Bio-identical Hormones for Bone Density.

For many years the hormone replacement therapy drug, Premarin, was the drug of choice for women from menopause on. It was the most profitable drug in the BigPharm arsenal. Doctors prescribed it routinely and believed it would protect women from the hazards of aging, including osteoporosis.

Then in 2004, the Women's Health Initiative study of over 27,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79, found that hormone pills increase the risk of:

• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Dementia
• Breast Cancer
• Urinary incontinence

The findings prompted millions of menopausal women to quit using the hormones. In fact, prescriptions for the pills fell to 11 million in the first half of 2004 (after the study was released), down from 16 million in the beginning of 2002.

The hormone drugs made by the drug industry were synthetic and were not accepted by the body. Think of the hormone receptor sites in the cell walls as locked doors and the synthetic drugs as a key that doesn't quite match the lock.

   Yam Creams and Progesterone Creams

So now millions of women were coming off their HRT, getting hot flashes and painful menopausal symptoms and crying out for relief. Progesterone, a natural derivative of Mexican Wild Yam, was widely touted as the natural answer. It was pretty close in composition to the progesterone that is made by the body, but still, not quite the key. It was a disappointment to many women. It has since been shown that yam creams which claimed to be progesterone, contain yam extracts which cannot be transformed by the body into progesterone because they contain substances called saponins which prevent absorption into the body.

   Bioidentical Hormones

Along came bioidentical hormones to provide a natural answer that has the exact same key as the locks on your cells. They are not totally natural; they're made in a laboratory. But they are manufactured to have the same molecular structure as the hormones made by your own body.

According to European studies, where the hormones have been accepted longer, they are safe. But caution is advised by some experts because there has not been enough long-term testing to be absolutely sure of their long-term safety.

Other doctors have welcomed them with open arms. Dr. Erika Schwartz, M.D., author of "The Hormone Solution" says," I have been working with "natural/bioidentical" hormones for ten years now. I have developed protocols and fine tuned dosing through my own personal experience and the successful treatment of thousands of women. I am convinced; "natural/bioidentical" hormones are the ideal treatment for symptoms of hormone imbalances at all ages. The results are remarkable and consistent. Aging can and is effectively delayed when our hormones are in balance."

Dr. Schwartz believes that the bioidentical hormones should be prescribed by a physician after testing your hormone levels so that you get the exact hormone and the exact dose that your body needs.

These hormones are FDA approved, prescription bioidentical hormones, estradiol, micronized progesterone and micronized testosterone. They are active hormones, identical to the ones our bodies made when we were young. They are made in a lab from soy and yam oils.

Dr. Schwartz also says that the prescription bioidentical hormones are best made by a compounding pharmacy and can be taken indefinitely. She feels that any product sold over-the-counter is not going to get to the root cause of your hormone deficiencies.

Women to Women website has a different view. They think that 85% of women can find symptomatic relief as a result of lifestyle change plus over-the-counter bioidentical progesterone and good supplements. Only if this approach does not work do they recommend a prescription hormone tailor-made for them. They also don't recommend staying on the hormones forever or using them as a "fountain of youth".

You can buy over-the-counter natural bioidentical hormones on the net but it is much better to get them from a sympathetic, knowledgable doctor. Some sites even have testing kits on their sites, although Dr. Mercola (popular alternative chiropractor) said that saliva testing didn't work for his clients, only serum testing. But if you read the information on the sites and pick some basic preparations you will probably be able to tell pretty quickly if they are helping you or not.  You can try a very low dose at first. If you feel more cheerful then you know something is working. If your hormone levels are rising then your bones are probably improving. But, listen up, this isn't one of those things where, if a little is good then a lot is better. Too much estrogen is bad for the bones.

I went to a hormone specialist myself after finding out that homeopathic remedies did not work for me. I was put on a dose of estradiol, estriol, progesterone and testosterone that is perfect for me and based on serum testing. It is working very well for me. I could tell when the dose was too high because I had read the symptoms of too high or too low doses in many of the books I researched. Here is a synopsis of what to look for but do your own research to confirm it:

Estrogen - symptoms that you need it - losing hair on body and head, vertical wrinkles above lips, tired, depressed, no libido, drooping breasts.
Overdose gives painful breasts, anxiety, emotionality, irritability, swollen abdomen.

Progesterone - symptoms - nervous, agitated, restless sleep.
Overdose - sleepiness in the a.m., depression, low libido.

Testosterone - symptoms - wrinkled face, no muscle tone, fat on belly, tired, no libido.
Overdose - overdeveloped muscles, body odor, excessive libido, aggression.

The consensus, if there is one, seems to be that the bio-identical hormones are worth a try for menopausal symptoms. They can also help with osteoporosis because they work as if you were still pre-menopausal. They can fool the body into thinking you are younger than you are and that you still need strong bones. Our bodies were designed to create life, after all. That is the root reason why our hormones stop recreating themselves when our wombs shut down.

Our biological systems weren't designed for the brilliance and longevity of today's woman. Maybe we can fool our systems into giving us time to explore what a fully-realized, radiantly healthy, conscious woman can do.

Disclaimer: Nothing on this site is to be construed as medical advice. I am not a medical practitioner and have no ability to diagnose or treat disease. This site is intended for informational purposes only. Everyone should make their own health decisions after getting all the information they need.

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 Information for Alternative Osteopenia and Osteoporosis Solutions