Although Doctors are aware of the facts on natural optimal hormone replacement, it can be helpful to see brought together the many reports published in peer reviewed journals which are widely accepted by authorities to be legitimate and well researched.
Also, many patients like to see proof from medical literature that it is both beneficial and safe before their Doctor recommends it to them. Such material is widely available, but not always widely publicized and there is certainly plenty of information available. Here you will find listed such data from those peer-reviewed medical journals.
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PROGESTERONE
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2007;101:125-134 – “Estradiol and progesterone demonstrated no increased risk of breast cancer. Synthetic estrogen (Premarin®) and synthetic progestins (medroxyprogesterone and noresterone) all dramatically increased the risk of breast cancer. This was a ten year study of over 100,000 women, the largest and longest study to date comparing natural hormones to synthetic hormones”.
Fertility Sterility 2005 Dec;84(6):1589-601 – “The WHI trial had major design flaws that led to adverse conclusions about the positive effects of hormone therapy. The study included mostly older women that already had cardiovascular disease. The study utilized only medroxyprogesterone (Provera®) which we know negates any beneficial effect of estrogen, rather than the bio identical hormone, progesterone”. Multiple other studies with estrogen started early in menopause demonstrate beneficial effects.”
Female Patient 2001 Oct; 19-23. – “The main reason women discontinue HRT is due to side effects. Synthetic progestin’s (Provera®) cause may side effects: breast swelling and tenderness, uterine bleeding, depression and mood disturbance, weight gain, bloating and edema. Natural progesterone has no side effects.”
American Family Physicians 2000;62: 1339-46. – “Due to the side effects of synthetic progestin’s, natural progesterone is preferred. Progesterone has proven bio-availability and no side effects making it the preferred hormone for menopause.”
National Academy Science USA; 2003 Sept. 2;100(8):10506-11. – “Estrogen and progesterone are neuro-protective against cerebral damage. These beneficial effects were blocked by MPA (medroxyprogesterone).”
Obstetrics Gynecology 1989;73:606 – “Natural estrogen and natural progesterone offer substantial clinical benefit over the synthetic hormones and should be the agents of choice for menopause.”
Maturitas 2003 Dec;46(1):555-58 – “Progesterone reduces proliferation of breast cancer cells and induces cellular apoptosis”
American Family Physician 2000; 62:1939-46 – “Due to the side effects of synthetic progestin’s, natural progesterone is preferred. Progesterone has proven bioavailability and no side effects making it the preferred hormone for menopause.”
Obstetrics Gynecology 1989;73:606-611. – “Progesterone raises good HDL cholesterol, whereas MPA (Provera®), lowers good cholesterol. Progesterone increases estrogen beneficial effects whereas MPA reverses estrogen’s benefits. Progesterone has no side effects, whereas MPA has many”
Fertility Sterility 1998;69:963-69. – “Progesterone decreases Breast stimulation 400%, and down regulates breast receptor sites, thereby protecting against breast stimulation.”
Japan Journal of Cancer Research 1985June;76:699-04. – “Mammary tumor stimulation was reduced both by progesterone and Tamoxifen, more so by progesterone by Tamoxifen which is the drug of choice to treat cancer.”
American Family Physicians: 2000;62(8):1839. – “The multitude of side effects associated with the synthetic analogues called progestins has stimulated an interest in natural progesterone. Natural progesterone is obtained primarily from plant sources. Natural progesterone has improved bioavailability and fewer side effects when compared with synthetic progestins.
Natural progesterone has not been shown to effect mood or cholesterol levels. The synthetic progestins differ from the natural progesterone since they cause fluid retention, abnormal increase in cholesterol, headaches, mood disturbance, depression, and are frequently a cause of discontinuation of hormone therapy. (Again adequate documentation in our literature of the protective benefits of natural progesterone without all the side effects of synthetics. It is very well supported in our medical literature, yet unfortunately unrecognized by most physicians.) ”
Mayo Clinic, Women’s HealthSource: August, 1999, pg 3. – “Women prefer the use of natural progesterone over synthetic progestins. Natural progesterone made a difference in overall quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and satisfaction.
