Menopause, HRT & Natural Alternatives 

This page has information on Menopause, HRT study results and natural alternatives that women should look at during menopause. 

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstruation ends. During this time the woman’s ovaries produce lower levels of the sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Menopause can occur as early as mid 30’s but usually between the ages of 45 and 55 years. Menopause occurs early if the ovaries are lost/removed for some reason. During Menopause the estrogen hormone levels are reduced to approximately one-tenth of pre-menopause levels and progesterone is nearly absent.

The following are examples of the types of problems experienced by many menopausal woman. Hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, sleeplessness and vaginal dryness. In addition the following are more common in women after menopause; Bone loss (osteoporosis), angina, and heart attack (coronary artery disease).

Menopause without interference is a good article written by Dr. Madeline Behrendt. Ref1

In that article Dr Madeline discusses the ‘without interference approach to menopause’ Some points made by her were:

·         HRT drugs can be dangerous e.g. combination Hormone Replacement Therapy (Prempro) study, was terminated three years early because the results demonstrated serious problems including a 26% increase in breast cancer among participants, as well as increases in blood clots (100%), strokes (41%), and heart attacks (29%).

·         Women have been going through menopause for 100’s of years it’s not new or an illness. Like leaders women need to approach menopause as a life cycle, not a deficiency, and consider turning away from hormone "replacement" therapy and the pill.

·         Women living the chiropractic lifestyle were not shocked, anxious or depressed by the results of the federal HRT study. Instead, they were relieved, grateful and confident — and they're healthy.

·         First interference in menopause may be promotion of hormone products and/or lifestyle choices that promote stress and body/mind disorganisation and/or altered hormone function due to birth control pills and/or developing bodies exposed to sex hormones in food.

·         Chiropractic has an important and unique role in women's health, including during menopause. Its benefits warrant exploration and consideration, by all women.

·         The essence of chiropractic is organization, and care which serves to promote function, repair, communication and coordination of the nervous system through subluxation detection and correction. These factors can influence the success of our complex hormonal system, our stress response system and our immune system, to name a few areas important to women's health.

·         It's easy to relate to organization or disorganization. Imagine the disorganization that could result from subluxations interference on the nervous system during menopause, a time when the body requires energy and coordination while our systems are "rewired" for a new life cycle.

·         Chiropractic has the clinical results. Millions seek chiropractic care because chiropractic
works. We also look for collaboration with other professionals who share our awe at the innate wisdom and amazing feats of the body/mind and seek to explore it.

·         In closing, for menopause without interference consider the chiropractic approach.

What is HRT (hormone Replacement Therapy)?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) usually involves treatment with either estrogen alone or estrogen in combination with progesterone.  A synthetic hormone, Progestin with effects similar to those of progesterone, may be used as a substitute. The use of HRT can effectively double hormone levels in post-menopause women, but this therapy does not produce the natural bio-identical hormone found in the body or natural levels seen before menopause. Ref2

Risks of HRT

·         The Women’s Health Initiative study of 16000 healthy woman,  was discontinued early in 2002, when investigators reported that the overall risks of estrogen plus progestin outweighed the benefits.ref4

·         According to recent studies, HRT with estrogen plus progestin may increase the risk of: Dementia by 50 percent-in women age 65 and older.ref8 ; Blood clots by 50 percent.ref4 ; Stroke by 41 percent.ref4 ; Heart disease by 29 percent.ref4; Breast cancer by 26 percent.ref4 ; Risk of death from ovarian cancer-in women who used estrogens for 10 or more years.ref9

·         To date, HRT has not been proven beneficial in older women with pre-existing heart disease. Ref7.  Additionally, the use of estrogen plus progestin hasn't been shown to affect post-menopausal women's general health, vitality, mental health, depressive symptoms, or sexual satisfaction.ref10

Benefits of HRT using estrogen plus progestin:

·         Relief for menopausal symptoms ref4

·          Fewer cases of hip and spine factures ref4

·          Reduction in the risk of developing colon cancer by 37 percent was reported among women using estrogen plus progestin.ref4.  Studies do suggest, however, that to maintain bone density, women must continue taking the hormone.

While some benefits have been noted the general consensus is that the risks outweigh the benefits. Women should consider less risky safer alternatives in discussion with their health care specialist. Safer more effective therapies may become available in the future. Always seek to make an informed decision if it involves drugs.

Natural ALTERNATIVES to HRT

Women look to safe natural alternatives to help them through menopause. Some reasons for this are; they prefer natural care, studies have identified concerns about the use of HRT, HRT has not proven beneficial for long term problems. Women who feel that HRT is not a good choice for them may consider alternative approaches.

Things that may be good for womens health:

1.       A healthy lifestyle decreases the risk of bone loss. Exercise regularly, healthy fresh foods, reduce or eliminate poisons such as nicotine, caffeine, alcohol.

2.       To prevent osteoporosis, health professionals recommend taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. Ref11.

3.       Some foods and supplements may help reduce the symptoms of menopause. Always consult your health care professional before taking any supplements.

Estrogen containing foods e.g. whole grain cereals, fruit, natural soy based products, vegetables

Evening primrose

Black cohosh

Dong quai

Vitamin E

Vitamin B complex

4.       Hormone Creams – Ensure that creams used provide bio-identical hormone replacement i.e. the hormone is identical in structure and function to human hormone. If unsure check with your health care professional.

Before taking any dietary supplement, consult with your health care provider. The benefits and risks of most of the above are being researched. Ref11.

1. Dr. Madeline Behrendt. Menopause without interference. http://minniepauz.com/madeline3.html
2. American Chiropractic Associaton (ACA). Hormone Replacement Therapy. http://www.amerchiro.org/content_css.cfm?CID=75
3. Brett KM, Madans JH. Use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy: estimates from a nationally representative cohort study. Am J Epidemiology 1997;145(6):536-45.
4. Writing Group for the Women's Health Initiative. Risks and benefits of combined estrogen and progestin in healthy menopausal women: Principal results from the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2002;288:321-333.
5. Chlebowski RT, Hendrix SL, Langer RD, Stefanick ML, Gass M, Lane D, et al. Estrogen Plus Progestin Influence on Breast Cancer and Mammography in Healthy Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Trial. JAMA 2003;289:3243.
6. Schairer C, Lubin J, Troisi R, Sturgeon S, Brinton L, Hoover R. Menopausal estrogen and estrogen-progestin replacement therapy and breast cancer risk. JAMA 2000;283(4):485-491.
7. Grady D, Herrington D, Bittner V, Blumenthal R, Davidson M, Hlatky M, et al. Cardiovascular disease outcomes during 6.8 years of hormone therapy. JAMA 2002; 288:49-57.
8. Shumaker, SA, Legault C, Rapp SR, Thal L, Wallace RB, Ockene JK, et al. Estrogen plus progestin and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women. JAMA 2003;289:2651-2662.
9. Rodriguez C, Patel AV, Calle EE, Jacob EJ, Thun MJ. Estrogen replacement therapy and ovarian cancer mortality in a large prospective study of US women. JAMA 2001;285(11):1460-1465.
10. Hays J, Ockene JK, Brunner RL, Kotchen JM, Manson JE, Patterson RE, et al. Effects of estrogen plus progestin on health-related quality of life. N Engl J Med 2003;348: 1839-54.
11. Keller C, Fullerton J, Mobley C. Supplemental and complementary alternatives to hormone replacement therapy. Amer Acac Nurse Pract 1999;11(5):187-98.