Hormone Replacement is Safe and Effective for Most Women

Estrogen and Progesterone are hormones and we have receptors for these hormones in every cell of our body!

These hormones become chaotic in perimenopause and then decrease drastically after menopause. The problem is, we are now outliving our ovaries.

Estrogen replacement can increase our lifespan by 2-4 years!

But is it “natural” to take estrogen or progesterone?

The estrogen and progesterone that is typically prescribed, either through a compounding pharmacy or your regular pharmacy, is BIOIDENTICAL. This means that it has the same chemical structure as what your body has made your whole life.

The term “natural” is used a lot and means nothing. There are a lot of things that are natural but not good for you… such as poison ivy, arsonic and anthrax to name a few.

What is unnatural, is us living into our 80’s.

In the early 1900’s, the average life expectancy in women was 48 years old. Now, the average age of menopause is 51 years old. Women typically were not living decades without estrogen and progesterone.

Most people show some signs of hearing loss and vision loss as they age. We don’t tell these people they can’t have glasses or hearing aids because they aren’t natural, do we?

What are the benefits of estrogen & Progesterone therapy, besides increasing our lifespan?

• Both estrogen and progesterone inhibit bone loss and stimulate bone growth. We are talking a 33% reduction in hip fracture according the WHI’s 2002 study (FDA approved indication).
• Women who start therapy within 10 years of menopause have decreased risk of coronary artery disease.
• Significantly reduces vasomotor symptoms aka, HOT FLASHES (FDA approved indication)
• Progesterone before bed improves sleep
• Estrogen therapy is indicated for the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause which is a leading cause of: pain with intercourse, frequent urinary tract infections, vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, loss of labia minora (yes, it goes away without estrogen!) (FDA approved indication)
• Decreased risk of dementia, especially with those who have undergone a hysterectomy. Estrogen supports brain health
• Decrease risk of colon cancer
• Improvement in headaches

and the list goes on…

Are there some potential side effects when improving those hormone levels?

Yes, there are… and there are ways to counteract those side effects. We look at you, not your numbers.

Keep your provider updated on what you are experiencing so we can work together to help you feel your best!

Strategies we can use to counteract potential side effects:

• Fluid retention
• Restrict salt; maintain adequate water intake; exercise; try a mild prescription diuretic.
• Bloating
• Switch to low-dose nonoral continuous estrogen; lower progestogen dose to a level that still protects the uterus; switch to another progestin or to micronized progesterone.
• Breast tenderness
• Lower estrogen dose; switch to another estrogen; restrict salt; switch to another progestin; cut down on caffeine and chocolate.
• Headaches
• Switch to nonoral continuous estrogen; lower dose of estrogen or progestogen or both; switch to a continuous-combined regimen; ensure adequate water intake; restrict salt, caffeine, and alcohol.
• Mood changes
• Investigate preexisting depression or anxiety; lower progestogen dose; switch progestogen; change to a continuous-combined EPT regimen if not already; ensure adequate water intake; restrict salt, caffeine, and alcohol.
• Nausea
• Advise taking oral estrogen tablets with meals or before bed; switch to another oral estrogen; switch to nonoral estrogen; lower estrogen or progestogen dose.
• Bleeding
• Lower dose of estrogen or progestogen, switch to non-progestogen combined therapy.

It takes time to find what is right for you! It takes up to 12 weeks to see final results.

Some side effects seen within the first few weeks do resolve, your body is adjusting to a new hormone level

Let’s work together to feel your best!