The New Age of Menopause


April 28, 2005 -- What is "Natural" Anyway?

While there is not one "best" hormone therapy option right for all women, the therapeutic reality is that a woman's body is much more responsive to estradiol (the primary estrogen produced by the ovary) and micronized progesterone. These types of hormones are bio-identical to the estrogen and progesterone produced by women's bodies. Women respond to these prescription products because they are so similar to what a woman's body made naturally prior to the midlife changes in her body.

Caution is advised for women considering hormones compounded by a pharmacy. These formulations are customized based on each woman's hormone levels. While these formulations may use FDA-approved ingredients, the customized formulations are not approved and there are no guidelines for their use. Therefore, the safety and effectiveness cannot be assured.

For women interested in using an FDA-approved, effective, bio-identical hormone, there are options available, including Prometrium®, a progesterone therapy, and a transdermal estrogen gel therapy - EstroGel® (estradiol gel) - as well as pills, patches and creams.

The availability of FDA-approved transdermal and bioidentical options allows women more choices in tailoring HT to each woman's specific symptoms, medical history and delivery preference.

Transdermal Trend

Over the past few years, transdermal estrogen delivery products have become increasingly popular because they allow estrogen to be absorbed directly through the skin into the bloodstream, effectively managing menopausal symptoms without some of the side-effects associated with oral medications. Often, lower total dosages are needed to achieve the same effect compared to estrogen pills.

New transdermal delivery systems also relieve hot flashes and night sweats by ensuring the body receives a continuous and consistent supply of estrogen throughout the day.

Transdermal deliveries are available in a variety of forms, including patches, vaginal rings, creams and a gel. Ask your healthcare provider if a transdermal option is right for you.

Menopause & Hormone Therapy.

Menopause itself is the one day in a woman's life after she has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. Most women experience natural menopause because their ovaries no longer produce sufficient levels of the hormones estrogens, androgens and progesterone. Medical interventions, such as surgical removal of the ovaries, can cause a woman to experience menopause prematurely. This decrease in hormone levels, and the resulting menopausal symptoms, can be more severe than in women who go through natural menopause.

In the United States alone, several thousand women enter menopause each day. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, approximately 20 million women will reach menopause in the next decade. The good news is that there are many options available to treat menopause symptoms. The bad news is there is just as much misinformation on the latest trends and options in treatment.

As you go through this transition, we encourage you to take control of your health and equip yourself with information and the resources you need to make the years after menopause healthy ones. You should speak to your health care provider to find the right treatment for you.

Did You Know?

According to a recent Menopause Rx survey:

86% of women were unaware that hormone therapies custom-made in a compounding pharmacy were not FDA-approved.

75% of women preferred their hormone therapy be FDA-approved.

96% of women said they may be interested in a bioidentical hormone therapy for their menopause symptoms if it had received FDA approval.

For the latest news on HT, treatments for menopause and important health topics visit www.MenopauseRx.com.

Copyright ©2005 content, MenopauseRx, Inc. The information provided by MenopauseRx, Inc. is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health-care provider. Please consult your health-care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.