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HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) Alternatives
The announcement of the WHI hormone replacement side effects that
were found to occur in healthy women left doctors and the six
million American women that were using the estrogen/progestin
combination unequipped for what the future of menopausal treatment
will be. For some women, discontinuing hormone replacement therapy,
or HRT, will be no problem, but for the women who have been taking
estrogen/progestin for many years now, it has become a way of
life for them. Doctors and medical groups were not prepared for
the number of questions and concerned patients after news of the
unanticipated event. Doctors were forced to take their phones
off the hook because they did not yet have the answers for what
their patients should do.
HRT had become such a common prescription that every year 70
million prescriptions were written for HRT that doctors encouraged
almost every woman that had not had a hysterectomy to use when
beginning menopause. The American College of Obstetricians has
just issued guidelines on the most popular HRT alternative to
treat menopause. If you are currently taking hormone replacement
therapy, the combination of estrogen and progestin, you are advised
to contact your doctor immediately and to find a HRT alternative
treatment.
If
you would like to receive more information on hormone replacement
therapy and HRT alternatives, contact us.
 Soy
and Isoflavones (plant estrogens found in beans, particularly
soybeans) - Having a high isoflavone intake (about 50 grams of
soy protein per day) as a HRT alternatice may be helpful in the
short term (2 years or less) in relieving hot flashes and night
sweats. Taken over the long term, it also may have beneficial
effects on cholesterol and bones. While safe in dietary amounts,
the consumption of extraordinary amounts of soy and isoflavone
supplements may interact with estrogen and may be harmful to women
with a history of estrogen-dependent breast cancer and possibly
to other women as well.
St.
John's Wort - Used as a HRT alternative, it may be helpful
in the short-term (2 years or less) to treat mild to moderate
depression in women (when given in doses of less than 1.2 milligrams
a day.) A recent study showed it is not effective in treating
severe depression. It also can increase skin sensitivity to the
sun and may interfere with prescription antidepressants.
Black
Cohosh - May be helpful in the short term (6 months or
less) as an HRT alternative to treat hot flashes and night sweats.
It seems to be extremely safe, although studies have been small
and brief, none longer than six months.
Chasteberry
(also known as monk's pepper, Indian spice, sage tree hemp,
and tree wild pepper) - As a HRT alternative, this may inhibit
prolactin, a natural hormone that acts on the breast. It is touted
for breast pain and premenstrual syndrome. There are very few
studies in menopausal women. A study of women with premenstrual
syndrome found they reported improvements in mood, anger, headache,
breast fullness, but not bloating and other symptoms.
Evening
Primrose - This plant as a HRT alternative produces seeds
rich in gamma-linolenic acid, which some experts believe is the
nutritionally perfect fatty acid for humans. Although evening
primrose capsules are taken for breast pain, bladder symptoms
and menopausal symptoms, there is little or no evidence that they
work. The one high quality study of effects on hot flashes found
that evening primrose was no better than placebo.
Dong
Quai - A study aimed at reducing hot flashes found that
dong quai as a HRT alternative was not better than placebo - although
the 4.5-gram dose used in the study was lower than that typically
given in Chinese medicine. The herb is potentially toxic. It contains
compounds that can thin the blood, causing excessive bleeding,
and make the skin more sensitive to sun, possibly increasing skin
cancer risk.
If
you would like to receive more information on hormone replacement
therapy and HRT alternatives, contact us.
Valerian
Root - This has traditionally been used as a tranquilizer
and sleeping aid. But the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, which sets manufacturing
standards for medicines, does not support its use, and there have
been reports of heart problems and delirium attributed to sudden
withdrawal from valerian when used as a HRT alternative.
Ginseng
- Most of the many types of ginseng (including Siberian,
Korean, and American, white and red) are promoted for relieving
stress and boosting immunity. A study of menopausal women by the
leading ginseng manufacturer found that as a HRT alternative,
the product did not relieve hot flashes but did improve women's
sense of well-being. Analyses of ginseng products have found a
troubling lack of quality control: some contained little or no
ginseng, contained large amounts of caffeine, or was tainted by
pesticides or lead.
Wild
and Mexican Yam - There are no published reports that show
wild and Mexican yam cream is effective in helping menopausal
symptoms. The hormones in wild and Mexican yam do not have any
estrogenic or progestational properties, so they are not expected
to help women with these symptoms or be used as a HRT alternative.
If
you would like to receive more information on hormone replacement
therapy and HRT alternatives, contact us.
Provided below are some helpful links for more
information:
The American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists exists to serve
as a strong advocate for quality health care for women, maintain
the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education
for its members, promoting patient education and stimulating patient
understanding of and involvement in medical care, and increasing
awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues
facing women’s health care. http://www.acog.org/
The North
American Menopause Society is the leading scientific nonprofit
organization that is devoted to promoting women’s health
during midlife and beyond through an understanding of menopause.
The site contains information on perimenopause, early menopause,
menopause symptoms and long-term health effects of estrogen loss,
and a wide variety of therapies to enhance health.
National Institute
on Aging is one of the 25 institutes and centers of the National
Institute of Health that leads a broad scientific effort to understand
the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of
life. In 1974, Congress granted authority to form the National
Institute on Aging to provide leadership in aging research, training,
health information dissemination, and other programs relevant
to aging and older people.
Women’s
Health Initiative conducted the major clinical trial of the
risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy- the estrogen-progestin
hormone combination. The trial was stopped after five years because
of the serious risks found to occur in women taking the drugs.
The study results revealed the benefits of the drug were far outweighed
by the serious risks. For the hormone replacement therapy study
information visit the Women’s Health Initiative.
National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a site
that provides patients with alternatives to regular prescription
medications.
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