I'm going throughj menopausse and the PA who is alternative at my Dr.'s office wants to put me on a little bit of estrogen.
The estrogen would be compounded thorugh a pharmacy. I've heard many different opinions about estrogen.
Does anyone know much about estrogen. I've definitely heard links to cancer.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I had to go on estrogen since I had a complete hysterectomy many years ago. I am still taking estrogen.
It worries me some, but I'm not ready to have hot flashes either!!!
I think it's important to balance the hormones.
Posted by dmc (Member # 5102) on :
oral estrogen like hrt is linked to cancer. the estradoil patch with E2 & E3 in proper ratio prevents cancer.
Look up the 3 types of estrogen. E1,E2 & E3. I'm not explaining it well. Also MAKE SURE to get proper progesterone levels.
You better get a saliva test for your hormones done.
Good luck.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
dmc.. I think you're referring to Estriol. I take that too as it is supposed to be protective against cancer.
And I use a progesterone cream. I get that at the health food store. Hope this helps, tickalert!
Posted by janet thomas (Member # 7122) on :
Here's the thing-
Estrogen got a bad name when the big study 5-6 yrs ago came out and the news said HRT causes breast cancer.
But, it's all in the details.
The study was actually about Premarin (pregnant mare's urine) & Provera (a non bioidentical progesterone). And it was the Provera that caused cancer. And both were taken orally. The good part of that was sales of Premarin dropped 50% and many mares were spared months of being tied tightly in their stalls.
There are 17 different estrogens in a human female. Estradiol is the most physiologically active in a menstruating woman. Estriol is only high when pregnant. Estriol should not be used in HRT.
Many of these compounding pharmacies use estriol as a major portion of the transdermal oil,gel.etc. And many doctors prescribe it. It does not make sense to replace estradiol with estriol. Let me repeat, estriol is only significant during pregancy.
It's not replacing what is lost at menopause. Estradiol is what is needed. And, often, a little testosterone. There are several estradiol patches available-VivelleDot and Climara are two examples.
If you still have your uterus then progesterone is needed 10-14 days a month to cause a withdrawl bleed. Since I will not take any hormones by mouth, vaginal suppositories are compounded for me.
Posted by INEBG (Member # 27690) on :
So, do any of the estrogen HRT sources include "a little testosterone?" How does one get that? I know I'm low, but my insurance only pays for testosterone for men.
Also, as long as I'm asking questions and people here seem to know so much, is there a mix that would be best for someone with endometriosis? I sure don't want to stir that up.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
janet.. I agree with you about the study. I kept a copy of that for several years because I felt it wasn't going to stand.
I never heard that about Estriol. I may quit it since in compounded form it is costing me more than I'd like to pay. Our local compounding pharm just got bought out by Walgreen's and the price nearly doubled.
INEBG... I also take testosterone since my levels were too low. It's in cream form. Really helps with energy and libido.
As far as endometriosis goes, I don't know.. I had to have a hysterectomy due to that and to fibroid tumors.
Posted by janet thomas (Member # 7122) on :
endometriosis?
I can't back this up with a link but I think it's associated with Lyme and/or company. So Lyme & co need to be addressed.
Supplemental estrogen may not be wise if endometriosis is present.
The patches contain only estradiol, E2. The is no estriol, E3, in vivelle-dot or climara.
BTW, I tried most of the patches and the only one that didn't fall off was vivelle-dot.
I then meet a doctor who explained to me that for reasons unknown the patches don't really work. He proved this by running an FSH on me.
In spite of using a patch my FSH was above 20. FSH, follicle stimulating hormone, is telling the ovaries to make estrogen. If it's high it's a clear indication there is not enough E2 available.
When I switched to the pellets my FSH dropped below 20. They last about 6 months, cost $50/month.
Video links: Oprah talks with experts and patients about Bioidentical Hormones
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Not at all about lyme - or the endocrine problems with lyme - but this book is a great place to begin. You can also get it from your library or they can order it by interlibrary loan. It is in the national library system.
You can look inside this book and read customer reviews here: ------------------
Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness
- By Tori Hudson, ND
About $17 at Amazon
Forward: ``This is a book that should be in every woman's health library and every alternative practitioner's library. It is a resource for the new breed of conventional practitioners who are open to a more integrative health-care system.''
--Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom
=======================
Also look up her books: Christiane Northrup, M.D -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :