Hormone Therapy for Menopause – Types, Benefits & Risks HRT is an acronym for Hormone replacement therapy. This is the default treatment prescribed by most doctors when a woman enters menopause (menopause normally occurs at the age of 50-51 or may be surgically induced at any younger age). HRT usually contains  conjugated estrogens (CEE) from pregnant mare’s urine, Premarin (We Support the Humane Treatment of Horses) & progestin (synthetic progesterone). Administration methods are: tablet patch suppository vaginal cream At menopause, HRT was the default treatment recommendation, as it may have alleviated some of the following symptoms: hot flashes night sweats anxiety sleep disorders vaginal dryness HRT is prescribed under the belief that a woman has reduced levels of estrogen at menopause. Here is a concern we frequently receive: “This topic is so very confusing for women. Many providers claim that without supplementing estrogen, we run a greater risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s” Sure, your body requires estrogen for good health, however, a woman’s need for estrogen is only 1/3rd of a mg. daily. Too much estrogen, relative to insufficient progesterone (estrogen dominance) has been identified as a primary underlying cause for dozens of health issues in women! Significantly, according to Dr. John Lee’s research, 75% of menopausal women make a sufficient amount of estrogen in their adrenal glands & fat cells from their master hormone, Progesterone. Most women do NOT have an estrogen deficiency! Focus on optimizing your master hormone, Progesterone & your symptoms will yield & you will enjoy the health you deserve! In 2002, HRT got a “Wake-Up-Call”! A large clinical trial of 27,347 postmenopausal women, age 50–79 years, found that HRT posed more health risks than benefits for postmenopausal women! With what result? The study was stopped! The findings indicted HRT as being responsible for an increased risk for the following: Stroke Pulmonary Embolism Myocardial Infarction Colorectal Cancer Endometrial Cancer Gallbladder Disease Urinary Incontinence Sleep Disturbances Social Anxiety Hip Fracture All-Cause Mortality Were there any reported benefits to HRT? Yes… “Among younger women (ages 50–54) experiencing moderate or severe hot flashes and/or night sweats at enrollment (n=979), those in both the CEE+MPA and CEE groups had substantial reductions in symptoms (64% and 28%, respectively, compared to placebo at one year)“ Wow! What a price to pay, just to reduce hot flashes and/or night sweats! This is especially so in light of the fact, there are now safe, non-invasive & highly effective ways to make your hot flashes/night sweats go away. When you clearly identify the 3 underlying causes, then time-honored protocols can be safely implemented. As the number of risk factors attributed to synthetic hormone therapy (HRT) have become universally accepted, doctors have chosen to prescribe with far less frequency (“do no harm”). And, informed women on hormone therapy (HRT) have chosen to discontinue its use, very often without consulting their physicians. BLOOD CLOTS Doctors have long known that taking estrogen increases a person’s risk for blood clots. Generally, this risk is higher if you use birth control pills, which contain high doses of synthetic progesterone (progestin or medroxy-progesterone-acetate). Your risk is even higher if you smoke and take estrogen. The risk is not as high when estrogen skin patches (transdermal estrogen) are used, but still exists. BREAST CANCER Women who take estrogen therapy for a long period of time have an increased in risk for breast-cancer. Most guidelines still believe hormone therapy safe for breast-cancer risk when taken for up to 5 years, although this is not supported by the data. ENDOMETRIAL/UTERINE CANCER The risk for endometriosis/endometrial cancer is more than five times higher in women who take estrogen therapy alone, compared with those who do not. However, taking progesterone with estrogen seems to protect against this cancer. Endometrial cancer does not develop in women who do not have a uterus. CARDIOVASCULAR/HEART DISEASE Estrogen may increase the risk of heart disease in older women, or in women who began estrogen use more than 10 years after their last period. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT or blood clot in a vein) and pulmonary embolus (PE or blood clot in the lungs) are more common in women who take oral estrogen, regardless of their age. STROKE Women who take estrogen have an increased risk for stroke. Women who also smoke, have heart disease, or are at higher risk for heart disease and stroke are less likely to be given estrogen hormones. GALLBLADDER DISEASE Several studies have shown that women who take estrogen/progestin (synthetic progesterones) therapy have an increased risk for developing gallstones.” The hormones used in most HRT protocols are foreign to the female body and while they address some of the symptoms women struggle with at menopause, they do so with a price! Hormone replacement therapy can be accomplished successfully with hormones that are biologically identical to those made by the woman’s natural biology. These “body-identical” hormones safely work in harmony with your body’s natural circadian rhythms. Oral administration invites the liver to intercept those hormones, unncessarily stressing your liver. A safer choice is a proper, plant-based cream method of administration This safely bypasses the liver and delivers hormone “messengers” to the correct receptor sites where they are able to successfully carry out their mission. More detail can be accessed here: “Why is Cream Form Better?” Achieving Optimal Health at Menopause We live in a time of “better living through chemistry…” and for that reason it is a challenge to acquire and maintain optimal health and wellness. Following are some well established guidelines for you to achieve that goal: Manage stress – yes, I know, this is easier said that done Achieve quality, Phase IV sleep each evening. There are 16 principles found at “How Can I Enjoy Quality Sleep?” Avoid GMO foods; foods that contain growth hormones and foods that contain pesticides, anti-biotics and any other antagonists to your health Dietary Fiber – ensure that you consume no less than 25 grams per day; whole psyllium seed husks are an excellent choice. Avoid petroleum derivatives in all personal care products & household cleaning products.