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Role of Hormones Confusing For Menopausal Women

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(NewsUSA) - Menopause can be a complex time in a woman's life, complicated further by the confusion of what treatment options are safe and effective and the controversies surrounding them.

Most women understand the need for the hormone estrogen, but aside from the negative findings of the Women's Health Initiative four years ago, not much is discussed about the role of progesterone as part hormone therapy treatment.

Progesterone can play an important role in a woman's body. For example, women taking estrogen who have not had a hysterectomy should also use a progesterone to protect against uterine cancer. But according to the results of a recent survey conducted by MenopauseRx Inc., an online resource for menopausal women, 67 percent of women did not realize that they may be at risk for uterine cancer if taking estrogen without a progesterone.

Unfortunately, this role of progesterone is not well understood by both women and their doctors, who are often afraid to prescribe them. In addition to not understanding all their hormone therapy needs, some women are turning to unproven herbal remedies or other alternative products.

The recent hype of Suzanne Somers' new book touting custom-compounded, bio-identical products has added more confusion to the debate on hormone therapy. It is important for women to understand that custom-made options have the same risks as prescription products, and there are no approved guidelines for their use.

With regard to progesterone, there is no sufficient evidence to show that over-the-counter progesterone creams or custom-compounded products provide the same level of protection as prescription products approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

The majority of women in the MenopauseRx survey indicated a preference for bio-identical options that are approved by the FDA. For these women, there is a bio-identical progesterone - Prometrium - which is well-tolerated and available with a prescription. There are also many FDA-approved bio-identical estrogen products that come in various forms and doses.

As with any hormone therapy, women should consult with their health care provider to determine the right treatment for their symptoms, considering medical history and medication delivery preference.

For more information on menopause treatment options, visit http://www.menopauserx.com.

Dr. John Sunyecz is a practicing gynecologist and president of MenopauseRx Inc.