More Hormone WARNINGS

In a complete reversal of what, until recently, was the most universally prescribed drug in medicine, women are now being told that hormone replacement pills should not be used for any reason other than as brief treatment to help women through the worst symptoms of menopause.
Until last year, women were told for at least 25 years that they should take hormone replacement drugs to prevent heart disease, osteoporosis, hot flashes and moodiness associated with menopause. Many keep taking the pills indefinitely, believing the drugs are good for them.
Last year Government scientists at the National Institutes of Health abruptly halted the nation's biggest study on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), saying long-term use of synthetic estrogen and progestin drugs increase a women's risk of breast cancer by 26%, her risk of a heart attack by 29%, and her risk of stroke by 41% (JAMA. 2002;288:321-333).

Despite those findings, many women vowed to stick with hormone replacement because they felt it helped their memory and mood and made them think and feel better. Unfortunately, most do not know that there are natural plant based estrogen and progesterone hormone supplements that provide the benefits without the side effects.

The latest data are from the Women's Health Initiative, a federally sponsored study of 16,608 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79. They were randomly given Prempro (Estradiol + Progestin) or placebo pills, and researchers followed them for an average of five years. The results will be published in the May 8, 2003 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Because of their importance, the journal posted them March 17, 2003 on its Internet site (N Engl J Med 2003 Mar 17; [epub ahead of print])

The study found no meaningful effects of the synthetic pills on women's physical or emotional health, pain, energy levels, memory, sleeping or sexual satisfaction, among other things.
Most of the women in the study were well past the age of hot flashes, but for those still having menopausal symptoms, the study confirmed that estrogen is effective at stopping hot flashes. After a year of treatment, three-quarters of those younger women on Prempro had fewer hot flashes, however, so did half of the ones on the placebo pills, which shows the inherent healing power of the body.

" The mind is very powerful," said Jennifer Hays of Baylor College of Medicine, a psychologist who directed the analysis. "They were taking a sugar pill and feeling great." Dr. Hays acknowledged that hormones may still have benefits that some women find important, such as a sense that the drugs improve the appearance of their skin or hair.

The bottom line is that doctors are finally admitting that these drugs cause a significant increased risk of stroke, heart disease and cancer and are therefore too dangerous to recommend. Unfortunately, they are not likely to tell you that there are safe alternatives that prevent the hot flashes and the tendency to osteoporosis, as well as provide protection against cancer.

To learn about the natural alternatives to Estrogen and Progestin drugs, click here: