Bioidentical hormone therapy is safe and effective for menopausal women

Life Extension(R), the company that long ago sounded the alarm on the dangers of synthetic hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women, has published still more proof that bioidentical hormones offer a far safer treatment option.

A white paper entitled Bioidentical Hormones: Why Is There Still a Controversy, published in the October edition of Life Extension Magazine, provides compelling scientific evidence on the safety and effectiveness of bioidentical hormone therapy. This position paper strongly documents the advantages of topical bioidentical hormone creams in contrast to the known safety risks associated with orally-administered conjugated equine (horse-derived) estrogens and progestin.

Individualized topical bioidentical hormone creams are available only through select compounding pharmacies, as the FDA has caved into the powerful influence of the pharmaceutical lobby and limited the sale of estriol, which has grossly increased its price and decreased its availability.

The pharmaceutical industry has billions of dollars invested in pushing antiquated equine estrogens and non-bioidentical progestin formulations that have been repeatedly linked to toxic side effects. They have lobbied the FDA to restrict the sale of compounding estriol creams by labeling compounding pharmacies unsafe and unregulated.

The FDA approved the use of Premarin(R) (mare urine-derived estrogen) 67 years ago, but today the same drug is still being prescribed as the answer to estrogen depletion for a generation of women who are desperate for better alternatives. The science is in. The answers are clear. The time for this controversy is over.

Comments

  1. Robert Dyson, MD Robert Dyson, MD United States says:

    What nonsense! There are three natural estrogens: estrone, to which estrogen receptors are relatively insensitive but which can readily be converted in the body to  estradiol, the form that is many times more potent and is the only important estrogen; estriol is the elimination product, not very active as an estrogen but readily eliminated by the kidneys. If one takes estrone (or conjugated horse estrogens, for that matter) estradiol quickly appears in the blood, has its effect on various tissues and then is converted to  estriol and  eliminated from the body by the kidneys.

    It is true that getting estrogen into  the body through the skin has advantages, but estradiol is  the product to choose. As for the risk  of breast cancer,  it would be the same for estrogen from any source---the risk is  very low, even with long-term use,  but not zero no matter  where one  buys her estrogen or by which route it is administered.

    As for the conspiracy theories concerning the pharmaceutical industry and FDA, they are  just that: wild-eyed conspiracy theories. The FDA acts on science, and  is tough in requiring the industry  to adhere to its guidelines. Pfizer recently got a 2.3 billion dollar fine for promoting products for uses other  than proven and approved (even though the uses may be appropriate). That doesn't sound like the FDA and industry  are in bed together!  

    • Phyllis Phyllis United States says:

      Dr. Dyson, we of course do not know one another, but I have a certain measure of respect for you up front because you have gone to great lengths to become a physician. I would appeal to you to consider reading The Greatest Experiment Ever Performed On Women by medical journalist Barbara Seamans. It is very well done and simply chronicles the history of our knowledge of hormones, their treatment and the pharmaceutical industry. She draws from professional journals and documents and it is very well footnoted without any hysteria. This may prove to be an interesting introduction to a different viewpoint.

  2. Gaye Gaye Mexico says:

    I am looking for a Doctor in Guadalajara, Mexico who can test and prescribe Bio-Identical Hormones.

  3. yvonne yvonne Greece says:

    I too am looking for a Doctor who can test and prescribe Bio-Identical Hormones in Athens, GREECE.

  4. Roussonl Roussonl Spain says:

    I too am looking for a Doctor who can test and prescribe Bio-Identical Hormones in Madrid, Spain

  5. jsymm388 jsymm388 United States says:

    I'll be moving to the Progreso/Merida area soon and need a doctor who understands and will prescribe bioidentical hormones. Anyone know anything?  Or maybe anywhere in Mexico and I could get them sent to me...  Thanks, one and all!

  6. Barbara holmes Barbara holmes Ireland says:

    Hi, I am looking for a doctor who prescribes bioidentical hormones in Dublin, Ireland.

  7. Marie Marie France says:

    Hello, I live in Paris France and I too would like to find a doctor who prescribes Bio identical hormons here in Paris.  Please reply with a doctors name if you know of any.  Thank you

  8. chryssa chryssa U.A.E. says:

    Very helpful site,  I too live in Dubai looking for a doc who knows well about biodentical hormones.

  9. Tom Tom United States says:

    Looking for a Bio Hormone therapy clinic in Mexico for Men

  10. Nora Nora United States says:

    I am moving to Merida, Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula and I need to find a physician who prescribes bio-identical hormones for HRT Please help!

  11. Suzie Suzie Spain says:

    I am looking for a doctor in Andalusia Spain or a pharmacy that can make my compound already prescribed in america.

  12. Lorraine Lorraine Greece says:

    I have been taking Livial 2.5mg for 2 Month and they made me bleed so my doctor had me stopped them. Looking for a safer solution and heard a lot of good thing about Bio Identical s. Not sure what I would need but many many symptoms and only in premenopausal stage. Please tell me where i can at least order them online in Europe.

  13. Ann Collier Ann Collier United States says:

    I am looking for a doctor in Guadalajara, Mexico who prescribes compounding medicines and a compounding pharmacy there.  I will be moving there.

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
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