seeds. You can buy them already ground at most health food stores (keep them in your refrigerator), or you can buy whole flax seeds and grind them yourself in a coffee grinder or flax seed grinder.

Elizabeth A. O'Brien invites you to visit her website http://www.estrogensource.com to learn more about naturally balancing your menopausal hormones.

Boost your low hormone levels naturally. Visit http://www.estrogensource.com

Soy Estrogen - 5 Easy Ways to Get This Natural Estrogen Replacement

You know the many benefits of soy estrogen, you are trying to incorporate this natural estrogen replacement into your diet, and you're looking for easy ways to do it. Read on, my friends!

By eating 50-100 mg of isoflavones (the plant estrogen found in soy products) a day, you can reduce your hot flashes and night sweats, help stop your PMS symptoms, and start to have healthier skin, hair, and nails.

So, here are five easy ways to get your three daily servings of soy.

1. Soy Milk

It's time to rejoice, ladies! Getting your daily soy intake is a great excuse for drinking a lovely, cold glass of chocolate soy milk-- full of that great soy milk estrogen! If you don't like chocolate (Do people like that even exist?), then you can drink the vanilla soy milk or the unsweetened soy milk. I find that the chocolate and vanilla are great on their own, but if you are going to drink the unsweetened soy milk, you might need to give it a boost of flavor. You can do this by making a smoothie.

2. Smoothies

If you're looking for an easy breakfast or a refreshing snack, smoothies are a great idea. They are easy to make, healthful, and delicious. Get the soy in your smoothie with soy milk or soy protein powder (you can find this at health food stores). I like blending my soy milk and protein powder with frozen strawberries (It makes a great texture!) or frozen bananas. Heck, you could even go crazy and mix it with frozen strawberries AND bananas! I suggest using fresh fruit that you have frozen yourself. Those bags of frozen fruit from the grocery store taste quite fake, but if you are really in a rush, they will do the trick.

3. Edamame

It doesn't get much easier than this. Just buy these fresh soy beans at the grocery store, pop them in the microwave for a few seconds, sprinkle them with salt, and they are ready to eat. If you've never had them before, you may be wondering how to eat them. Don't eat the shell. The shell is not enjoyable to eat. You put the whole pod in your mouth and use your teeth to scrape out the two or three soy beans inside.

4. Soy Nuts

I didn't think it could get easier than the edamame, and then-- it did! Just look for roasted soy nuts at your grocery store. The instructions for eating these? Take them out of the bag and put them in your mouth.

5. Miso

This simple Japanese soup is tasty, and it has at least a serving of soy in each bowl. You can either make this at home (not so easy), or pick some up at a local Asian restaurant (easy).

Elizabeth A. O'Brien invites you to visit her website http://www.estrogensource.com to learn more about naturally balancing your menopausal hormones. Boost your low hormone levels naturally. Visit http://www.estrogensource.com

What is Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT)?

As we mentioned in other articles, endometriosis grow somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle, building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. Hysterectomy always is the last resource in treating endometriosis for woman who has exhausted all the treatments without success, or endometrial tissues has become cancerous, her doctor may suggest some kinds of hysterectomy. If the varies were also removed in the endometrial hysterectomy, then estrogen replacement theory may be necessary to restore the level of estrogen in the woman body.

Estrogen is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. It helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and reproductive organs in woman's body. The removal of ovaries causes hormone imbalance of reproductive system resulting in all kinds of symptoms of menopause. In that case, your doctor may suggest estrogen replacement therapy (ERT).

I. What is estrogen therapy

Estrogen replacement therapy helps to restore the balance of hormones in the women reproductive cycle caused by menopause state or temporary menopause state or the removal of ovaries after hysterectomy. By giving the additional estrogen to the patient body through injected, oral or patches, it helps to reduce the symptom caused by low level of estrogen.

Since women with hysterectomy may require different amount of estrogen intake, please make sure check with your doctor to see which form of estrogen therapy is worked well for you.

II. Types of estrogen hormone

1. Estrone

Estrone is produced by adrenal glands mostly in body fat and muscles. Without supporting from the ovaries, the level of estrone is dropped significantly causing hot flush.

2. Estradiol

Estradiol is produced by the ovaries. Since the ovaries are removed, level of estradiol also is dropped significantly. Therefore, you doctor may suggest entinyl estradiol, which is a synthetic estrogen to be taken because its effects are similar to those of estradiol. There are other kind of estrogen, such as plant base or animal mixture of estradiol and estrone (conjugated estrogen) which can be converted to estradiol by our body including sodium estrone sulphate and sodium equilin sulfate cenestin, enjuvia, premarin.

