34 MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS |
HEALTH CENTER |
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Bioidentical Hormones: Risks |
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Physicians and patients alike have reported positive results in treating menopause symptoms with bioidentical hormones, but health organizations warn that there is insufficient data to prove that bioidentical hormones are safer than or even as effective as other forms of hormone therapy. Keep reading to learn more about the potential risks associated with bioidentical hormones.
Aside from anecdotal evidence, the safety and even efficacy of bioidentical hormones have yet to be scientifically proven: no long-term clinical trials have been performed using bioidentical hormones. It does seem likely that hormones chemically identical to endogenous hormones would be safer and healthier, but there is no evidence that traditional HRT poses the health risks that it does (increased risk for heart disease and cancer) due to the chemical structure of the molecules administered. Nor is there any evidence that compounding the hormones differently will pose fewer risks. |
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Furthermore, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the premise that hormonal levels can accurately be gauged based on one salivary hormone test is scientifically unfounded. Hormonal levels fluctuate throughout the day and the levels tested at one given point may not be representative of hormonal activity as a whole. In addition, no "correct" hormonal levels have been established as yet in menopausal or postmenopausal women, hence the claims that bioidentical hormones can be compounded to exactly suit a woman's hormonal needs are also unsubstantiated.
The FDA has approved certain select bioidentical compounds, but does not regulate their manufacture. The majority of compounding pharmacies are not FDA-approved and quality can vary dramatically. Most health organizations, including the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), the Endocrine Society, and the ACOG have formally criticized bioidentical hormone therapy as unproven and potentially unsafe.
Although the use of bioidentical hormones may be indicated for certain women experiencing more acute symptoms of hormonal deficiency, most medical professionals recommend use for only a limited period of time and under the close supervision of a physician. Keep reading to learn about safe alternatives to bioidentical hormones for managing menopause symptoms.  |
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Bioidentical hormones have become increasingly popular for the treatment of the symptoms of hormonal imbalance, such as occurs during menopause. Bioidentical hormones may not be the safest or most effective solution, however. Keep reading to learn about other treatment options of hormonal imbalance. |
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Treating Hormonal Imbalance with
MacaActive Supplements |
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Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone play an essential role in several areas of the body, and as hormonal levels decline with age, the health implications can be significant. As women begin to notice the symptoms of hormone deficiency, they may want to consider taking steps to stabilize their hormonal production.
Today, there are three effective ways to normalize hormonal levels: lifestyle changes, alternative medicine and drugs & surgery.
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Lifestyle Changes: Lifestyle changes (such as an improved diet and increased exercise) are vital for overall health and for alleviating the symptoms of hormonal balance, but lifestyle changes alone will not have a significant impact on hormonal production. Most women will want to consider the next level of treatment, alternative medicine, which has proven to be excellent for treating hormonal imbalance in a safe and natural way.
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Alternative medicine: There are two types of herbal supplements for improving low estrogen levels: those containing phytoestrogenic herbs, and those containing non-estrogenic herbs. Phytoestrogenic herbs (like Black Cohosh) are filled with phytoestrogens, which are similar to estrogens. They can increase low estrogen levels by replacing some of the missing estrogen hormones. This isn't the best solution, however, because your body will become less responsive to producing estrogen on its own, causing a further decrease in body-own hormone levels. Unlike phytoestrogenic herbs, non-estrogenic herbs don't contain estrogen, but they nourish the hormonal glands to work more efficiently. This ultimately results in balancing not only estrogen, but other necessary hormones, as well. Using non-estrogenic herbs is one of the safest and best ways to treat hormonal imbalance naturally.
An excellent example of a safe and effective non-estrogenic herb for estrogen deficiency is herbal MacaActive. What makes MacaActive so special is its ability to balance hormonal levels in women by nourishing the hormonal glands. In this way, it alleviates most disorders related to hormonal imbalance.  to read more about MacaActive.
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Drugs and Surgery: This level of treatment has the highest risk and often the highest cost. The most common drug therapy for treating hot flashes in the US is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). There's no doubt that this is the quickest and strongest way to combat hormonal imbalance. Unfortunately, it entails serious side effects and increases the risk of different types of cancer in women. If you still want to consider this approach, see your doctor to learn more about what this treatment option involves.
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A safe way for balancing hormones:
Non-estrogenic herbs are the most effective solution for treating hormonal deficiency.
MacaActive is an excellent non-estrogenic herb. It's simple: rather than putting hormones from the outside into your body artificially, MacaActive stimulates your hormone glands into producing the necessary hormones naturally. This is what makes MacaActive supplements so unique. to read all about MacaActive. |
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