Natural progesterone is not associated with the abnormal metabolites from synthetic progestins. These abnormal metabolites are substances that are responsible for the side effects. Natural progesterone is the same substance you are making naturally, and therefore side effects are avoided. ”
American Family Physician: 1999;16(1):264. – “A better alternative. The side effects of the synthetics include bloating, nausea, and depression were eliminated by using natural progesterone. In fact, unexpected improvement in the feeling of well-being was observed when natural progesterone was used.”
Journal of Women’s Health Gender-based Medicine: 2000;9(4):381-7. – “A better alternative. The side effects of the synthetics include bloating, nausea, and depression were eliminated by using natural progesterone. In fact, unexpected improvement in the feeling of well-being was observed when natural progesterone was used.
When compared to the synthetic progestins, women using micronized, natural progesterone experienced significant improvement in symptoms without the side effects of the synthetics. The natural progesterone offers improvement in quality of life in comparison with the synthetic progestin.”
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 May – “Progesterone, unlike synthetic progestins, does not have a detrimental effect on breast tissue. Synthetic progestins (MPA and 19-Nortestosterone derivatives) which have non-progesterone-like effects which can potentiate the proliferative actions of oestrogens.
Progesterone has metabolic and hepatocellular effects (decreased insulin sensitivity, increased levels and activity of IGF-1, decreased levels of SHBG), which contrast the opposite effects induced by oral oestrogen.”
Endocrine Reviews: 28(4): 387 – 439 – Within the nervous system, the neuroprotective and promyelinating effects of progesterone are promising, not only for preventing but also for reversing age-dependent changes and dysfunctions. There is strong evidence that the ageing nervous system remains sensitive to the beneficial effects of progesterone, this may also extend to peripheral tissues including the breast, blood vessels and bones.”
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OESTROGEN
Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Clinics of North America; 1995 October; Vol. 6 (4):653-675 – “This manuscript presents a protocol for hormone replacement therapy with natural estrodial, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and melatonin. Using the natural sex steroids which occur naturally in humans represents replacement to ensure attainment of pre-menopausal levels and adequacy of therapy. This is inexpensive therapy that gives relief of symptoms, is well tolerated, provides minimal side effects, protects the endometrium, and results in excellent compliance. This replacement of natural hormones is based on sound physiologic principles that have been demonstrated to be the preferred method of hormone replacement.”
JAMA 2004;291(24): 2947-2958. – “Fear of breast cancer is the strongest factor limiting postmenopausal hormone use. The most powerful study to date definitively demonstrated that estrogen does not cause an increase risk for cancer. The increased risk was associated only with taking the progestin (Provera®) and not estrogen.”
Female Patient 2004 Oct;Vol 29: 35-41. – ”The largest study to date, the Nurses’ Health Study, demonstrated a 100% decrease in heart disease and cancer for estrogen users. It is never too late to initiate estrogen therapy to arrest the progression of osteoporosis and hip fractures.”
J Gen Internal Medicine 2004;19(7): 791-804 – ”In the final analysis of the estrogen only arm of the WHI; there was no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease. There was a 35% decrease in hip fractures, 35% decrease in diabetes and a 60% decrease in urinary sepsis. This leads to a significant decrease in all causes of mortality.
Family Practice News 2003 June;Vol 33(11):1-2. – ”New findings in 4 recent studies counter the results of WHI and HERS. Estrogen replacement results in a dramatic decrease in cardiovascular disease. There was no coronary artery disease deaths were reported in 6,000 women taking estrogen. The results of the WHI do not apply to younger women.”
Geriatrics:1996;51(8):16. – “Women are skeptical about estrogen replacement therapy. They are unconvinced about its efficacy. Side effects are reported as the primary reason for discontinuing therapy. Physicians and patients require continuing education to emphasize estrogen’s potential benefits.”
