Options for Hormone Replacement Therapy

 


Please do not base your HRT decisions on the information presented here.

Instead, review these options and know that we have not covered them all.
Physicians will disagree on the benefits and risks of each therapy.

Continue your research, as the knowledge you gather will help you to make educated choices.

Always seek the help of health care professionals when considering any health related protocols.


Our goal with presenting this information is to alert you to the fact that there are a
large variety of hormone replacement options, including plant-based ones (see Susan Weed's
book Menopausal Years), to help with the effects of menopause, both natural menopause
and surgical menopause (hysterectomy). This information comes from many sources, including
Harvard Women's Health Watch January 1998, Sans-Uteri members and women
emailing therapies they've tried to Findings.


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Available Estrogens by Brand Names

ESTROGENS
BRAND NAMES
GENERIC NAME SOURCE BENEFITS SIDE EFFECTS, RISKS
Premarin Congugated Equine Estrogens Urine of Pregnant Horses Relieves symptoms: increases bone mass 3-5%; raises HDLs, lowers LDLs; may prevent Alzheimer's disease Increases risk of uterine cancer when taken without a progesterone; may increase risk of breast cancer (after 5-10 years), gallbladder disease
Estratab
Menest
Esterified Estrogens Modified Soy Estrogens Thought to provide about the same benefits as Premarin Thought to have the same risk profile as Premarin
Estrace Estradiol Natural plant compound; requires higher dose than other estrogens Thought to provide about the same benefits as Premarin Thought to have the same risk profile as Premarin
Ogen
Ortho-est
Estrone Estropipate Modified plant estrogen; thought to be less potent than Premarin Thought to provide about the same benefits as other estrogens, but less widely studied Thought to have about the same risk profile as other estrogens, but less widely studied
Estradrem
Climera
Vivelle
Alora?
Evorel
Fematrix
(Patches)
Estradiol Natural plant compound Provides about the same benefits as Premarin, but does not affect lipid profile initially Thought to have the same risk profiles as Premarin, but probably does not increase risk of gallbladder disease
Estring Vaginal Ring Estradiol Natural plant compound Provides help for uro-genital atrophy associated with menopause By Pharmacia and Upjohn

 

 

Available Progesterones and Progestins by Brand Name

PROGESTERONES BRAND NAMES GENERIC NAME SOURCE BENEFITS SIDE EFFECTS, RISKS
There are many natural Progesterone creams (plant-based HRT) which are different than Progestin (see below).Brand names: "Syringa Resolve Wild Yam Cream: (800) 584-7762 Compounding Pharmacies For more information on Natural Progesterone please consult "What Your Dr. May Not Tell You About Menopause" by Dr. John Lee.
Provera
Cycrin
Medroxy-progesterone acetate (MPA) Synthesized from plants Decreases risk of uterine cancer; slightly reduces estrogen's effects on serum lipids administration may eventually eliminate bleeding; PMS-like side effects are common Cyclic regimin produces menstrual-like bleeding
Aygestin Norethidrone Acetate Derived from synthetic androgens Decreases risk of uterine cancer; may lower HDLs Alternative to MPA; side effects vary among individuals
Progestasert
(Interuterine Device)
Micronized progesterone Natural plant product May reduce risk of uterine cancer Released in uterus from IUD that must be replaced annually; slight risk of perforation; few systemic side effects
Crinone
(Vaginal Gel)
Micronized progesterone Natural plant product May reduce risk of uterine cancer Vaginal gel delivers directly to the uterus; produces few side effects


 

Available Combination Therapies by Brand Names

COMBINATIONS GENERIC NAME SOURCE BENEFITS SIDE EFFECTS, RISKS
Prempro Conjugated estrogens and MPA Premarin and MPA in a single pill Same as for Premarin and MPA individually Continuous regime may eliminate menstrual-like bleeding eventually
Premphase Conjugated estrogens and MPA 2 pills: Premarin, followed by Premarin with MPA Same as for Premarin and MPA individually Cyclic regime, but only one pill a day; menstrual-like bleeding continues
Estratest Esterified estrogens/methyl-testosterone Plant derived synthetics Same as for Estratab; may improve libido May reduce beneficial effects on lipids; may cause acne, hirsutism; long-term effects unknown

OTHER GENERIC NAME SOURCE BENEFITS SIDE EFFECTS, RISKS
Evista Raloxifene Selective estrogen receptor modulator (synthetic) Has a slightly weaker effect on bone than estrogen; has favorable effect on lipids; doesn't cause bleeding; doesn't require progesterone; doesn't raise breast-cancer risk May exacerbate, rather than relieve, hot flashes, does not relieve vaginal dryness


This page was last updated October 14, 2011
and is located at http://www.findings.net/suhrt.html

 

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