3. Estriol

Estriol is another estrogen hormone that is produced by placenta. It is produced in great amount during pregnancy. Estriol is an important indicator of a fetus's well-being.

II. Benefits and Risks

Unlike women in menopause, women with removal of ovaries normally only need to take a small amount of estrogen.

1. Benefits

a) Reduce hot flash

b) Reduce vagina dryness

c) Risk of itching around the vagina area

d) Reduce the risk of osteoporosis

2. Risks

a) Increase risk of breast cancer

b) Increase risk of blood clots in lung and leg

c) Risk of heart attach and stroke

d) Increase the risk of live damage

e) And sometimes unusual vagina bleeding.

I hope this information will help. If you need more information of insurance or series of articles of the above subject at my home page at: [http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com]

To read the series of endometriosis visit: http://endometriosisa.blogspot.com

All rights reserved. Any reproducing of this article must have the author name and all the links intact.

"Let Take Care Your Health, Your Health Will Take Care You" Kyle J. Norton

I have been studying natural remedies for disease prevention for over 20 years and working as a financial consultant since 1990. Master degree in Mathematics, teaching and tutoring math at colleges and universities before joining insurance industries.

The Good and Bad of Estrogen Replacement Therapy

As we mentioned in previous articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. Hysterectomy is always the last resort in treating endometriosis for women who have exhausted all treatments without success, or if endometrial tissues has become cancerous, her doctor may suggest some types of hysterectomy. After having endometrial hysterectomy, women will be given the choice of estrogen replacement therapy. In this article, we will discuss the good and bad of estrogen replacement therapy after endometrial hysterectomy.

Hormone replacement therapy is always a very controversy subject, you can easily find thousands of people who agree with it and thousands of other people do not.

Both agree that endometrial hysterectomy is necessary if the endometriosis is in progression state or if the woman has exhausted other treatments, or if endometriosis has become cancerous.

I. The good of estrogen replacement therapy

1. It helps to normalize the level of estrogen caused by removal of ovaries that regulate the level of estrogen in the woman's reproductive system.

2. It helps to reduce symptoms of menopause caused by low level of estrogen in the body.

3. It helps reduce stress and depression to women who cannot adapt to her new life cycle as well as helping to rebuild confidence and self esteem.

4. It helps to decrease the risk of bone loss due to inability of digestive absorption because low levels of estrogen reduce level of stomach acid that is necessary for breaking down foods that enter our digestive system.

5. Increases sexual desire in some women.

II. The bad of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)

1. Study from US Woman's Health Initiate (WHI) shows that estrogen replacement increases the risk of breast cancer.

2. Increases the risk of blood clots in deep veins.

3. Increases the risk of ovarian cancer for women who do not have their ovaries removed during endometrial hysterectomy.

In fact, very few things are risk free. Woman with endometrial hysterectomy may try to explore the compromise between estrogen replacement therapy and other treatments that can help her to relieve the symptoms of menopause effectively without expose herself to unacceptable risk.

I hope this information will help. If you need more information of insurance or series of articles of the above subject at my home page at: [http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com]

To read the series of endometriosis visit: http://endometriosisa.blogspot.com

All rights reserved. Any reproducing of this article must have the author name and all the links intact. "Let Take Care Your Health, Your Health Will Take Care You" Kyle J. Norton I have been studying natural remedies for disease prevention for over 20 years and working as a financial consultant since 1990. Master degree in Mathematics, teaching and tutoring math at colleges and universities before joining insurance industries.

Is Natural Estrogen Replacement Available?

During menopause, natural estrogen levels in a woman's body decline causing symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. For many years, estrogen replacement therapy was recommended to relieve menopausal symptoms. As the egg supply in the ovaries is depleted, they begin to produce less estrogen and finally shut down completely. Other organs produce estrogen as well, so even after menopause it is still present in the blood stream, just at much lower levels than when a woman was young.

In the 1930's, scientists found that they could isolate the natural estrogen from the urine of pregnant women, but continued to search for other sources, in order to make mass production possible. During that decade, researchers learned to create estrogen in the laboratory and isolate it from the urine of pregnant mares.

