Jeffrey Dach MD Bio-Identical Hormone Blog: Why Bioidentical Hormones Are Better Than Synthetic by Jeffrey Dach MD
Why Bioidentical Hormones Are Better Than Synthetic by Jeffrey Dach MD
Why Bioidenticals Hormones Are Better than Synthetics <>
by Jeffrey Dach MD
Bioidentical Hormones are far preferable compared to synthetic hormones. Firstly, the WHI Study (Women's Health Initiative Study) showed that synthetic hormones cause cancer and heart disease. If you look at the second arm of the WHI study, (which did not include a synthetic progestin), the breast cancer risk is significantly decreased. The cardiac risk was also decreased.
Therfore, the Progestin Was the Culprit
The culprit was the synthetic progestin called Provera, known for years to cause cancer and heart disease. As a matter of fact, three previous studies showed the same finding, that progestins cause breast cancer.
1) The Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project (BCDDP ) had an 8 fold increase in breast cancer when they used a progestin.
2) The Swedish Record Review had a three fold increase in breast cancer with a progestin.
In all these studies, they were using Progestins along with the estrogen, and that's why they got those results. (Progestins are chemically altered synthetic forms of progesterone).
Examples of a chemically altered hormone (see below): Medroxyprogesterone acetate is a modified version of progesterone, Chemical modification in RED below:
Above left: Bioidentical progesterone Above Right: chemical modification in RED
A Progestin is NOT Progesterone
Progestin is not the same as bioidentical progesterone. In fact, Progestins are "chemicalized " versions of progesterone. The chemical structure is altered to get a patent. That's why they are so bad for your health. They have been altered chemically.
Breast Cancer Rates Fall After Women Abandon Synthetic Hormones
Secondly, when the WHI results were made public, prescriptions for synthetic hormones dropped and breast cancer rates plummeted. Two separate studies showed these findings:
Both in a Canadian Study and a US Study (April 2007 NEJM), data showed plummeting breast cancer rates after the 2002 WHI study prompted massive numbers of women to abandon synthetic hormones.
Bioidentical Hormones Are Not Associated with Breast Cancer
I would add here the French Cohort Study showed no increased risk of breast cancer in bioidentical hormone users compared to the general population at large.
The reader is advised to discuss the comments on these pages with his/her personal physicians and to only act upon the advice of his/her personal physician. Also note that concerning an answer which appears as an electronically posted question, I am NOT creating a physician -- patient relationship. Although identities will remain confidential as much as possible, as I can not control the media, I can not take responsibility for any breaches of confidentiality that may occur.
Copyright (c) 2010,11 Jeffrey Dach MD All Rights Reserved. This article may be reproduced on the internet without permission, provided there is a link to this page and proper credit is given.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of issues of significance. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
Comments