The HRT Controversy of 2002 and the abrupt halting of the WHI (Women's Health Initiative) Study on women and the effects of hormone replacement therapy left women more confused than ever. Prior to the study, the information women were given by their health care practitioners prescribing commercial synethetic hormone replacement therapy, such as Premarin, Prempro (a combination of Premarin and Provera - the drugs used in the study) was that by using conventional HRT, "the benefits outweighed the risks."
When the study was suddenly and abruptly halted in July of 2002, the statement suddenly reversed to "the risks outweigh the benefits."
Power Surge has always been outspoken regarding the dangers of synthetic hormones. For those women who prefer to use hormones, the only hormones Power Surge recommends have been naturally compounded, bio-identical hormones -- identical to those manufactured by your own body. Herewith, you will find information that will be of help to you in making educated choices for treating your menopausal symptoms.
Conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy: The Risks Outweigh The Benefits
NIH Cautions on Hormone Therapy U.S. Scientists End Nation's Biggest Study of a Type of Hormone Therapy, Citing Cancer Risk
July 9, 2002 -- Government scientists abruptly ended the nation's biggest study of a type of hormone replacement therapy, saying long-term use of estrogen and progestin significantly increase women's risk of breast cancer, strokes and heart attacks.
Six million American women use this hormone combination, either for short-term relief of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms or because of doctors' long-standing assumptions that long-term use would prevent heart disease and brittle bones and generally keep women healthier longer.
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Women's Health Initiative Study on Women and HRT Abruptly Halted
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has stopped early a major clinical trial of the risks and benefits of combined estrogen and progestin in healthy menopausal women due to an increased risk of invasive breast cancer. The large multi-center trial, a component of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), also found increases in coronary heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolism in study participants on estrogen plus progestin compared to women taking placebo pills. There were noteworthy benefits of estrogen plus progestin, including fewer cases of hip fractures and colon cancer, but on balance the harm was greater than the benefit.
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Human Identical Hormones for Hormone Replacement Therapy
The abrupt cessation of a branch of the Women's Health Initiative Randomized
Controlled Trial (WHI), a study funded by the National Institute of Health
(NIH), caused a media frenzy and raised concerns regarding Hormone Replacement
Therapy (HRT) by both the professional and lay community. Interestingly,
this WHI study was actually one of two studies which had results published
at approximately the same time. The other study was the Heart and Estrogen
/ Progestin Replacement Study Follow-up (HERS II) study.
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The following Guest Chats were immediately scheduled following the abrupt halting of the WHI Study and provide important information about this issue:
The HRT Controversy Discussions:
A wealth of information providing various methods of treatment can be found in Natural Bio-Identical Hormones, as well as the Recommendations area; in the Educate Your Body Library, Guest Transcripts; and Newsletters. Plus, the very active and supportive Web site Message Boards provide information shared by women going through menopause.
Suggested reading from the Educate Your Body Library: