HOME

Blog

An Examination of Hormone Replacement Therapies

Hormone Replacement Therapy is the therapeutic use of synthetic or natural hormones, usually estrogen and progesterone, after menopause or following a hysterectomy.

Some years ago, only estrogen was targeted for replacement.

More recently, synthetic forms of both estrogen and progesterone (examples are Premarin, PremPro, Progestin) have come into use.

Today we find more and more physicians willing to employ natural hormone replacement therapy utilizing plant-based substances (examples are progesterone and estriol). In order to understand hormones in the context of natural women’s health, it helps to know some basic definitions.

Synthetic hormones, standard HRT fare for many decades, are lab-engineered ‘copies’ of naturally occurring plant hormone substances. Though they are in fact ‘copies’ of the original hormone, they are not exact replicas. (Think of a high-quality copy machine. Though the copies are very, very similar to the original, they are still copies.)

Numerous drugs are created from natural substances; however, the drug manufacturer will often make very small changes to the molecular structure in order to create something that can be patent-protected. Recent estimates indicate a cost of more than $800 million dollars for a single drug to be created, tested, and FDA-approved for use in the United States. For this reason, pharmaceutical companies prefer substances which can be patented.

Natural hormones, also called bio-identical hormones, are also synthesized in a lab from plant sources. However, their chemical structure is not altered, thus the term “bio-identical”. Natural hormones fit the body’s hormone receptors, much like a master key fits into a lock. In 1939, a scientist/chemist by the name of Russell E. Marker, found a way to create something similar to progesterone, using extracts found in the sarsaparilla plant.

Shortly thereafter, he then used a compound called diosgenin, isolated from the wild yam plant, to create bio-identical progesterone . In addition to wild yam, soybeans and soybean byproducts are also used today to create natural hormones (examples are progesterone and estriol).

So which course of HRT is better?

The decision to use natural hormone replacement therapy, instead of standard synthesized hormones, is a decision that should be made in collaboration with your physician. As a rule, due to the chemical modifications, the synthetic versions can cause side effects that are undesirable. (unwanted weight gain comes to mind)

On the other hand, bio-identical hormones have almost no known side effects, since the substances are duplicating naturally occurring hormones. “Going natural”, however, is not easy or simple, as each person is different. Saliva tests and/or blood tests will be needed on an ongoing basis to determine the effectiveness of the hormone replacement. This will certainly be more time-consuming and will probably require a larger financial commitment. (Insurance companies are not yet embracing the natural hormone protocol on any large scale.) Expect larger co-pays and understand that sometimes the natural hormone prescriptions will not be eligible for coverage at all.

For help in locating a local doctor or nurse practitioner who utilizes natural hormone replacement therapy, check with a local compounding pharmacy. A great web resource is the American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine.

An important note: The human body is unable to synthesize hormones directly from wild yam or soybean products.The natural hormones must be isolated chemically in a lab. Beware of claims on health and beauty products which contain wild yam and/or soybeans. If the label claims (or suggests) that the product will help reduce hot flashes, or in any way relieve menopause symptoms because of it's hormone-like properties, be advised.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or other medical condition. This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Please consult with your doctor should you have specific health questions or concerns.