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Menopause
and Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy
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NHRT - Use of Natural Progesterone In Surgically Menopausal
Women |
While
most doctors would recommend that surgically menopausal women not
incorporate synthetic progesterone into their HRT due to its adverse
effects on breast tissue and the lack of solid clinical evidence
that natural progesterone is a safe alternative to the synthetic
versions, the fact remains that if you are in an early surgical
menopause, your body prematurely stopped producing and utilizing
progesterone much earlier than when production would naturally cease
when you entered natural menopause. A variety of books and journal
articles written by alternative health practitioners advocate the
use of progesterone not only in surgically menopausal women, but
also in post-menopausal women, citing benefits when used in conjunction
with estrogen replacement therapy, listed below:
|
Estrogen
and Progesterone Effects
|
|
Unopposed
Estrogen Effect
|
Projesterone
Effect
|
| Stimulation
of Breast Tissue |
Continuous
dosing may trigger apoptosis (programmed cell death)
|
| Fluid
retention |
Natural
diuretic |
| Increased
body fat |
Helps
metabolize body fat |
| Reduces
libido |
Increases
libido |
| Increases
blood clotting |
Normalizes
blood clotting |
| Reduced
cellular oxygen levels |
Restores
proper cell oxygen levels |
| Increases
breast cancer risk |
May
help prevent breast cancer |
| Restrains
bone breakdown |
May
stimulate bone growth |
Some
alternative health practitioners now tout progesterone as a necessary
component of HRT for all women, claiming that it prevent osteoarthritis,
breast cancer, reduces peri-menopausal symptoms, decreases cholesterol
levels, improves mood, and much more. Many of these claims are backed
up by limited or strictly anecdotal trials, and the fact remains
that your body naturally ceases producing progesterone after menopause.
However, there is also a lack of data and research on the long-term
effects of early progesterone withdrawal on the female body - if
you are in early surgical menopause, you may want to explore the
effects of progesterone on the healthy pre-menopausal body and understand
the risks and benefits of incorporating progesterone replacement
into your HRT.
A variety of links to books and links to alternative sites are available
in our Age management
link directory under the category Women's Health.
The following table lists some of the synthetic and natural progesterone
products currently on the market:
|
PROGESTERONE-ONLY
|
| Aygestin
ESI Lederle |
No |
Norethindrone
acetate |
| Cycrin
ESI Lederle |
No |
Medroxyprogesterone
acetate |
| Micronor
Ortho-McNeil |
No |
Norethindrone
|
| Natural
micronized progesterone Compounding pharmacies |
Yes |
Available
in custom dosages Yes Available in custom dosages |
| Nor-QD
Watson No Norethindrone |
No |
Norethindrone |
| Prometrium
Solvay |
Yes |
Natural
micronized progesterone in peanut oil |
| Provera/Upjohn |
No |
medroxyprogesterone
acetate |
| Natural
Hormone Replacement - Androgens |
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or Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (NHRT) Main Page/Index |
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Disclaimer:
The information contained on this website
has not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is not intended
to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material provided
in the Dr. Brizel's web site is provided for educational purposes
only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified
health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical
condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health
program.
©2002, All Rights Reserved, Center For Clinical Age Management,
Inc.
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