In the past, doctors prescribed hormone replacement therapy with confidence that such treatment would help guard against certain diseases as well as treat the symptoms of menopause.
Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment where hormone levels are augmented by applying synthetic hormone replacements. This treatment is used to prevent or cure certain medical conditions such as the symptoms of menopause or perimenopause, hormonal imbalances and in other cases, for the prevention of osteoporosis.
The hormones used in hormone replacement therapy are synthetic (counterfeit) hormones. This means they are created in a laboratory from animal waste and far different from the hormones naturally manufactured in the body. Although it is claimed that but they act like natural hormones once inside the body, many studies have shown and many experts have attested to this as to be far from true.
In the past, doctors prescribed hormone replacement therapy with confidence that such treatment would help guard against certain diseases as well as treat the symptoms of menopause. Pharmaceutical companies marketed hormone replacement therapy as an effective means to prevent osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer. They disseminated information from studies suggesting that for many women, the risks of using this treatment where minimal and the benefits easily outweighed the risks.
In recent studies, however, this was all proven to be false. In a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) through The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), it was shown that the use of hormone replacement therapy did not prevent cancer or heart disease, but on the contrary, elevated the risks of acquiring these conditions.
In this study, menopausal women were placed under hormone replacements and a good number of them where found to be at risk of breast cancer, blood clots, heart disease and strokes after just a few years of use. The study was initiated in 2000 and was scheduled to continue until 2005. In just a short period, however, the study had to be terminated to avoid further damage. In 2002, the National Institutes of Health ordered the termination of the study and declared that the use of hormone replacement therapy outweighed the benefits. . For each of the conditions mentioned, the increased risk was shown to be about 8 more events per 10,000 women per year.
The specific brand of combination hormone replacement therapy used in this study was Prempro.
Pharmaceutical companies marketed hormone replacement therapy as an effective means to prevent osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer.
There are other brands of hormone replacements but researchers still aren’t sure whether or not it was merely Prempro or all hormone replacements that could have been the possible cause of the results of the Women’s Health Initiative study. Even so, the public is warned of the use of hormone replacement therapy in general. Women who have a history of heart disease or breast cancer are absolutely disqualified from receiving this kind of treatment.
For women who are still under hormone replacements, it is recommended that they seek medical advise on other alternative treatments for their condition. There are many vitamins and herbal supplements that can be prescribed to control the symptoms of menopause, perimenopause, hormonal deficiency and even cure or reverse damage caused by osteoporosis. Bioidentical hormone replacements are also highly recommended for the treatment of these conditions. Not only do bioidenticals duplicate the hormones produced by the body, they are also safe to use and do not pose any of the damaging side effects caused by the use of synthetic hormone replacement therapy. They are convenient to use and can be beneficial in counteracting hot flashes, mood sings, depression, osteoporosis and all the other symptoms of hormonal deficiencies.
In choosing an alternative for your hormone replacement therapy, consult with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to give you sound advise as to what is best for your condition.
