Many women have begun eschewing traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for its allegedly safer and more natural bioidentical equivalent during the menopausal transition. However, what glitters isn't always gold.
Continue reading to learn more about natural hormone replacement for menopause, including its risks and alternatives, so that you can start to take better control of your reproductive health today.
Natural Hormone Therapy for Menopause
As a woman's reproductive years end, the ovaries begin to wind down production of principal reproductive hormones, mainly estrogen and progesterone, causing drastic hormonal fluctuations.
These variations can cause a variety of menopause symptoms, like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and more, leading women in search of solutions to bring relief.
Bioidentical hormones - such as bioidentical estrogen, bioidentical progesterone, or bioidentical testosterone - are often considered the solution, but unfortunately, they are not always the answer.
Although derived from plant sources, bioidentical hormones are synthetically manufactured through a process similar to traditional HRT. Moreover, there is no conclusive proof that they are inherently safer nor more effective than their pharmaceutical counterparts.
Before deciding if taking bioidentical hormones for perimenopause is right for you, check out the complete list of risks and side effects of bioidentical hormones by clicking on the previous link.
Alternatives to Bioidentical Hormones for Menopause
Nevertheless, prior to committing to any type of hormone therapy, women suffering from hormonal imbalance should explore other non-invasive treatment options.
Simple lifestyle changes - namely, stress management techniques, a balanced diet, and regular exercise - can make a world of difference in symptom frequency and severity.
If these measures fail to provide sufficient relief, women may wish to turn to alternative medicine and therapies. Herbal supplements, biofeedback, and acupuncture have all proven effective in mitigating the physical and psychological manifestations of menopause.
Click on the following link about alternatives to bioidentical hormones to learn more about viable, safer options for long-term menopause relief.
Sources
- National Women's Health Network. (n.d.). Menopause and Natural Hormones. Retrieved May 20, 2019, from https://nwhn.org/natural-hormones-at-menopause/
- Office on Women's Health. (2018). Menopause treatment. Retrieved May 20, 2019, from https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/menopause-treatment