Stephenson Pharmacy
Home ] Who We Are ] Our Staff ] Compounding ] Resources ]

 

WHY USE HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY?

 Hormone replacement therapy is intended to treat the body’s response to changing hormone balance, responses include hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, general dryness and thinning of the vaginal mucosa, noticeable aging of the skin, diminished sex drive, anxiety, mood changes, depression, and mood swings.

 Hormone replacement therapy will affect every cell and organ in the body, and help offset many results of the aging process.

 A chemist discovered the five-step biochemical process to convert diosgenin (from wild yams) to progesterone, then to testosterone, and then to the estrogens (estriol, estradiol, and estrone) in 1939. The process was placed in the public domain for use by medical researchers. Pharmaceutical companies saw little long-term profit potential in producing these bio-identical hormones that could be produced by any company, so several began to search for similar but patentable hormone compounds. The most successful commercial estrogen therapy product is Premarin, by Wyeth-Ayerst, a formulation of conjugated estrogens, most of which are extracted from the urine of pregnant mares and many of which are not identical to human estrogens. In 1996, more than 22,000,000 prescriptions were written for Premarin!

 Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) with conjugated estrogens does a pretty good job of controlling vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes) while lessening the risk of heart attack and (at least temporarily) osteoporosis-but side effects do occur, including withdrawal bleeding, fluid retention, bloating, headache (including migraine), nausea, anxiety, irritability, and vaginal discharge. (Premarin package insert.) When large studies began to show that synthetic ERT also increases the risk of endometrial and breast cancer, many ladies and their physicians started searching for more natural and less risky alternatives. After all, if natural human hormones increased women’s cancer risk much at all, the human species would probably have become extinct long ago!

 Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (NHRT) has all the benefits of HRT (estrogen replacement therapy+progestins) with fewer unwanted effects and lessened risks. NHRT is generally thought to:

  • Prevent osteoporosis and even restore bone mass and strength
  • Reduce hot flashes and reverse vaginal dryness and thinning
  • Help maintain muscle mass and strength
  • Protect against heart disease and strokes
  • Improve cholesterol levels
  • Reduce risk of endometrial and breast cancer
  • Reduce risk of depression and insomnia
  • Enhance concentration and memory
  • Increase libido
  • Help prevent senility and Alzheimer’s disease

 PROGESTERONE

Natural progesterone is a bio-identical plant-derived hormone, exactly identical to the progesterone produced by the human body. Synthetic progesterone derivatives, called progestins, are commonly added to ERT to decrease the risk of breast and uterine cancer. Natural progesterone has the same effect, of course.

 Natural progesterone is very helpful for PMS-syndrome of hormonal imbalance. We recommend beginning oral doses (in a specific formulation for absorption past the stomach) of 30mg to 100mg daily, cycled for perimenopausal patients and each day for postmenopausal patients.

 Natural progesterone can be used as a treatment and protection against fibrocystic breast disease and is believed to be especially effective applied locally in a cream formulation. Progesterone is a relatively small, fat soluble molecule and is well absorbed after topical application.

 Data from the PEPI trials indicates that supplementation with natural progesterone will help maintain the benefits of estrogen on HDL and overall cholesterol levels, while synthetic progestins (such as Provera) negate estrogen effects. Incidentally, for every 3 women that die of breast cancer, 35 die of heart attacks.

 Natural progesterone has the following functions and/or uses:

·        It is thermoregulatory, and may be used alone to control hot flashes

·        Acts as a natural antidepressant

·        Promotes thermo genesis (“fat burning”) for increased energy

·        Helps normalize blood sugar levels

 The only side effect of natural progesterone therapy documented so far is drowsiness, especially apparent when blood levels go up rapidly due to rapid absorption of too-large doses.

 ENHANCING LIBIDO

Progesterone may be used alone or in combination with testosterone to help women (menstruating, menopausal and post-menopausal) enhance their libido.  Doses have shown to be most effective when administered topically to the forearm or inner thigh. Hormone levels determine the specific dose the patient needs. Progesterone has also proven to be helpful to those women who suffer from migraine headaches as a result of their cycle. 

Dream Cream is a compounded medication designed specifically for women with low libido. This cream is to be applied intravaginally prior to intercourse. Once applied, the cream stimulates the nerves lining the vaginal wall thereby increasing sexual pleasure.

GETTING A PRESCRIPTION

If you are interested in trying Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy, contact your physician or call John Stephenson. John will answer any questions or concerns you may have. If you need a doctor who will prescribe NHRT, we can help you find one. Our staff will be happy to assist you with phone numbers to doctors who are currently prescribing Natural Hormones.

Once you have spoken with your doctor, a saliva test must be performed. A sample of saliva swabbed from the mouth is sent to ZRT Laboratories for testing. The results are then sent to us and your doctor. John will review your test results, consult with you and then your doctor. At this time, they will determine the best treatment plan for you based on your symptoms and needs.

After a prescription is called in, we will prepare it for you in our lab. Depending on the day and time it is called in, will determine when it is ready for pick-up. We attempt to have all compounds ready 24 hours after the doctor approves them. We have a general schedule for our lab, which can be viewed under Compounding Schedule.

Back