HRT: Good or Evil?

I have been bringing you content on social media for over 7 months now!
And for over 2 months, being branded as the Hormonal Pharmacist.

I’ve been teasing out and leaving glimmers of the truth that optimal health is intrinsically linked to hormonal balance. I’ve shared a lot about the systems that tie into hormones, but, when I recently did an audit on my content, I realized that I haven’t really shared much on the actual topic that really stirs this passion in my soul…

hormones.

So, if you’ve been waiting for me to open up about it, that moment is here!

Let’s start looking into this wonderful world of hormones and take a peek into the extraordinary advantages of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).

Come along as I uncover the mysteries surrounding BHRT and why it’s not just a recommendation but a commitment to lifelong well-being.

First… Let’s address the elephant in the room:
The Women’s Health Initiative Study

One of the biggest disservices to women in all of history, in my opinion: The WHI (the Women’s Health Initiative) Study and the Synthetic Hormone Debacle

You may or may not remember, way back in 2002, there was a huge, monumental study on hormone replacement therapy in women, trying to determine if it was safe. If you haven’t heard of it, I recommend that you Google it.

In the annals of medical history, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study stands as a significant chapter, but not for the right reasons. Regrettably, it became a catalyst for a narrative that caused immeasurable harm to women’s health across generations. The fallout from the study led to a mass exodus from hormone therapies, leaving women grappling with perimenopausal symptoms and, perhaps more alarmingly, potential long-term health consequences.

The WHI study, while shedding light on the adverse effects of synthetic progestins, inadvertently inflamed a hormone hysteria that plagued subsequent decades. The media’s resounding shouts echoed a simplistic narrative that is just wrong: hormones are bad. This naive conclusion, rooted in the study’s flaws, became a disservice to our mothers and grandmothers.

The Flaws Exposed: Recent years have seen the emergence of a tidal wave of well-designed studies, employing random double-blind placebo-controlled trials, revealing the flaws in the WHI study’s conclusions. While the synthetic progestin arm of the study rightfully earned its negative reviews, (and gave light to the harmful effects of progestins – not progesterone) the synthetic estrogen arm painted a different picture… a reduction in all-cause mortality. However, the media’s consensus, rooted in fear-mongering and nepotism, drowned out any positive conclusions that might have been drawn.

Fast-forward to today, and we witness the repercussions of this misplaced fear. As women who went through perimenopause right around the turn of the 21st century are now entering their golden years, we see a concerning uptick in cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s Disease, bone fractures, and heart disease. The irony is poignant—the very caution meant to protect women may have led to outcomes that compromise their well-being.

How many of you have mothers and grandmothers that face these health crises?
Have you asked them how they feel about hormones?
What narrative was spun to them in making the decision of whether or not to use hormones?
What if they knew that it’s been a big lie.

This is where it gets personal. My own mother had a complete hysterectomy sometime in the 90’s. At first, she was told she would not need hormones. Until… the hot flashes came on. She started synthetic estrogen. And was doing fine. And then the study… I was a new pharmacist and I remember the uproar in our female patients and their physicians. Suddenly, prescriptions were being canceled left & right.

Mom decided to stop taking it.

I can’t say for sure, but I have my undeniable suspicions… she ended up developing heart disease, cognitive decline, cataracts and she died from complications of a broken hip while she had Covid.
(>>>>heart, brain, bones) Yep, it really makes me go…
Hmmmmm….

The Pendulum Swings: Thousands upon thousands of studies now affirm what the WHI study failed to comprehend—estrogen and hormone balance are not adversaries but essential allies in the maintenance of muscle mass, bone density, breast health, heart function, cognitive acuity, eye health, and skin vitality. The pendulum of understanding has swung, dismantling the once-prevailing notion that hormones are bad.

Reclaiming Hormonal Balance: It’s time to redirect the narrative, acknowledging the disservice the WHI study inadvertently rendered. Hormones, when administered thoughtfully and in harmony with a woman’s biology, play a pivotal role in overall health. As we debunk the myths instigated by the past, let us embrace a more nuanced understanding—one that empowers women to make informed decisions about their hormonal well-being.

In essence, it’s time to liberate ourselves from the shackles of outdated stories and reclaim the power of hormonal balance for the well-being of ourselves, our daughters and for generations to come.

When we know better we do better.

Stay tuned… LOTS more coming in my next several posts about hormones!

Would you like to have your hormones tested?
GET MORE INFO HERE

MELINDA FOWLER
RPh, ABAAHP, FAAMM, CHC