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Natural Hormone Replacement
Frequently Asked Questions about Natural Hormone Therapy
- What Is A Natural Hormone?
- What Is Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy?
- What Is The Source Of Natural Hormones?
- What Are The Compounded Natural Hormones?
- Do Natural Hormones Require A Prescription?
- Are Premarin and Provera natural hormones?
- What about Provera?
- In light of the facts, why are Premarin and Provera still so popular with doctors?
- What should your expectations be as you get started on Natural Hormone Replacement?
- What is the benefit of Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy?
What Is A Natural Hormone?
A Natural Hormone is defined as a hormone that is IDENTICAL in chemical
structure to the hormone produced by the human body, regardless of the
source. It is bio-identical.
Our pharmacy practice has recently become aware of safer alternatives for Hormone Replacement Therapy in natural form verses typically prescribed synthetic drugs. We have been researching the availability of bio-identical hormones for Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (NHRT). After counseling one-on-one with many women, we are convinced that the benefits associated with taking bio-identical hormones exceed the risks associated with synthetics.
There are many misconceptions regarding the term "Natural". Everyone has his/her own interpretation of "natural", and manufacturers use the vague definition as a marketing tool to benefit their business. The FDA defines a natural hormone as one that has the exact molecular structure to those found in your body. In other words, these hormones are bio-identical (same molecular structure) to the recipient's hormones, and therefore are considered "natural".
What Is Natural Hormone Replacement
Therapy?
Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (N. H. R. T.) attempts to restore
the body's hormonal balance
1. using bio-identical hormones
derived from plant sources
2. replacing estrogen in the approximate percentage equivalents
normally found in the body. In transdermal use, the hormones Estrone (10-20%),
Estradiol (10-20%), and Estriol (60-80%) are used together to achieve
the proportions that fluctuate naturally in the body.
What Is The Source Of Natural Hormones?
Natural hormones are obtained from sterol analogues found in many
varieties of plants, primarily wild yam and soybean. These estrogen and
progesterone-like compounds are then transformed in the laboratory to
the human bio-identical natural hormones.
They come from the Mexican yam or soybean, both of which contain high concentrations of phytoestrogens (plant hormones). Once these plant hormones are extracted, they are chemically converted into bio-identical hormones. Again, these hormones have the same molecular structure to those found in your body. We then purchase these hormones, which are guaranteed to be at least 99% pure, in powder form. Because we buy these hormones in raw powder, we can customize your prescription into a dosage form that best suits your symptoms.
In conclusion, if you feel you are a candidate for natural hormone replacement, ask your doctor about the benefits. If you begin treatment, make sure to stay in touch with your compounding pharmacist regarding improvement in your symptoms, as well as the development of any side effects. We highly recommend an excellent book, Natural Hormone Replacement for Women over 45, by Jonathan Wright. M.D., that explains in greater detail how hormones impact every aspect of your life.
What Are The Compounded Natural Hormones?
Estrone
Estradiol
Estriol
Progesterone
Testosterone
Do Natural Hormones Require A Prescription?
Yes - They must be ordered by a licensed physician
Are Premarin and Provera natural
hormones?
Yes and no. The problem with Premarin is that it contains just one "human"
estrogen, Estrone, plus Equilin, a form of estrogen found exclusively
in horses, smaller amounts of Estradiol which is also found in humans,
and two other horse estrogens. More light is shed on this problem when
you begin to compare Premarin's "make-up" with that of the female
body. The average woman's estrogen balance is 60-80% Estriol, 10-20% Estrone
and 10 to 20% Estradiol (thus it's name triple estrogen). One major problem
stands out in this comparison. Premarin is made up of 75-80% Estrone compared
to 10-20% in the human body. If that isn't enough, remember that Premarin
is a synthetic hormone extracted from the urine of pregnant mares. -Because
of that, it is foreign to your system and therefore can have a profound
effect on your body. In a study reported in the June 1997 issue of the
New England Journal of Medicine, women taking estrogen postmenopausally
reported a 59% decrease in death from heart disease. This sounds great,
and that decrease is the fact that the manufacturer wants the doctor and
patient to know. But the same study showed that women who took estrogen
postmenopausally for 10 years had a 43% increased risk due to breast cancer.
Note that the figure leaves out women who were treated successfully for
breast cancer with breast removal, radiation or chemotherapy.
What about Provera?
A quick look at the approved labeling for Provera (medroxyprogesterone)
Reveals that more than 60% of the text is devoted to contraindications,
warnings, precautions, and adverse reactions. Provera is a serious drug
with serious consequences. Many women who are taking Premarin and Provera
together have so many problems with the Provera part (water retention,
weight gain, and depression just to mention a few), that they stop taking
it without calling their doctor. This is not good, because taking the
Premarin alone can significantly increase the risk of endometrial cancer
in women with an intact uterus. The same is not true concerning natural
progesterone. In fact, when natural progesterone is used in physiologic
doses (i.e. doses that reproduce normal levels in the body), women report
virtually no unwanted side effects.
In light of the facts, why are
Premarin and Provera still so popular with doctors?
Simply because a typical physician's medical education in medical school
and throughout their practice is dominated by the medical-industrial complex.
They are constantly exposed to pharmaceutical advertising, even their
journals are often nothing more than thinly disguised advertising. Manufacturers
spend millions of dollars every year making sure doctors hear only the
good things about their particular drug. They spend millions because they
make millions!! By comparison, the average "conventional" medical
doctor in the United States knows virtually nothing about using natural
hormones and therefore doesn't realize the importance.
What should your expectations be as
you get started on Natural Hormone Replacement?
First of all, do not expect results overnight. Natural hormone therapy
is not a total cure, but it is a large part of an intricate and constantly
changing puzzle. If you have been experiencing some of the typical symptoms
associated with menopause (night sweats, hot flashes, difficulty sleeping,
headaches, mood swings, decreased sex drive, fatigue, etc.), you can expect
most if not all of the symptoms to be alleviated. You will see improvement
in some of the symptoms within the first couple of weeks, while others
might take a little longer. But, they will get better! You will know your
hormone therapy is working because you will be feeling better. Also, as
you start to feel better, you can begin to incorporate a balance of exercise
and good eating habits that will assist the therapy.
You might have been on estrogen replacement by itself. If so, you probably have been experiencing what is referred to as estrogen dominance. This is basically a syndrome where estrogen is dominating your cycle due to lack of progesterone. Again, many of the symptoms are similar to those mentioned earlier (mood swings, weight gain, fibrocystic breasts, decreased sex drive, etc.), and can be alleviated by bringing your hormones back into balance.
What is the benefit of Natural Hormone Replacement
Therapy?
All estrogen therapies protect against heart disease, and, to a lesser
extent, osteoporosis. Researchers may also find out in the future that
they protect the mind against Alzheimer's Disease. The advantage of the
natural hormone is that they provide these same benefits, but with none
of the unwanted side effects that you see with Premarin and Provera. Plus,
with the addition of natural progesterone, you actually add a hormone
that is anticarcinogenic (protects against endometrial, uterine, and breast
cancers), and which reverses osteoporosis.
Please feel free to call us with any questions you might have at the Wellness Store & Diversified Pharmacy Care Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, and on Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm.
Robin Godfrey Terrero, R. Ph.
Compounding Pharmacist
