Whenever a medicine or treatment represents itself as actually having some benefits to the patient, it is only a matter of time before alternative approaches to that care are sought after. Anytime there is a chance to replace a man made drug product with something natural and is just as effective there will be a market for it. Hormone replacement therapy and Estrogen replacement therapy are no different.

Partly due to the results of recent studies devoted to ERT and HRT that show some dramatic risks involved while taking these drugs, women have started taking herbal remedies, natural supplements or flora based products to reduce or diminish their menopausal discomfort. As an example some women swear by St. John’s Wort and Chasteberry that act as a natural anti-depressant.

This trend toward natural cures to hormonal loss due to age, hysterectomies, or menopause has begun to focus more on what are called bioidenticals. These are identical in their cellular structure to hormones produced in the body naturally but they are still a synthetic version derived from the chemicals in plants of soy and yams. Other “natural” non-bioidenticals hormones are a derivative of animal and plant life. The question begging to be asked is are these non-human hormones termed “natural” actually as effective and safer than those used in conventional HRT’s are?

The jury is still out on bioidenticals being safer than standard hormones produced in the body. There have not been any extensive studies to investigate the any obvious difference between natural and human produced or even exogenous hormones available to physicians for prescribing. It is fact that bioidenticals do relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. These bioidenticals are available in various products such as skin patches, creams, and even some FDA approved tablets and products.

The mixing of bioidenticals or custom compounding as it is referred to, by pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists is a myth. Custom compounding of hormones is only necessary when a medical specialist wants to recommend particular combinations of hormones, dosing variations or specific preparations not normally available “behind the counter”. Custom Compounding is also used by clinicians when prescribing a hormone not readily available to female patients such as natural steroid hormones or testosterone. Certain FDA approved products containing the same chemical elements are used by these custom compounding pharmacies but the products are not FDA approved.

In summary there are natural ERT and HRT products on the market that are effective at treating certain ailments associated to hormonal health issues. The caveat seems to be understanding the risk –reward relationship and becoming knowledgeable about the natural products available. The jury is out regarding safety concerns, so once again HRT and ERT candidates seeking treatments that are natural should have a consultation with their health care provider about options before diving into any herbal/ natural hormone therapy treatment.

Contraceptives

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Every woman will eventually go through menopause either naturally or surgically, this is a natural part of life all women will have to face. Hormone replacement therapy will be administered to women that have reached menopause to help reduce the symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.

Ethinyl Estradiol

Ethinyl Estradiol is most commonly used in combination with other female hormones to prevent pregnancy. Ethinyl Estradiol can be taken orally, worn as a patch, or inserted as a vaginal ring. Ethinyl Estradiol can also be used to regulate the menstrual cycle and as hormone replacement therapy.

Menopausal symptoms

Some menopausal symptoms include:
• Fatigue
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Cravings for sweets or carbohydrates
• Low sexual desire
• Insomnia
• Difficulty thinking
• Irritability, mood swings, and depression
• Weight gain
• Irregular periods
• Stiffness in the joints, and joint pain

Some other menopausal symptoms are headache, thinning of the hair, heart palpitations, dry eyes and skin, and increased facial hair. Ethinyl Estradiol can help with all of these symptoms because they are only produced because of the lack of estrogen. By taking Ethinyl Estradiol you will be adding estrogen back into your body therefore easing the symptoms.

What causes menopausal symptoms?

Menopausal symptoms arise because the ovaries stop producing estrogen. By taking an estrogen hormone such as Ethinyl Estradiol you will see a reduction in symptoms.

What is hormone replacement therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy is taking a hormone by mouth, such as Ethinyl Estradiol, to replace the natural estrogen after menopause is reached. It is important to undergo hormone replacement therapy after menopause is reached because it offers a variety of benefits such as stopping the menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, difficulty thinking and night sweats.

Hormone replacement therapy can also reduce the development of osteoporosis and helps protect bones against breakage. Collagen is slowly lost from the skin during menopause, this makes the skin drier and makes you look older; using Ethinyl Estradiol will reduce the rate in which collagen is lost from the skin keeping you looking youthful. If you are using Ethinyl Estradiol as a hormone replacement you should continue to see your doctor regularly and report any changes in your health and lifestyle.

Risks of hormone replacement therapy with Ethinyl Estradiol

The benefits of hormone replacement therapy should be weighed against the risks before you start taking Ethinyl Estradiol. If used long term, Ethinyl Estradiol can increase the risk of developing breast cancer, developing blood clots, and developing heart problems.

Only you and your doctor can decide if hormone replacement therapy using Ethinyl Estradiol is right for you. You will need to discuss the risk factors, side effects, and your medical history before you start taking Ethinyl Estradiol. It is also important to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking including vitamins, herbal supplements, prescription medications, and over the counter medications. Ethinyl Estradiol can help with menopause and preventing pregnancy if used correctly, always follow the directions given to you from your doctor.

Contraceptives

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Do not confuse Estrogen Replacement Therapy with Hormone Replacement Therapy. There is a significant difference between the two. Estrogen replacement therapy, which would include ethinylestradiol, is meant to replace lost hormones in a women’s body to what they were prior to menopause on a daily basis and only if she has had her uterus removed [or a hysterectomy] and this would be known as [ERT].

If a women still has her uterus than she would be required to take an added hormone component called progestin so that the estrogen she takes will not affect the lining of the uterus known as the endometrium, which could cause cancer. Therefore, the ethinylestradiol plays an important role in Hormone replacement therapy by balancing the therapeutic role the hormones play in treating symptomatic menopause in middle age females. So it is easy to remember, women with a uterus need HRT, women lacking a uterus due to hysterectomy must have ERT.

Doctors will recommend HRT that is a combination of ethinylestradiol and usually norethindrone, which is the progestin or a variety of progesterone. Ethinylestradiol by itself comes in a tablet or pill version and many will choose this oral form but estrogen is also available in other types of curatives. There are vaginal creams, the vaginal ring known as NuvaRing, another popular form of ethinylestradiol, implants and injections.

There are now also patches that one applies on the skin and the ethinylestradiol is then absorbed through the epidermis. The progestin part of the HRT equation is also available in pill form sometimes in combination with the estrogen. It also comes in various forms such as an intrauterine apparatus, vaginal gel and also in shot form.

Once a woman decides in concert with her doctor that the benefits outweigh any risk with hormone replacement therapy, they should consider using the least effectual amount for the shortest time period advisable, but not more than 3 to 4 years. Ethinylestradiol is a very effective medication for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in women but there are other alternatives a person may want to consider. Drugs in the form of estrogen cream, antidepressants, and certain products derived from soy and even whole HRT and ERT therapy regimens of the herbal/ natural supplement variety have been proven effective at alleviating symptoms of menopause. Some physicians will even recommend these natural protocols as a primary treatment before resorting to the more quantifiable HRT methods of treatment.

Contraceptives

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