Estrogen Side Effects - Do You Know Them?
Olinda Rola
Estrogen side effects definitely exist, and one should
understand the difference between natural estrogen and
synthetic estrogen.
The most commonly prescribed synthetic estrogen is Premarin,
currently manufactured by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. According to
the manufacturer, the most frequent estrogen side effects for
Premarin are - vaginitis due to yeast or other causes, vaginal
bleeding, painful menstruation and leg cramps. Wyeth also makes
a Premarin vaginal cream - its most commonly reported side
effects include vaginal discomfort or pain, breast pain,
vaginitis and itching.
The synthetic estrogen prescription drugs are not the same as
natural estrogens occurring in the body. Since substances
occurring naturally cannot be patented, drug companies alter
the molecular structure and create a new substance that is
patentable. However, the body treats synthetic drugs
differently than natural substances, usually in the form of
unwanted estrogen side effects.
The three main estrogens occurring in the body are estradiol,
estrone and estriol. Natural estrogens are identical to those
occurring in the human body and are easily available in the
form of estriol creams and tablets.
According to Harvard-trained family physician Dr. John R. Lee
in his book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause,
the estrogens tend to increase cell division in tissue that is
hormone-sensitive such as breast and uterine tissue. Estradiol
is about a thousand times stronger in its effect on breast
tissue than is estriol. He references studies from 25 years ago
that showed that overexposure to estradiol increases the risk of
breast cancer.
Besides estrogen side effects from synthetic estrogens,
unhealthy excess estrogen is regularly obtained from other
sources. Birth control pills, household chemicals and
pesticides, certain foods that have been sprayed or given
chemicals and many construction materials used in homes are all
sources of estrogen which leads to estrogen side effects in the
female body. Doctors call this hormone imbalance condition of
excess estrogen in the body - estrogen dominance. What are
these estrogen side effects or symptoms of estrogen dominance?
The symptoms include low sex drive, bloating and weight gain,
headaches before the menstrual period, mood swings, irregular
periods and excessive menstrual bleeding.
In the normal menstrual cycle and a healthy woman, estrogen is
the dominant hormone that is produced for the first 10-12 days
following the previous menstrual flow. At ovulation the female
body begins producing progesterone, which happens for the next
12 days or so. If there is no pregnancy, progesterone and
estrogen levels will drop at around day 28, allowing
menstruation to begin. However, if there is no ovulation,
progesterone will not be produced by the body that month. This
event is called an annovulatory cycle, and it is a typical
occurrence today for women in their thirties and forties - no
ovulation, no progesterone. This leaves the woman with a
deficiency of progesterone, an excess of estrogen and resulting
estrogen side effects. And if a hysterectomy has happened,
surgical menopause means the woman no longer produces
progesterone, resulting in hormone imbalance.
If estrogen side effects from synthetic estrogen are a problem,
consider using the safer natural estrogen form which is estriol.
Read more about estrogen side effects, natural estrogen
supplementation and physician-recommended natural treatments
for dealing with hormone imbalance.
Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing
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