Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy - What Is Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy?

What Is Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Our hormones maintain the chemical balance in the body. The menstrual cycle in women triggers the production of some important hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. When the ovaries stop functioning, whether due to age (menopause) or due to surgical removal, there is a cessation in the production of these vital hormones. Accompanying physiological changes include osteoporosis, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, insomnia, irregular periods, loss of libido, and possibly cancer. In women who have had their ovaries removed surgically, these changes are drastic and they experience a sudden drop in sex hormone levels. This can lead to severe health problems, especially in younger women. The aging process is not easy on men either. They start to lose energy, vigor, and stamina.

This is where Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) comes in. Through this treatment, the body is supplied enough hormones to make up for the lack of natural hormones. But, synthetic hormones are animal-derived hormone products. They come in a 'one-size-for-all' dose.

Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy is associated with a number of possible side effects and risks, which include:

-Increased risk of endometrial cancer
-Increased risk of breast cancer
-Increased risk of ovarian cancer
-Increased risk of Gallbladder disease
-Breast pain
-Nausea and fluid retention
-Increased moodiness

What is NHRT?

Due to the above-mentioned risks, synthetic HRT is now being replaced by Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (NHRT) or 'bio-identical therapy. The term 'bio-identical' means the hormone used is structurally and chemically identical to the hormone produced by the human body. That is why it is called 'natural, as opposed to the synthetic hormone, which has a structure similar but not identical to the hormone produced by the body. Bio-identical hormones are produced from molecules of yam or soy, and undergo a series of chemical processes to make them similar to human hormones. Therefore the side effects and risks are greatly reduced while using NHRT.

In women, replacing the lost hormones can protect their cardiovascular health, prevent mental decline, and relieve menopausal symptoms. It helps to prevent loss of bone mass and occurrence of colon cancer, and may even delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Men experience an increase in mood, vigor, sexual function and muscle mass. Hormone replacement is powerful and must be monitored by an experienced practitioner.

Availability:

Some of these natural hormones are available in brand named products. But, it is easier to procure these hormones from compounding pharmacies. Pharmacies can supply the bio-identical hormones alone or combine them into a single dose. They can also offer these in the desired form whether it is a tablet, cream, or oil cap. In this way, you can individualize these hormones to fit your unique needs. Many times a physician who is not inclined to prescribing NHRTs may not be open to suggesting them to you. In that case, these pharmacists also have doctor referral information.

Nothing can replace what our bodies have been making naturally for many years. But NHRT comes as close to the real thing as possible. It is not a miracle cure. And often you have to go through some amount of trial and error such as dosage adjustments before you regain the hormonal balance. Most of the time, it will take between 3-6 months to see the results of therapy. Since the side effects are almost negligible and the benefits are huge, NHRTs are becoming a popular choice among men and women today.

By: Gray Rollins
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Gray Rollins is a writer for HormonesBalanced.com. To learn more about natural hormone replacement therapy and bio identical hormone replacement therapy, visit us.

Hormone Replacement Therapy - Making the Decision

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to alleviate the irritating effects of female menopause by replacing the estrogen which was previously produced by the ovaries. An oral dose of hormones are given to take the place of the hormones which was once produced naturally.

This is a natural part of life for all women as the ovaries stop working and therefore the natural secretion of estrogen ceases. The decline and eventual cessation of estrogen secretion by the ovaries, or to be more exact, the ovarian follicles, is responsible for menopause (the change of life).When the secretion of estrogen fails, there are various effects on the body. First the monthly periods stop. Then the woman may experience hot flashes and night sweats. The woman may also experience significant discomfort as the mucous membrane of the vagina atrophies, making it dryer and thinner.

Another common problem after menopause is reduction of bone density, commonly known as osteoporosis. The bones lose their density and become fragile due to the loss of estrogen.The presence of estrogen in premenopausal women appears to have the added advantage of preventing heart attacks, a common cause of death in men of similar age but this protection ceases following menopause.
HRT became popular in the 1970s but went out of favour when many women on the therapy were diagnosed with endometrial cancer. It is believed that this came about as a result of the therapy being estrogen only whereas it is now usual to be estrogen with progesterone. Studies have confirmed that women taking therapy of estrogen only are more than twice as likely as women not taking the drugs to develop endometrial cancer. Several studies have shown that there is no increase in endometrial cancer or precancerous lesions in women who take both estrogen and progesterone.

Menstruating women have remarkably low rates of heart disease but the incidence increases rapidly after menopause, with heart disease being the leading cause of death in women over age 60. It is believed that this demonstrates a protective role for estrogen and gives rise to the belief that HRT may give protection to postmenopausal women. However, studies into this subject tend to be inconclusive with some studies actually showing that there is a minimally higher risk of heart disease in women taking HRT.

Osteoporosis is a major problem in postmenopausal women. Bone is a living substance and relies on the presence of estrogen to regenerate, thus leading to an imbalance which causes the bones to become thinner. This often results in fractures, particularly of the ribs, the vertebrae, and the hips. It can also cause chronic pain and loss of physical stature.
Early studies into HRT showed a decrease of thirty-five to fifty percent in the rate of osteoporotic fractures in women who had used HRT for at least five years after menopause.

HRT has customarily been given to alleviate other symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, low energy levels, and depression. About eighty percent of women suffer from hot flashes. These often occur at night and can result in sleep deprivation leading to chronic fatigue, depression, and poor concentration.

Another problem associated with menopause is the thinning of the vaginal tissue which can cause poor vaginal lubrication, vaginal itching, pain on intercourse and an increase in urinary tract infections. Often, the use of estrogen-based creams is advised to reduce these symptoms.
Many women have been reluctant to take HRT because they believe it will increase their risk of breast cancer. A 50 year old woman has 10 percent probability of developing breast cancer and a 3 percent probability of dying from it. Unfortunately, studies have shown varying results which give little evidence either way.

The decision to use HRT is a personal one. The woman and her healthcare provider must consider the benefits as well as the risks in order to decide whether HRT is the appropriate treatment for the individual. If she is suffering from symptoms that are so intense that they are interfering in her day to day life, then HRT may be advisable in the short term. Often however, the symptoms will stop in time without hormonal treatment.

By: Anne Wolski
Article Directory:http://www.articledashboard.com

Anne Wolski has worked in the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. She is a co-director of http://www.magnetic-health-online.com an information portal with many interesting medical articles and also of http://www.pharmacybyweb.com which has online physicians who can help you with any questions you may have.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

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