The inescapable reality that women dread most apart from wrinkles and graying hair is the onset of the so-called "change of life" or menopause, that point in time when a woman has her last menstrual period, says a primer.  Research shows that just like the descriptive trait attached to the female specie, menopause too is unpredictable.  A primer say, it is virtually impossible to predict at what age menopause will occur, although the age at which the woman's mother reached menopause may provide a clue.  Mother like daughter, pertaining to blood running in their veins.

Advantages of HRT

For women entering menopause, the decision to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be extremely difficult.  According to medical doctor, hormone replacement therapy promises to:

• Prevent osteoporosis.
• Eliminate hot flashes, insomnia and other menopausal symptoms.
• Relieve recurring vaginal and urinary tract infections (UTI).
• Diminish arthritis pain.
• Substantially reduce the risk of heat attack, senility and Alzheimer disease.
• Enhance muscle tone.
• Keep skin and muscle firm.

What drawback could possibly dissuade a woman from choosing HRT?

Studies show that there are some unpleasant side effects from some women such as: Headache, nausea, anxiety and irritability, bloating, vaginal discharge and even allergy.  Furthermore according to research many women who say "no" to HRT do so for one compelling reason, it increase breast cancer risk.  A 1997 analysis of 51 epidemiological studies of 161,000 women found that among users of HRT, the relative risk of having breast cancer diagnosed increased by a factor of 1.023 for each year of use.

Help from a Doctor

Replacing hormones makes a great deal of sense if we replace the actual hormones that diminish during the menopause.  Doctors say that conventional HRT doesn't do this.  Conventional HRT most often replaces human women's estrogens with horse estrogens (Premarin).  Studies show that human ovaries secrete three estrogens- estriol, estradiol and estrone.  Estriol, the "weakest" of the three, is generally considered to be anticarcinogens; makes up more than eighty percent of circulating human estrogens. Estradiol and estrone are both generally considered pro-carcinogenic, but together make up fewer than twenty percent of circulating human estrogens.

Natural Hormone Replacement (NHR)

These natural hormones are made of chemical techniques from precurser molecules found in soy and dioscorea ( a giant jam).  The resulting molecules are identical to human hormone molecules and perform all the same functions once the chemical process is complete.  Natural hormone replacement (NHR) consists of replacing these hormones with a balanced combination of estrogens, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA.  A doctor can prescribe these hormone replacements, while progesterone and DHEA are available in natural food stores as creams and supplements respectively.

Hormone from Plants

Foods and herbs that contain phytoestrogens called plant estrogens can augment and support your natural hormone replacement.  Soy products are known to certain large amounts of phytoestrogens.  When ingested, phytoestrogens appear to function much like natural estrogens in many ways.  Studies show that phytoestrogens increase cell growth in vaginal walls in post-menopausal women, raise good cholesterol, reduce osteoporosis and risk of heart disease, all without increasing the risk of cancer. 

According to one estimate, about two ounces of soy products per day may be sufficient to ward off hot flashes and other symptoms and perhaps even protect against cancer and heart disease a reduction in menopause symptoms may follow.

Reference: Woman's home companion and MOD Magazine