Biomedicina: 2000;3(1):5-20. – “Estrogen improves quality of life, decreases hot flashes, night sweats, and depression. Estrogen maintains youthful appearance, avoids wrinkles, improves sex-life. Estrogen keeps strong and healthy bones from deteriorating. Estrogen avoids heart problems, memory loss.”
“Estrogen enhances skin smoothness, firmness, and elasticity. Estrogen moistens skin and mucus membranes and prevents urogenital atrophy. Estrogen prevents sexual dysfunction.”
“Estrogen reduces the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, colon cancer, improves memory and neurologic function, prevents against Alzheimer’s disease, enhances immune function, and improves well-being.”
“Estrogen preserves independence, prevents morbidity, and enhances well-being.”
Hospital Practice: August, 1999: 102. – “Estrogen dramatically reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in women by up to 50 percent. This effect was felt to be through improvement of the lipid profile.”
“Most of the survival benefit has been found to stem from a direct antiatherosclerotic, anticoagulatory, and vasodilatary effects of estrogen. (The recent HERS study showed an increased risk of heart attack in women taking estrogen if they had a prior history of cardiovascular disease. This is a very small percentage of women, overall. It is due to congenital clotting abnormalities and is an extremely small percent of the total population. Most healthy women will benefit from this replacement.)”
“Estrogen therapy has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of macular degeneration by 70 percent. (Currently this is the only proven therapy to slow down the most common cause of blindness in our society.)”
“Superior dental health of estrogen users was the result of bone preservation and maintenance of collagen in the supporting gingival structures.”
“Estrogen reduces the incidence of urogenital complaints such as vaginal dryness, urinary infection, and loss of supporting structures. (This should give women something to smile about.)”
Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Clinics of North America: October, 1995;6(4):653-660. – “This manuscript presents a protocol for hormone replacement therapy using natural estrogen, testosterone, DHEA, and progesterone.”
“Serum hormone levels are measured and replaced to premenopausal levels using the natural hormones. We believe this method of hormone replacement therapy is based on sound physiological principles. It ensures establishment of premenopausal levels of circulating sex steroids. (This was a landmark article in the obstetric/gynecology literature that went unnoticed. This excellent article not only discusses the method of replacement, but also emphasizes the lack of side effects associated with this therapy as it maintains premenopausal levels of the natural hormones as opposed to using the synthetic, which were associated with a significantly higher incidence of side effects. Remember as stated at the beginning, women stop estrogen therapy because of side effects. Using natural hormones eliminates these side effects and significantly increases compliance.)”
Archives of Dermatology: 1997;133: 339-342. – “Estrogen therapy is associated with a significant decrease in skin wrinkling and skin dryness in women, increase in dermal and total skin thickness, and preservation of skin texture.”
“There is a 30 percent decrease of collagen after menopause, resulting in loss of skin thickness and elasticity. These changes are reversible with estrogen replacement therapy. (If that will not increase compliance, I don’t know what will.)”
Consultant Magazine: December, 2000: 2312. – “Multiple epidemiologic and observational studies from more than 27 studies performed over the last two decades demonstrate a significant reduction in heart disease mortality in women who took hormone therapy.”
Chemical Research and Toxicology: 1999;12(2):204-13. – “A major metabolite of equilin auto-oxidized to a potent uncogenic metabolite equilenin, a component of Premarin It is easily metabolized to cytotoxic metabolites that can stimulate breast tumors. (Natural hormones follow normal metabolic pathways so that the active metabolites formed are easily metabolized by the body. Therefore, administration of bio-identical hormones to humans can eliminate the production of problem causing metabolites, which are probably responsible for the side effects as well as the increased cancer incidence of the synthetic hormones.)”
Obstetrics and Gynecology: 1989;73:606. – “Women that were prescribed natural estrogen and natural progesterone had a decrease in total cholesterol and an increase of HDL. Those on synthetic conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone (Provera) had no change. This study demonstrates that administration of natural hormones results in symptomatic improvement, minimal side effects, improved lipid profile, and protection of the uterus. (Again another article from our medical literature supporting the use of natural hormones to avoid side effects and complications of the synthetics.)”
