Management of menopause and menopausal symptoms was improved significantly after the advent of hormone replacement therapy. With synthetic or semisynthetic hormones symptoms abated: management was made easy.
Then Women Health Initiative study results came out. They found, that hormone replacement theraly (HRT) increased risks of heart disease, blood clots formation and breast cancer. Hormones, used in WHI, were conjugated ( horse) estrogens and progestins ( not natural progesterone). The other statistics confirm these finding. For example they found that breast cancer rate in the US is declining because of cutting down on HRT.
The problem with synthetic or semisynthetic hormones is utilization: our body does not know what to do with them. But our body knows exactly what to do with our own hormones. Example: natural estrogen is metabolized by 2-OH pathway, which creates benign waste products. Conjugated ( horse) estrogen is metabolized by 4-OH pathway, which is not natural. The result: byproduvts, that were linked to cancer.
We use the hormones with the same chemical structures, as our own, as well as transdermal use to bypass liver. Because our body knows what to do with them. We avoid synthetic or semisynthetic hormones.
Do we have controlled double blind studies to confirm safety and effectiveness of the hormones with the same molecular structure as our own? No. And We won’t have. At least in the near future. Because substances, occurred in nature, cannot be patented. Therefore no money to subsidize the studies. Do we really need them? Effectiveness of insulin was confirmed on 1 patient after he was injected with pancreatic extract and his blood sugar level decreased. Power of vaccination was confirmed on 21 patients only. No double blind studies. Would we get insulin or vaccines, if double blind studies were required?
Our experience show, that hormones with the same molecular structures as our own are effective for hormone replacement therapy, if used correctly under appropriately trained physician’s supervision. We know, that they are working for menopause and andropause. Do we have to wait until future studies come out?
