Finding Adequate Menopause Treatments

As women grow older, they start looking around for information on how to deal with menopause and other health issues that are related to low hormone levels. Unfortunately, they often find a lot of misinformation. Menopause has become more of a political issue and as such, major drug companies are fighting over the right to “own” treatments that will help women overcome their menopausal symptoms. Sadly, not all women have the time, or the inclination, to do the research and learn all the facts about their hormones. Most simply accept a doctor’s word, trusting that they have the necessary knowledge of treatment strategies to help alleviate symptoms. Because of the political environment surrounding menopausal treatments, doctors are not always aware of the truth about hormones either. It is important to realize that menopause treatments are marketable. Every single woman who lives into her 40's and 50's will go through it. Drug companies stand to make a lot of money off of women's suffering and pain if they can produce a “treatment” that will alleviate menopausal symptoms. In the 1930's, drug companies did just that and by 1992, Premarin, a drug consisting of synthetic female hormones was the most often prescribed drug in the United States. By 2002, the reality of what Premarin was actually doing to women was realized. Premarin was causing a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancers in women who were using it to treat their menopausal symptoms. Though the results of research studies showed without a doubt that the risk of using Premarin to treat menopause symptoms far outweighed the benefits, the drug was not removed from the market. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, the company that manufactured Premarin, began a smear campaign on any and all alternatives to synthetic hormones. This was done in an effort to ensure women turn to synthetic hormones such as Premarin when they want treatment for menopause. In reality, women have better, healthier options to alleviate the symptoms of menopause. Because of the extensive work of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals to protect its own financial interests, many doctors don't even realize that bioidentical hormone therapy is a safe alternative to using Premarin. Bioidentical hormones are identical in structure and function to the hormones that are produced by a woman's body. Synthetic hormones like Premarin, on the other hand, are manufactured to be slightly different from the hormones produced by the body so that they can be patented and then sold for a profit. Bioidentical hormones are not FDA approved because they cannot be patented, but they do not have the same risks as synthetic hormones. Many doctors do not even realize the differences between synthetic and bioidentical hormones, perpetuating the myth that the best treatment for menopausal symptoms are the dangerous synthetic hormones like Premarin. The more women know and understand about their bodies, synthetic hormones and bioidentical hormone treatments, the more likely they are to be able to find adequate treatment for menopausal symptoms and health problems that result from low hormone levels. Bioidentical hormone treatments often start alleviating symptoms of menopause right away. Doctors who specialize in bioidentical hormone therapies carefully monitor women's response to the hormones and make adjustments in their dosages accordingly. Women who understand the basics of bioidenticals can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing they have made the right choice for their bodies.