In 1941, estrogen replacement therapy was approved by the FDA for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Estrogen replacement therapy was very popular until around 1975 when researchers learned that it could cause endometrial cancer. The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. Natural estrogen produced by the ovaries causes the lining to thicken, preparing for a fertilized egg. During a woman's reproductive years, if no egg is fertilized, the ovaries produce progesterone, which causes the endometrium to be shed during menstruation. Estrogen replacement therapy caused the lining to thicken, but since progesterone was not present, the lining was not shed, resulting in cancer of the endometrium in many women.

To reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, doctors began to prescribe a combination of progesterone and estrogen replacement for women during menopause. This "combination therapy" was very popular until 2001, when the Women's Health Initiative found that the health risks associated with this therapy outweighs the benefits. Hormone replacement therapy had been commonly recommended, not only to reduce the symptoms of menopause, but also to reduce a woman's risk of colorectal cancer and osteoporosis.

During the five year study, researchers followed groups of women who were using either estrogen replacement only, combined hormone replacement therapy or a placebo (no HRT at all). Researchers had originally intended to follow the women for several more years, but research was halted because of the number of reported adverse events among women using HRT. The adverse events reported were breast cancer, heart disease, blood clots, stroke and pulmonary embolism.

The information collected by the research group indicates that while combination HRT decreases a woman's risk of endometrial cancer, it increases a woman's risk of breast cancer. One group of women in the study was able to use estrogen replacement only, because they had previously had a hysterectomy, thus estrogen posed no threat of endometrial cancer. After comparing the incidence of breast cancer in this estrogen only group to the group using combination HRT, researchers concluded that the combination therapy increased a woman's risk of breast cancer. Topically applied hormones, such as natural estrogen creams, are not believed to carry the risks of orally administered hormones.

Some brands of HRT are advertised as "natural estrogen" because the source of the estrogen is natural; mare urine. Some people refer to bio-identical hormones as "natural", because they are designed to be molecularly identical to the natural estrogen and other hormones created by a woman's body.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is somewhat popular, due in part to a book written by a female TV star, who upon entering menopause was unhappy with everything that went along with it and found a clinic that offers this form of treatment. It is more expensive and not available from all doctors. Basically, bio-identical HRT involves creating hormones in the laboratory that are structurally identical to a woman's own hormones. Compounding pharmacists use plant estrogens from yams and soy, as well as animal estrogens from horses and pigs and "adjust" them, so that they are so similar to the ones produced by the human body, that, theoretically, the body can not tell the difference. To date, no studies have been conducted concerning the health risks associated with the long term use of bio-identical HRT.

Rather than offering the quick fix of estrogen replacement or other types of HRT, some of the best women's clinics begin treatment by counseling women about diet, nutrition, lifestyle and dietary supplements. In many cases, making healthy changes in lifestyle and diet and adding nutritional supplements helps to increase a woman's natural estrogen levels, relieves menopausal symptoms and makes HRT unnecessary. To learn more, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Patsy Hamilton was a healthcare professional for over twenty years before becoming a freelance writer. Currently she writes informational articles for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Visit http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com to learn more about menopause, PMS and natural remedies.

Benefits of Estrogen Replacement Therapy

When a woman reaches the menopausal stage or if her ovaries have been removed, her body stops producing estrogen naturally. As a result, she begins to suffer from menopausal symptoms.

Generally, estrogen production drops drastically after the age of 45, although decline in hormone levels begin much earlier on in life. In the beginning, the declining levels of estrogen in the body are not noticed. However, as women age, the steadily declining levels of estrogen affect the body in more telling ways. Physically, the menstrual period stops. This the beginning of the uncomfortable experiences associated with menopause.

Menopause brings with it many physical and psychological problems. The most popular among these is hot flashes, depression and extreme mood swings. There is also a steady decline in vaginal lubrication. In addition, some women also start suffering from osteoporosis at the time of menopause. This is serious because women begin to lose their bone mass as early as 35-40 years of age. However, in the absence of estrogen, calcium depletion speeds up and bone mass erodes quickly. That is why older women are more susceptible to bone fractures.

The best way to make up for the imbalance in estrogen levels in the body is to replace it as it gets depleted. This is what estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) does.

Estrogen replacement therapy aims at increasing the levels of estrogen in the body. It may be administered through a patch, vaginal ring, gel or skin cream. It has been seen that administering estrogen transdermally is perhaps the most effective way of taking in estrogen. In this method, estrogen enters the bloodstream directly without it being metabolized by the liver.

