Natural Female Hormones Vs. Synthetic

The hormone debate has been on for several decades. Physicians and drug companies often suggest synthetic hormones---generally in the form of Premarin/Provera or Prempro---for their clients suffering from menopausal symptoms. And the holistic advocates say that natural estrogen-type products are the answer. Who is right?

About Hormones

• Hormones are the energy chemicals that help to propel many important functions in women's bodies such as metabolism, menstruation, the development of bones and cognitive ability. Hormones release these powerful bioactive substances in the endocrine system. The ovaries and the adrenal glands create female hormones like estrogen and progesterone, two naturally occurring compounds. The hormone levels of estrogen begin to diminish with aging and symptoms occur.

What is HRT?

• Doctors prescribe a "hormone replacement therapy" for menopausal women seeking relief from hot flashes, memory loss, weight gain, insomnia and other symptoms related to menopause or the cessation of periods. This synthetic cocktail of estrogen and progesterone is supposed to restore and maintain hormone levels.

Controversy

• Studies conducted in the 80s, 90s and into the new millennium suggest that drug-style hormone replacement therapy also upped a woman's chances of getting breast cancer and other cancers. David Steinman, author of Diet for a Poisoned Planet, claims that the synthetics such as Provera, Prempro and others, have side effects such as water retention, blood clots, uterine and breast cancer.

Alternative Therapies

• Natural progesterone can be mined from the wild Mexican yam---a plant extract---and is best synthesized into the body in the form of a cream or patch. Naturalists claim that the estrogen supplementation helps relieve menopause symptoms and also slows bone loss and protects against heart disease. It is also referred to as a "bioidentical" substance.

Confusion Reigns

• Many women are confused because the similarity between the progestins and estrogen used in HRT sound a lot like progesterone. The difference between progesterone and the synthetic drug progestin is the chemical structure. Proponents of the natural substance progesterone believe the "natural version" made from yams, soy and other sources more closely resembles what is produced in a woman's body---and that it's the minuscule changes that make the difference.

  Pete Hueseman, R.Ph. and doctor of pharmacy writing for ProjectAware.org says that, "the synthetic hormone can actually lower a patient's blood level of progesterone."

Bioidentical Hormones Notes

• JoAnn Manson, M.D. and chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, writes that: "Bioidentical hormone preparations are medications that contain hormones that are an exact chemical match to those made naturally by humans." She also explains that some are made by drug companies, approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and are typically custom-made. Other compounded or over-the-counter products are not approved, because there is nothing to submit to the FDA to evaluate.

Women's Anecdotal Evidence

• Many women who take the synthetic drugs complain about mood swings, headaches or water retention. And there are women who take the bioidentical natural products who claim their moods improve and they find themselves reacting to the natural form as a diuretic---by going to the bathroom more frequently.

  The truth of the matter is there is little definitive evidence about the risks or benefits of the natural compounds. The North American Menopause Society believes that further research is needed because the bioidentical treatment appears to relieve some discomfort of menopause, but no more so than traditional HRT.

  Ultimately the decision is yours. You have to ask yourself: do the hormones decrease in my body naturally as I get older for a reason? And could my symptoms be related to aging as well? Do I need to accept the risk of supplementation at all?