Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy

By Anju Mathur, MD

Many women are prescribed hormone replacement therapy by their doctors, to alleviate symptoms of menopause. However, there are many more hormones in the body than estrogen and progesterone, the two that are ordinarily prescribed. Melatonin, human growth hormone, DHEA, thyroid hormone - these are also important.

Competently administered natural hormone replacement therapy not only eases the symptoms of menopause, but also slows the progress of aging, slows osteoporosis, perks up memory, makes for a brighter mood and increases one's sense of well being. As the body ages, it produces less and less of the necessary hormones - these need to be replaced, not just one or two.

Bioidentical hormones are the very same as the ones your body produces. Every molecule matches. They are made mostly from plants in a lab, but the body doesn't consider them foreign substances because they are identical. Thus there are no harmful adverse reactions. A doctor should do a thorough examination and tests in a lab, to find out which hormones are in low supply and what amounts need to be prescribed.

The most commonly prescribed hormones are Premarin and Provera. Doctors prescribe most women the same dose, and never check individual hormone levels. Premarin is a artificial form of estrogen and is made from the urine of pregnant mares. Provera is synthetic progesterone and does not have the same role as natural progesterone. These are synthetic hormones made in a lab.

Hormones are dominant materials that manage numerous tasks all through the body. If too much or too little is prescribed, things can go awry. A program of replacement hormones must be tailored to the individual. If for example only estrogen is prescribed, it cannot only be the wrong amount but it can throw the body's other hormones out of wack. So all hormones must be measured and a prescription fitted to the individual.

Hormone levels from woman to woman can vary from 200 - 1500%. Just as you cannot balance your bank account without numbers on your bank statements hormone testing provides both a basis for treatment and proximity to your goal. One can customize natural hormone dosing to meet individual needs. In other words, optimize hormone levels for minimum dose to relieve symptoms but avoid overdosing.

After lab tests, it will become apparent which hormone are needed, but even then they must be prescribed in a gradient scale of amounts to let the body adjust itself to the new hormones. DHEA, melatonin, growth hormone, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and thyroid hormone are the most common ones needed although all may not be needed in one individual.

Find a good doctor, and have the lab tests done. If you are already on hormone replacement therapy, but do not have the results you want, now you know why. - 30246

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