Medical Professionals
Safe Female Hormones??? had specifically cautioned against using female hormones that were not “bio-identical” (natural to the human body). He also pointed out that estrogen should be given only through the skin, not by mouth.
By Michael E. Doyle, MD Over 20 years ago, the great Belgian physician Jacques Hertoghe was telling American doctors about the many benefits of estrogen and progesterone for menopausal (and even premenopausal) women. At that time, millions of American women were already being treated with hormones in order to reduce hot flashes and prevent a variety of illnesses. Then in 2002 a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative was released. It showed that doctors had it all wrong. Female hormone treatment actually appeared to cause a variety of illnesses including cancer and heart disease. Suddenly, women were told that they should avoid female hormones… and millions suffered. So how could Hertoghe and thousands of American doctors have been so wrong? Actually, Hertoghe had it exactly right. He recommended only human hormones, given at the right dose and via the proper route. Most American doctors were at the time prescribing a combination of synthetic progesterone and horse estrogen (literally, estrogen derived from horse urine). And they were giving it all in pill form. In fact, Hertoghe
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Subsequent studies have strongly supported Dr. Hertoghe, repeatedly showing that real human hormones are much safer than their synthetic counterparts. In 2005, a study of 54,000 European women (E3N-EPIC) showed that bio-identical estrogen applied to the skin combined with bio-identical progesterone actually reduced the rate of breast cancer. That’s right, women taking this combination of real hormones were actually 10% less likely to get breast cancer than women taking no hormones at all. But when the natural progesterone was replaced with synthetic progesterone, the rate of breast cancer went up by 50%. Another review noted that estrogen given through the skin was much less likely to cause blood clots than when given as a pill (BMJ 2008). After many similar studies, mainstream researchers recently stated, “bioidentical hormones are associated with lower risks, including the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, and are more efficacious (effective) than their synthetic and animal-derived counterparts” (Postgraduate Medicine 2009). So, while no medical treatment is 100% safe, real female hormones offer an excellent way to improve health and restore quality of life. They can help control menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, bone thinning, sexual dysfunction and poor sleep and there is even evidence that they are good for your heart. On the other hand, synthetic hormones appear to pose unnecessary risk and should generally be avoided. At least one smart doctor understood this all along...
Michael E. Doyle, MD is a Board Certified Family Physician whose practice combines Conventional and Alternative Medicine including Nutrition and the use of Natural Hormones. Dr. Doyle has a practice in Stamford and can be reached at 203-324-4747. Medical Professionals
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