Hormone Replacement Therapy Alternatives

Hormone Replacement Therapy Alternatives
Due to the now well-known knowledge of the serious hormone replacement therapy side effects, post-menopausal women everywhere are wondering what hormone replacement therapy alternatives are available to treat their menopausal side effects. Women should visit their doctors to learn more about their treatment options that may include lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and possibly short-term hormone replacement therapy alternatives. Depending on the particular symptoms most often experienced by the individual woman, medications exist that may help relieve them and can be hormone replacement therapy alternatives.

Hot flashes and night sweats are often experienced by post-menopausal women and hormone replacement therapy claimed to treat this symptom. Women may wish to discuss with their doctors the possibility of taking a low-dose antidepressant as a hormone replacement therapy that has been shown to help some women with hot flashes. Antidepressants are known to impair sexual response and have other side effects as well so it may not be right for every woman.

Menopause also causes bone loss that hormone replacement therapy helped women to maintain. There are other medications available for bone loss, but all drugs have side effects and must be considered depending on the individual. For more information on hormone replacement therapy alternatives and your legal rights, please contact us.

Soy and Isoflavones (plant estrogens found in beans, particularly soybeans) - High isoflavone intake (about 50 grams of soy protein per day) may be a helpful hormone replacement therapy alternative in the short term (2 years or less) in relieving hot flashes and night sweats. Taken over the long term, it also may have beneficial effects on cholesterol and bones. While safe in dietary amounts, the consumption of extraordinary amounts of soy and isoflavone supplements may interact with estrogen and may be harmful to women with a history of estrogen-dependent breast cancer and possibly to other women as well.

St. John's Wort - May be helpful as a hormone replacement therapy alternative in the short-term (2 years or less) to treat mild to moderate depression in women (when given in doses of less than 1.2 milligrams a day.) A recent study showed it is not effective in treating severe depression. It also can increase skin sensitivity to the sun and may interfere with prescription antidepressants.

Black Cohosh - May be helpful as a hormone replacement therapy alternative in the short term (6 months or less) to treat hot flashes and night sweats. It seems to be extremely safe, although studies have been small and brief, none longer than six months.

Chasteberry (also known as monk's pepper, Indian spice, sage tree hemp, and tree wild pepper) - This may inhibit prolactin, a natural hormone that acts on the breast. It is touted for breast pain and premenstrual syndrome. There are very few studies in menopausal women as used as a hormone replacement therapy alternative. A study of women with premenstrual syndrome found they reported improvements in mood, anger, headache, breast fullness, but not bloating and other symptoms.

Evening Primrose - This plant produces seeds rich in gamma-linolenic acid, which some experts believe is the nutritionally perfect fatty acid for humans. Although evening primrose capsules are taken for breast pain, bladder symptoms and menopausal symptoms, there is little or no evidence that they work as hormone replacement therapy alternatives. The one high quality study of effects on hot flashes found that evening primrose was no better than placebo.

Dong Quai - A study aimed at reducing hot flashes found that dong quai as a hormone replacement therapy alternative was not better than placebo - although the 4.5-gram dose used in the study was lower than that typically given in Chinese medicine. The herb is potentially toxic. It contains compounds that can thin the blood, causing excessive bleeding, and make the skin more sensitive to sun, possibly increasing skin cancer risk.

Valerian Root - This has traditionally been used as a tranquilizer and sleeping aid, which can be used as a hormone replacement therapy alternative. But the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, which sets manufacturing standards for medicines, does not support its use, and there have been reports of heart problems and delirium attributed to sudden withdrawal from valerian.

Ginseng - Most of the many types of ginseng (including Siberian, Korean, and American, white and red), are promoted for relieving stress and boosting immunity. A study of menopausal women by the leading ginseng manufacturer found the product did not relieve hot flashes but did improve women's sense of well being if used as a hormone replacement therapy alternative. Analyses of ginseng products have found a troubling lack of quality control: some contained little or no ginseng, contained large amounts of caffeine, or were tainted by pesticides or lead.

Wild and Mexican Yam - There are no published reports that show wild and Mexican yam cream as a hormone replacement therapy alternative is effective in helping menopausal symptoms. The hormones in wild and Mexican yam do not have any estrogenic or progestational properties, so they are not expected to help women with these symptoms.

For more information on natural hormone replacement therapy visit:
Women's Menopause Health Center - Specializing in sales of natural hormone replacement therapy supplements, estrogen, testosterone and progesterone cream, and Slim Form weight loss patch for perimenopause, menopause symptoms, hot flashes and weight loss.

For more information on hormone replacement therapy alternatives and your legal rights, please contact a hormone replacement therapy lawyer.

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