In Stephanie Bender's best seller, The Power of Perimenopause, she covers all aspects of perimenopause and menopause. She spends a great deal of time talking about how to use hormones to balance out the ups and downs of perimenopause and menopause.   Ms. Bender talks about the differences between synthetic and natural hormone preparations, you'll be surprised to learn what she has to say.

Natural Versus Synthetic Hormones
Excerpted from "Power of Perimenopause" ©1999 by Stephanie DeGraff Bender, MA All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without the expressed permission of the author

The word "natural" can be tricky to interpret when we're talking about HRT. When we say a hormone is "natural", we mean it is chemically identical to the hormone produced in the body.  Natural hormones are also referred to as "bioidentical" hormones.   A synthetic hormone (Provera for example, which is medroxyprogesterone acetate, a type of synthetic progestin) has a slightly different chemical structure from the progesterone produced by our bodies. progesterone receptor cells in our bodies will recognize synthetic progestins, natural progesterone and synthetic progestins act differently in the body and produce different effects o progesterone receptor sites. Natural progesterone molecules fit EXACTLY into progesterone receptor cells.

The distinction between
"natural" and "synthetic" is very important.

First, I want to point out that we're not saying here that "natural" is good and "synthetic" is bad.  Not at all. But it's important to understand that natural and synthetic hormones have very specific effects on the body, and that these effects are different.  There are appropriate uses for both natural and synthetic hormones, but they should not be considered interchangeable.   For instance, some women have trouble tolerating synthetic progestins, whether they take them as part of an HRT regimen or in oral contraceptive, finding they produce unwelcome side effects.  Some women find they feel weepy, irritable, and bloated when taking a medication containing a synthetic progestin.  For these women, natural progesterone is an option to consider.

Second, once women are clear about the differences between natural progesterone and synthetic progestins, lots of them want to know about "natural" estrogen.  Many women are surprised to learn that some commercially prepared estrogens match the effects of estrogens produced by the body and so are considered natural.  They are chemically identical to estrogens produced by the body and will affect estrogen receptor cells in the same way.   Meanwhile Premarin, which contains certain types of estrogen that are unique to horses, is not considered a natural form of estrogen.

Remember, it is chemical structure of a hormone, not its source, that determines if is natural  or synthetic.  A natural hormone may be developed in the laboratory using pharmaceutical-grade products.

Third, the word NATURAL is sometimes used pretty loosely.   Some herbal preparations claim to be natural remedies for symptoms of perimenopause or pre-menstrual syndrome.  They may be marketed as phytoestrogens or wild yam cream and be plant- or herb-based.  If you choose to try one of these preparations, find out all you can about what it contains.  It's wise to let your health care provider know what you're using and how much.

Introduction

Natural Progesterone Cream
Should you use it?
John Lee, M.D., is a well-known advocate of the benefits of natural progesterone. He has several very popular books and many women follow his advice. He recommends natural progesterone cream to balance your hormones, eliminate premenopausal symptoms, and make you feel better. His therapy is based on the theory of "Estrogen Dominance." What is the scientific evidence supporting the theory of "Estrogen Dominance"? We asked several respected authors in the field about Dr. Lee's theory and present their opinions. What do you think and what experience have you had?
Find out more.

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