Hot flashes, cycling and running

[Seajay]

The "chemicals" are bioidentical, not horse urine, btw. So, I don't consider them foreign chemicals.

I just finished reading Mia Lundin's book. She is a huge proponent of bioidentical hormones. Problem is that its proving impossible to find anything by an M.D. on the subject.
Comments on bioidenticals? success or issues with them? and can anyone quote medical studies or refer an M.D.
Thanks!

[OakLeaf]

There aren't many sources I really trust, but here are two.

Here's what the Breast Cancer Fund has to say about bioidentical hormones:

There are very few studies, and those that exist have somewhat contradictory findings regarding impact on breast cancer. On the other hand, differently aged women, different compounds of hormones, different duration of using hormone supplements...all make comparisons difficult.

We are concerned that even taking bioidentical hormones extends the lifetime exposure of women to estrogens and progesterone, given the extensive data linking duration of hormonal exposure with risk of breast cancer. We also recognize that that there are differences in biological potency of various component estrogens, and that pharmacies and/or companies differ in their recipes for compounding the bioidentical hormone components.

In short, we support inclusion of bioidentical hormones in ongoing studies of efficacy and health outcomes (positive and negative), especially for post-menopausal women using these compounds to address the symptoms of menopause.

The National Women's Health Network is less equivocal:

All hormone products, bio-identical or not, are manufactured in a lab. While some are synthesized from “natural” sources (horse urine, plants, etc.), all go through extensive treatments in the lab to become hormone products. Some are synthesized to be exact copies of the body’s hormones (e.g., estradiol, estrone and progesterone); others are made into forms that are similar, such as progestins and conjugated equine estrogens. Unlike herbs, there’s no place in nature women can go to harvest hormones for home use. An interesting aspect to the natural vs. synthetic argument is the little known fact that many pharmacies that promote bio-identical hormones as natural alternatives actually buy the raw ingredients from pharmaceutical companies!

Are bio-identical hormones safer than other forms of HT? No. Are bio-identical hormones more effective than traditional HT? No, again.

[Dogmama]

You might be able to Google bio-identical hormones in the Google-scholar section. You'll find actual studies that you can look up. Basically, bio-identical hormones are made to be replicates of what we begin to loose. Compounding pharmacies can make them but there is some question about quality control - you don't really know that the specified levels are accurate. You can also get bio-identicals through a pharmacy. All require a doctor's prescription. Bio-identicals can be rubbed on (as in Diva Gel, my current one), applied as a patch (aka, Vivelle Dot) or taken orally.

I found an MD who specializes in menopause management. He has no problem with bio-identical hormones and we've been trying different types. My hot flashes are so intense that my calves actually sweat. I always have an array of clothing from heavy sweatshirts to sleeveless tops that I alternate during the day. I have annoying side effects from HRT, e.g., I can't wear my contacts because my eyes dry up, bloating, constipation & general malaise. BUT, I do sleep better and my hot flashes become bearable. My general mood improves and my memory becomes better. So, right now I'm on diva gel which I'm starting at half the regular dose. I go on & off - not good, I know. I've tried black cohosh, soy, you name it. They work a little bit, for a little while, but then I'm back to square one.

My doc says he has patients who are breast cancer survivors who still take estrogen. I went to a nurse practitioner who had breast cancer & said she'd never stop estrogen because it's a quality of life issue. So, some women are very adamant and I can't blame them.

BTW, The WHI study used Premarin which is horse urine. The FDA extrapolated that their findings extended to all hormone replacements. In 2005, the makers of Premarin petitioned the FDA to restrict the availability of bio-identical hormones.