Bioidentical Hormones/HRT and Menopause
Google Dr. Erikas Blog. That is probably the best advice a woman could be given at absolutely any point in her life. I started having menopause symptoms when I was in my early 30s. Of course I didnt recognize them, and my mind absolutely did not venture toward any condition usually reserved for older women. It took about 10 years for me to realize what was happening to my body and to determine what I wanted to do about it.
As I grew older, and began to travel in circles of mature women (my peers were getting older), bioidentical hormones were forefront in our conversations regarding aging. We were California Baby Boomers, and we never ever did things the way of our parents but rather chose the natural alternative to anything and everything. But my GAWD it was, and still is, hard to find a doctor to prescribe compounded bioidentical hormones. Not only did you have to find one in your area that was willing to go along with you, you had to find a compounding pharmacy that would be willing to educate your doctor as to how to prescribe this newfangled old medicinal concoction.
What many of us didnt know was that, since 1986 there have been FDA approved natural hormones on the market in a variety of forms. Gels, patches and pills are being manufactured by Big Pharma giants Bayer, Parke Davis, Novartis, Bristol Myers, Squibb and Pharmacia Upjohn. Our doctors can easily become familiar with them and would probably readily embrace these because they are mainstream.
These are just some bioidenticals that are available today (taken from Dr. Erikas Blog):
Alora: FDA approved 1996 – Watson Labs
Climara: FDA approved 1994 – Bayer
FemPatch: FDA approved 1997 – Parke Davis
Vivelle-Dot: FDA approved 1994 – Novartis
Estraderm: FDA approved 1986 – Novartis
Esclim: FDA approved 1998 – Women’s First Healthcare
Estrace: FDA approved 1993 – Bristol Myers Squibb
Estring: FDA approved 1996 – Pharmacia UpJohn
Premetrium: FDA approved 1998 – Solvay
Androgel: FDA approved 2000 – Unimed Pharmaceuticals
Crinone: FDA approved 1997 – Columbia Labs
If you are sure that HRT is NOT for you, there are several products that will greatly help you with menopausal symptoms. I have found several amazing ones and soon hope to be bringing you links to the websites where you may purchase them at very reasonable prices! These new links will be to the right of this article under the “Affiliates” category.
I HAVE HEARD that taking unopposed estrogen is not recommended for women who’s uterus and ovaries have not been removed. I HAVE HEARD that if you are one of these women, you should always take estrogen together with progesterone. Be sure to review this point with your doctor.
When you go to your doctor take this article with you and show him/ her the names of the bioidenticals and the drug companies that make them! I bet he/she will write you a prescription on the spot if that is what you want!
