Bioidentical Hormones: Don't Believe The Hype

Due to the uproar animal rights activists have made about the inhumane way mares are used to make estrogen replacement drugs, women in the grip of menopause want a choice. There also has been some tests that have shown that a long-term use of such drugs makes a woman more prone to stroke and breast cancer. There has been a lot of hype in the last fifteen years over bioidentical hormones, which claim to perfectly mimic estrogen or progestin with a combination of steroids and plants. These are incredibly expensive alternatives.

Are They Worth The Money?

Steer clear of bioidentical hormones. They have not been proven to be any safer. If you by them, you are not only wasting a phenomenal amount of money, you could be gambling away your life. There is no solid scientific proof that they do any of the things that they are claimed to do. So far, any positive effects that women claim to have from bioidentical hormones are thought to be due to the placebo effect.

The Placebo Effect

The mind is an incredibly mysterious object – especially in the area of self-healing. More and more, it seems that the belief in a medicine helps you rather than the medicine itself. If you've ever read about clinical trials for new medications, you always read about the results of the new drug as compared to a placebo. And you'll note that the placebo does pretty well for the first six months or so.

We don't fully understand the placebo effect. But it seems to happen without fail – anyone taking any new medication or medical therapy will immediately feel better. This has also happened to women taking bioidentical hormones for menopause symptoms. They could have taken a glass of water labeled "New drug" and would have gotten the same benefits (as long as they were convinced the water would work).

Not Regulated

In America, using bioidentical hormones for menopause is technically illegal (although in the grey area of illegality). It is a bit like taking chamomile tea for insomnia, only a heck of lot more expensive and risky. Bioidentical hormones are made and sold without any kind of regulatory body making sure the stuff made and sold is any good. They also don't undergo any hormone testing. As far as you know, the bioidentical hormones you are buying could be just water.

However, the North American Menopause Society and the Mayo Clinic both state that they think bioidentical hormones are too risky and not proven to really be much of a help, anyway.