Re: INFO - Bioidentical hormones: Are they better than standard HRT?

[Guest guest]

Yet another attempt by the drug companies to get you to use their drugs

without fact that bioidentical aren't up to standard. Excuse me while I

roll my eyes.

Kate

At 02:15 PM 10/27/2006, you wrote:

>MayoClinic.com

>Ask a Women's Health Specialist

>March 6, 2006

>

>********************************************************

>

>

>Bioidentical hormones: Are they better than standard HRT?

>

>

>

>Question:

>

>Are bioidentical hormones really better and safer than traditional hormone

>therapy?

>- / No state given

>

>

>Mayo Clinic breast-health specialist Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., and colleagues

>answer select questions from readers.

>

>

>

>Answer:

>

>There is a lot of interest in bioidentical - or so called " natural " -

>hormone therapy for menopause symptoms. However, there is no evidence that

>bioidentical hormones are safer or more effective than standard hormone

>replacement therapy.

>

>Bioidentical hormones are custom-mixed formulas containing various hormones

>that are chemically identical to those naturally made by your body. These

>over-the-counter products are marketed as being tailored to a woman's

>individual hormone needs, typically determined through saliva hormone

>testing. Manufacturers claim that bioidentical hormones are safer than

>standard, FDA-approved hormone therapy.

>

>According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), custom compounds

>may provide certain benefits, such as individualized doses and mixtures of

>products and dosage forms that are not available commercially. However, they

>may also pose risks to consumers. These compounds have not been approved by

>the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and as a result have not been tested

>for purity, potency, efficacy or safety. These products may even contain

>unknown contaminants. For this reason, NAMS does not recommend these

>custom-mixed products over well-tested, government-approved commercial

>products for the majority of women.

>

>Also, bioidentical estrogen and progesterone are available in FDA-approved

>hormone therapy products, including:

>

>

>Estradiol, derived from soy or yam sources, such as Estrace, Climara

>patch and Vivelle-Dot patch

>

>Natural progesterone (Prometrium)

>

>

>These products come in many different doses and forms. So, you don't need to

>turn to unregulated, individually compounded products as your only source of

> " natural " hormones.

>

>http://mayoclinic.com/health/bioidentical-hormones/AN01133

>

>

>

>

>Not an MD

>

>I'll tell you where to go!

>

>Mayo Clinic in Rochester

>http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

>s Hopkins Medicine

>http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>

>

>

>