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The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that absorbing hormones through the skin (transdermally), rather than by mouth (orally), is the safest and most natural way. It's an exact imitation of how the ovaries secrete their hormones -- at a steady rate, 24/7 . . . and you don't hear any experts advising woman to have their ovaries removed to avoid heart disease. On the contrary, there's a lot of evidence that having your ovaries removed at a young age significantly increases heart disease risk. The article, below, addresses transdermal hormone treatment.
Nonoral HRT (Patches and Creams) May Be Safer Alternative
Women in European Study Had Lower Cardiovascular Risks, Blood Pressure
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
Oct. 10, 2002 -- Women wishing to stay on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) who are concerned about the potential health risks may want to consider abandoning oral treatment in favor of other delivery routes, new research suggests.
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
Oct. 10, 2002 -- Women wishing to stay on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) who are concerned about the potential health risks may want to consider abandoning oral treatment in favor of other delivery routes, new research suggests.
Investigators conducting a small European study in which HRT was given in the form of estrogen skin patches and vaginally administered natural progesterone say these methods may be free of the cardiovascular risks that have recently been associated with oral hormone therapy. As an added benefit, postmenopausal women who were on the regimen for one year lost weight, lowered their blood pressure, and had less vaginal bleeding.
In light of the recent controversy surrounding HRT, a NAMS (North American Menopause Society) panel recently issued a report clarifying its position on the treatment. The panel concluded that relief from the symptoms of menopause should be the primary reason for being on HRT and that women should take the treatment for the shortest time possible. Panelists also called on physicians to consider alternatives to oral HRT, such as creams and patches.
Utian says there is good evidence that women who are extremely overweight, diabetic, or have high blood pressure should avoid oral therapy, but it is not clear whether women without specific risk factors need to do so. Utian is a consulting gynecologist at The Cleveland Clinic and an emeritus professor at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.
The European study included 35 postmenopausal women who were treated for one year with estrogen patches and a natural progesterone gel, administered twice weekly. Though uterine bleeding is a common side effect of HRT, two-thirds of the women had no such bleeding during the one year of the study. The women also lost weight and lowered their blood pressure. The study was published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
For the complete article, click here:
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1825.51480?page=1
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1825.51480?page=1
© 2002 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
Now wouldn't you know it but because of the current HRT controversy, the FDA just rejected a new hormone patch. Click here for the story: Feds Nix Menopause Treatment Patch
The above is not meant to be medical advice. Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc.
Best wishes. Dr. Rehert
Best wishes. Dr. Rehert
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