However, even though estrogen replacement therapy was highly sought after in the beginning, interest in the therapy began to wane as high incidences of cancer, heart problems and other undesirable side effects began to be associated with estrogen replacement therapy. Synthetic hormones, it was found, could lead to serious side effects. That is what led to the development and use of natural hormones in hormone replacement therapies.

Natural estrogen has a number of beneficial effects. Its greatest appeal is its molecular structure which is similar to the molecular structure of human hormones. Natural estrogen also has a modulating effect on the hormones in the body. This allows the even metabolism of hormones in the body. This has potent therapeutic effects.

Specifically, ERT helps cut the risk of developing osteoporosis, colon cancer and perimenopausal symptoms. Other remarkable effects associated with ERT include youthful looking skin, better sex life, sharper mind and lower risk of developing Alzheimer's.

For estrogen replacement therapy to be effective, it is necessary that patients undergo highly customized treatments. It is also true that women who benefit the most from this therapy include those who are most affected by symptoms like hot flashes and those who are most likely to develop osteoporosis due to a slim frame or the regular use of tobacco or alcohol.

Estrogen replacement therapy can help relieve symptoms of the climacteric (menopause), including hot flashes. This treatment may help prevent perimenopausal symptoms, colon cancer, and osteoporosis.

Pros and Cons of Hormone Replacement Therapy and Estrogen Use Alone

Combination hormone replacement therapy and estrogen only replacement therapy are not prescribed as much as they were at one time for the relief of symptoms associated with menopause, due mostly to studies performed by the Women's Health Initiative. Those supporting estrogen replacement therapy have noted that these studies focused on the risks associated with long-term use and that no studies have been completed to date concerning bio-identical hormones. Dietary supplementation with herbs and other plant components may provide a safe and effective alternative to women seeking relief from menopausal symptoms.

Many women have questions about the safety of hormone replacement therapy and estrogen replacement therapy for the prevention of hot flashes, night sweats and other menopausal symptoms. The latest research supporting estrogen replacement at lower doses than were prescribed in the studies performed by the Women's Health Initiative indicates that women may experience a 60-70% reduction in hot flash symptoms. Doctors hope that lower dosages of hormones will be safer, but continue to advise that they should be used for the shortest period of time possible. This may leave many women frustrated, since some menopause related symptoms may appear five or six years before the onset of menopause and may continue for several years after their last period.

Research supporting estrogen like substances found in plants, which are called phytoestrogens or isoflavones, show that dietary supplements containing soy isoflavones can reduce hot flashes by 87.8%. This is about equivalent to the relief experienced by women who use traditional dosages of combination hormone replacement therapy and estrogen only replacement therapy.

The health risks associated with combination hormone replacement therapy and estrogen only replacement therapy include blood clots and stroke. Those supporting estrogen use that is bio-identical believe that since the hormones used are molecularly identical to those produced by the human body, it should be safe. Opponents of hormone replacement therapy and estrogen replacement therapy of any kind believe that menopause is a natural part of a woman's life, and that efforts to keep hormones at a level similar to those of a younger woman will ultimately cause health problems of many kinds.

As with many drugs and other compounds created by pharmaceutical companies, the initial research focuses on relief of symptoms and unwanted side effects. Estrogen replacement therapy first became popular for the relief of menopausal symptoms during the sixties and continued to grow in popularity, until a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine in 1975 reported that women using estrogen were seven times more likely to develop endometrial cancer than women who had never used estrogen. The study showed that the risks increased with continued use and that those women who used estrogen for seven years or more were 14 times more likely to develop endometrial cancer.

In order to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer, pharmaceutical companies added synthetic progestin (similar to the hormone progesterone) commonly referred to as combination hormone replacement therapy and estrogen only replacement was typically reserved for use by women who had undergone a hysterectomy at some time in their past. Those promoting and supporting estrogen and progestin use theorized that estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to build up, but without progesterone, it is not shed, thus adding synthetic progestin would cause the endometrium to be shed and reduce the risk of cancer.

Opponents of hormone replacement therapy and estrogen use quote studies indicating that estrogen can cause breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and other health problems. The majority of experts now advise that if a woman chooses to use HRT, of any type, she should use the lowest dosages for the smallest amount of time possible. For information about alternative solutions for the relief of menopausal symptoms and special nutritional requirements for women, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Patsy Hamilton was a health care professional for over twenty years before becoming a freelance writer. Currently she writes informational articles for the Menopause and PMS Guide. Read more at http://www.menopause-and-pms-guide.com.