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PMU and Menopause

PMU is an acronym for Pregnant Mares' Urine and is extracted from horses to make drugs used to treat the symptoms of menopause. One drug in particular is Premarin. Premarin has been around since 1942 and is still one of the most widely prescribed hormone replacements used to treat women with menopause.

  1. Function

    • Estrogen is a hormone produced by a woman's body during child-bearing years. When menopause occurs, the body no longer produces estrogen as it once did and a woman can experience discomfort in the form of hot flashes, depression, mood swings, irritability, joint pain, fatigue, dizziness, nausea and weight gain.

      PMU contains an abundance of estrogen. This estrogen, when taken in the form of Premarin or similar drugs, replenishes the loss of estrogen in a woman's body and thus alleviates the symptoms linked to menopause.

    Effects

    • Premarin is linked to certain side effects. According to MedicineNet.com, these side effects may include vaginal bleeding or spotting, painful joints, nervousness and headaches, and can cause a skin rash, which can include brown spots on the cheeks and forehead. Contact lens wearers may find it uncomfortable to wear their contacts because Premarin affects the shape of the cornea. High doses of Premarin are also associated with blood clots, breast cancer and heart failure.

    Expert Insight

    • Because hormone replacement treatment (HRT) can cause certain side effects, it is recommended that the smallest dose that yields the best results over the shortest time period be given. It is also recommend that your need for such treatment be reevaluated every six months.

    Alternatives

    • According to Dr. Murry J. Cohen, of Concern for Helping Animals In Israel (CHAI), there are alternatives to taking drugs made from PMU that can be prescribed by your doctor. These planted-based alternatives come from yams and soy and have no ill side effects that can be associated with medications derived from animals.

      People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also states that Estrace, Estraderm, and Ogen are natural and closely related to the hormones in a woman's body.

      There are also natural remedies that can be considered, such as a change in diet and lifestyle. Eating more foods high in planted-based estrogen such as Edamame and other soy products may also help with hot flashes. A decrease in caffeine and alcohol may also decrease episodes of hot flashes.

    Controversy

    • Animal rights activists argue that mares live in horrific environments just for the sake of the extraction of their urine. According to the American Horse Defense Fund (AHDF), these mares are left standing for six months at a time and continuously impregnated and the foals are killed. The AHDF contends that PMU isn't necessary when other alternatives are on the market that work just as well as Premarin without the side effects.

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