If you are experiencing symptoms associated with menopausal transition such as hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness, there are various natural solutions that may provide relief – medications, supplements and home remedies all are viable solutions to consider.
Studies have proven the effectiveness of some options such as melatonin for sleep aid and gabapentin, an epilepsy medication which has also been proven to ease menopausal symptoms in certain women.
Bioidentical Hormones
Bioidentical supplements contain hormones identical to those produced naturally by your body. Produced in a laboratory, this type of hormone can be delivered through pills, creams, gels or injections – but FDA approval requires extensive processing which may increase cost and risk of side effects; so before making your choice it is wise to consult your healthcare provider first.
Some women choose bioidentical hormones because they appear more natural and safe than traditional synthetic ones, with molecular structures similar to what their bodies naturally produce. Some experts have even claimed these bioidentical hormones could provide greater health benefits over conventional hormone replacement therapy (hRT); however, no credible studies back this claim up.
Bioidentical hormones are made from hormones extracted from natural sources like yams and soybeans, processed so they can be absorbed by humans, then used to treat symptoms related to hormonal imbalance such as hot flashes or low libido. Although bioidentical hormones can provide temporary relief from hot flashes or low libido, they may also lead to other undesirable side effects like spotting and vaginal bleeding and should not be seen as an effective long-term solution to menopause.
Inga Zilberstein, MD is an expert on both obstetrics and gynecology who has extensive knowledge about symptoms that arise as women enter menopause. Her practice has found that many women struggle to balance their hormones effectively as well as find relief for uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes or night sweats.
BHRT differs from traditional hormone replacement therapy by using bioidentical hormones tailored specifically to your individual needs. This approach can revitalize energy levels, encourage mental acuity and increase libido as well as helping reduce symptoms associated with aging and low testosterone levels in men.
While other alternatives to BHRT exist, such as estrogen-progestin tablets or hormone-free birth control pills, they don’t provide as many advantages and may result in more severe side effects than BHRT.
Compounded Hormones
Women experiencing menopausal symptoms will sometimes ask their physician about compounded bioidentical hormones as an alternative treatment option to FDA-approved HRT versions, believing these may be safer and more closely mimic the hormones produced naturally by their bodies. Unfortunately, there has been evidence suggesting these may pose additional health risks.
Bioidentical hormones come in two forms, manufactured by pharmaceutical companies or compounded in pharmacies (compounding). Compounded hormones do not undergo FDA regulation for safety or effectiveness; consequently, their side effects are more likely to arise and some studies suggest an increased risk for certain diseases with compounded hormones.
Compounded bioidentical hormones pose another source of concern, as their safety remains unproven. Accordingly, the Endocrine Society issued a statement suggesting that doctors only prescribe these hormones to those patients unable to benefit from an FDA-approved product.
Many pharmacists offering compounded hormones will analyze samples of saliva taken from their patient in order to ascertain their individual hormonal requirements. Unfortunately, this method may not always provide accurate results and the mixture of ingredients in each batch of compounded hormone can vary, making it hard for healthcare providers to know exactly what they’re prescribing their patients.
No evidence exists to show that compounded bioidentical hormones are any safer or superior to traditional HRT products approved by the FDA, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone HRT products – which have all been shown to effectively relieve symptoms while increasing overall well-being. Furthermore, bioidentical hormones contain additional estrogen which may increase your risk for heart disease, stroke and breast cancer.
No matter if you opt for FDA-approved bioidentical hormone replacement therapy or compounded version, be sure to discuss all available options with your physician prior to beginning any course of hormone replacement therapy. While hormone replacement therapy is one effective means of managing menopause symptoms, all treatments carry some degree of risk.
Natural Hormones
Traditional natural hormone replacement therapy (HRT) uses plant-derived hormones to increase estrogen and progesterone levels and relieve menopausal symptoms, typically in pill, patch, spray or gel form. Dosage options vary based on each patient’s individual needs and can even be combined with other therapies to ease hot flashes, vaginal dryness and mood swings more effectively than synthetic HRT with potential serious side effects. Herbal supplements and plants may not always be effective but offer safer solutions than synthetic hormones with possible serious adverse side effects than synthetic HRT with potentially serious long-term side effects such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness compared with synthetic counterparts which may pose significant health risks when taken alone or combined with therapies like TENS treatments which could include hot flashes as well as hot flashes induced from HRT use compared with taking synthetic HRT with potential serious side effects; whether herbal supplements and plants offer effective solutions remains to be seen, yet these natural options do offer safe solutions instead of taking synthetic hormones which could carry risky side effects compared with synthetic counterparts which could produce unwanted side effects from taking synthetic HRT which could bring relief during menopausal symptoms without serious adverse side effects and could worsen existing menopausal symptoms that affect you can provide an alternative safe option without risk;
If you’re considering natural hormone products to treat your symptoms, make sure you speak to an ob-gyn first. They can provide an extensive list of products which may be safe and appropriate for you and help determine which will provide maximum benefits based on dosage and time duration.
Natural hormone therapy poses various risks depending on your age, the type of hormones taken and whether or not they’re taken systemically or locally. Systemic hormones travel through your bloodstream and reach all organs and tissues they need to; typically these come in pill, patch or spray form; however they can also come as vaginal cream, rings or implants called an IUD.
Local hormone therapy involves applying products directly to the skin in the form of creams, rings or IUDs for vaginal dryness relief and to ease other vaginal symptoms during intercourse such as itching and burning. Although systemic hormones provide similar results with much lower risks due to only small amounts entering your system through this route.
Supplements
Many herbs and supplements are advertised as natural hormone replacement therapy (NHRT), yet have never been scientifically proven to effectively address menopausal symptoms. Furthermore, some supplements may interact with certain drugs or cause severe side effects; Black cohosh is one such herb widely advertised as an alternative to hormones but its effectiveness remains unproven.
Fish oil supplements have long been recognized for supporting hormone levels and relieving menopausal symptoms. Fish oil can either be taken directly or found naturally in foods like walnuts, eggs and fatty fish.
Some dietary supplements are systemic, meaning they work by traveling throughout your body to provide relief for symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, while other remedies target specific areas, like vaginal gel or rings. Your ob-gyn may recommend including complementary and alternative medicine therapies in your bioidentical hormone therapy plan in order to alleviate menopause symptoms and enhance quality of life.
