Natural Hormone Replacement T... Health Article

Precautions

Although they are approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration, natural hormones are not regulated as drugs. Most large manufacturers use standardized labeling and dosages of active ingredients. Nevertheless, the bioavailability—the amount of active ingredient that enters the bloodstream and can be utilized effectively— is not known for most NHRTs. The results of oral NHRT may be inconsistent since many factors can affect their bioavailability. Although many OTC products are labeled as natural hormones, they contain very low concentrations and their bioavailability is unknown. They may be useful if only a small amount of hormone supplementation is required.

NHRTs, especially androgen replacement, have not been well-studied. There have been no clinical safety trials. It is not known whether NHRT carries risks similar to some HRTs, including increased risk for breast cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in an artery of the lung). Androgen replacement therapies should not be used by adolescent males.

Some synthetic hormone products may be labeled as "natural" because they are synthesized from naturally occurring substances. For example, synthetic estrogen is manufactured from the urine of pregnant horses. Some prescription hormones contain bioidentical estrogen but synthetic progesterone.

Side effects

There have been very few reports of side effects from NHRT in women. Since the estrogens used in NHRT are bioidentical to human estrogens and tend to be weaker than the synthetic estrogens used in HRT, they are expected to have fewer side effects. Furthermore, NHRT can be halted and resumed at any time without side effects.

Natural androgen replacement therapy may cause irritability and other side effects in men, particularly in coffee-drinkers. Ginseng has many side effects and should be used with caution. Very high zinc intake also can have numerous side effects.

Research & general acceptance

The few research studies that have included NHRT have had positive results. NHRT practitioners claim that it is safer and more effective than HRT.

Training & certification

Most NHRTs are available only as prescriptions from a medical or naturopathic physician or nurse practitioner. Most doctors who use NHRT rely on personal research and the experiences of their patients.

BOOKS

Buhner, Stephen Harrod. Vital Man: Natural Health Care for Men at Midlife. New York: Avery, 2003.

Northrup, Christiane. The Wisdom of Menopause. New York: Bantam, 2001.

Schwartz, Erika. The Hormone Solution. New York: Warner, 2002.

Schwartz, Erika. The 30-Day Natural Hormone Plan: Look and Feel Young Again—Without Synthetic HRT. New York: Warner, 2004.

PERIODICALS

Karmon, Eran. "'Natural' Alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy Replaces Woman's Estrogen." Knight Ridder Tribune Business News (August 21, 2002): 1.

Ward, Elizabeth M. "Health Concerns at Menopause: HRT Vs. Natural Remedies for Relief." Environmental Nutrition 25, no. 1 (January 2002): 1.

Watt, P. J., et al. "A Holistic Programmatic Approach to Natural Hormone Replacement." Family and Community Health 26 (January–March 2003): 53–63.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Menopause Foundation. 350 Fifth Ave., Suite 2822, New York, NY 10118. (212) 714-2398. <http://www.americanmenopause.org>.

National Women's Health Information Center. 8550 Arlington Blvd., Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22031. (800) 994-9662. <http://www.4woman.gov>.

Natural Woman Foundation. 8539 Sunset Blvd, No. 135, Los Angeles, CA 90069. (888) 489-6626. Chriscoprd@aol.com. <http://www.naturalwoman.org>.

North American Menopause Society. P.O. Box 94527, Cleveland, OH 44101. 440-442-7550. info@menopause.org. <http://www.menopause.org>.

OTHER

"Alternative Therapies for Managing Menopausal Symptoms." National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. August 2, 2002 [cited April 27, 2004]. <http://nccam.nci.nih.gov/health/alerts/menopause>.

Margaret Alic, PhD