Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy

Due to the ongoing controversy concerning the side effects of synthetic hormone replacement therapy and the cultural trend toward the use of "natural" products, increasing numbers of pre-menopausal and menopausal women are asking their gynecologists and primary care doctors for NHRT rather than "man-made" synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Those who favor NHRT argue that there are areas of the world where NHRT has been used for centuries as an effective remedy for the negative side effects of menopause, such as hot flashes, sleeping difficulties and increased emotional sensitivities. They point to previous studies in the United State regarding heart problems and strokes in women taking HRT.

A research review on NHRT and HRT by Jane L. Murray, M.D. " Natural Progesterone-What Role in Women's Healthcare?" reports that studies show natural hormone therapy appears to result in less negative side effects than man-made pharmaceuticals. NHRT may also offer greater advantages for osteoporosis prevention and hypertension, as well as improving symptoms of menopause, premenstrual syndrome and endometriosis, where the tissue of uterus is located in other parts of the body and causes pain and infertility. In 2002, the Women's Health Initiative study of HRT was stopped when researchers questioned possible heart and stroke problems with the participants. In 2008, the International Menopause Society reported that a review of research since then shows the "original study was flawed," and HRT may be the right treatment for menopausal women. Other doctors still report that taking HRT is risky.

Hormones balance the chemicals in a human body. When women get their monthly period, or menstrual cycle, the body produces certain essential hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. When a woman ages and her ovaries no longer function, the body stops producing the hormones. This leads to bodily changes including osteoporosis, insomnia, hot flashes and perhaps even cancer. When other women have their ovaries removed in surgery, they have significant physiological changes because of the reduction in sex hormones. Men, too, begin to lose their energy and stamina as they become older.

Replacing these depleted hormones in women have been shown to greatly lessen the symptoms of menopause. The hormone replacement is seen to improve men's moods, sexual functioning and muscle mass. It is believed by many health care professionals that these hormones should be natural or bio-identical rather than synthetic in order to provide maximum benefits.

Hormonal declines begin between the ages of 47 and 52 in women and 55 to 60 in men. However, these changes often occur even earlier, with an even greater effect on mood, sexual pleasure, thinking ability, multi-tasking, performance, motivation and decision-making.