And so the story continues... there are many sides to the women's hormone health debate. On the more genteel side there is the opinion of simple good common sense and on the offensive is heard the howl of better living through chemicals.
The dust surrounding the 2002 closure of the largest clinical study on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may never settle, but who cares? Besides, hyperreal or not; it's a nice concept. Be happy and look fabulous. So far the most successful statistical outcomes have been the massive marketing of hope and fear to every woman over the age of 40!
New drug discovery is very exciting and sometimes it does seem to score a perfect 10 breakthrough, like hormone replacement therapy back in 1968.
Today we have preachers of the theoretical merits of bioidentical hormones (BHRT). And they are very hard at work trying to pull off something much bigger than a mere 1960s revival.
The controversy over HRT and BHRT may continue for a long time, so the most important question still remains:
Is BHRT safer than the standard HRT?
The leading experts including the FDA, the Women's Health Initiative and Dr. Susan Love, Director of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation say the risks are the same.
Consider these facts:
a) Changing levels of estrogen bring about many of the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, poor sleep and changes in mood.
b) Hormone therapies raise blood estrogen levels.
c) The very lowest possible amount of pharmaceutical chemical estrogen helps to control symptoms, however it is only temporarily.
d) When this form of treatment is stopped symptoms return and for many women symptoms return more severely.
e) Even the smallest amount of chemical estrogen poses a danger to women's health and has been repeatedly proven to increase risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and blood clots and most recently linked to a fatal form of lung cancer. For this reason it can only be prescribed for a very short period of time.
f) The term Bioidentical is not a medical term; it is actually a lay description for a manufactured hormone whose chemical structure mimics its counterpart hormone made in the body. It doesn't mean natural even if the finished product does originate from soybeans or yams - all bioidentical hormones are chemically manufactured steroidal hormones. And Premarin, the drug used in the failed 2002 clinical study is also a chemically manufactured steroidal hormone.
g) If a chemical hormone is a chemical hormone despite origin or manufacturing process and are equal whether bioidentical or standard HRT, their benefits and risks will also be equivalent.
Consider these facts:
a) Phytohormones and phytochemicals are hormones that come from plants.
b) They are the lowest measurable dose of any form of hormone therapy.
c) They are also the only true natural hormone support treatment.
d) Phytohormones are the only treatment not implicated in breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, blood clots or lung cancer.
e) They are the only treatment that can be taken for an extended period of time and perhaps the best way to manage even severe symptoms.
f) Symptoms are actually not caused by low estrogen levels but by fluctuations in hormones that lead to imbalance and unease. These symptoms are transient and usually resolve as hormones naturally rebalance.
g) Studies show that phytochemicals have protective properties for your health. The National Cancer Institute has defined phytochemicals and phytoestrogens on their cancer.gov website as:
Phytochemicals: A substance found in plants. Some phytochemicals may reduce the risk of cancer.
Phytoestrogens: A substance found in some plants and plant products. Phytoestrogens may have anticancer effects.
Are bioidentical hormones any safer?
The question women should ask themselves is whether taking chemical estrogen is a good choice?
If you could manage your menopause symptoms without drugs, wouldn't you rather?
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