Hormone Replacement Therapy and Osteoporosis

The debate continues over conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy and alternative therapy or natural therapy for Osteoporosis Treatment. This is a presentation of the conventional HRT treatments.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is critical in treating osteoporosis.  Fortunately science has advanced significantly in the last decade to offer those suffering from this debilitating disease many different options in choosing, along with their doctor, which hormone replacement therapy medication is best for them.  There are pills, patches, even injections that can be applied to your drug therapy for osteoporosis. Let’s first take a look at why hormone replacement therapy is so critical in regard to treating osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis Begins and HRT to the Rescue?

During menopause, your ovaries decrease production of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.  Because of this drop, bones begin to become brittle, weak and loss their density. What hormone replacement therapy does is decrease the decline of bone loss; which in turn can decrease the number of hip or other osteoporosis related bone fractures. 

This being said, there has been much debate over the use of hormone replacement therapy. Many scientific studies have linked HRT to breast cancer and stroke, thus frightening many women from taking HRT. In conjunction with your doctor, the best thing to do is to gather all the information you can that is available and weight your options. Certainly, these are valid concerns, however the benefits of hormone replacement therapy specifically in regard to osteoporosis seems to far outweigh the risks associated with their use.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the risks associated with hormone replacement therapy to give you a better idea of what the research has really shown.

Increased Risk of Serious Conditions with HRT

The Women's Health Initiative in 2007 conducted a study and found that women taking the combination estrogen-progestin (Prempro) used in the study had an increased risk of developing certain serious conditions. According to the study, over one year, 10,000 women taking estrogen plus progestin compared with a placebo might experience:

Based on these numbers, the increased risk of disease to an individual woman is small. Yes, it is worthy of consideration, however again, the risk is small. Further, researchers found that women taking combination estrogen-progestin had an increase in abnormal mammograms. The higher number of false-positives — signs of possible breast cancer that ultimately proves inaccurate — was probably due to estrogen, which increases breast tissue density.

Additionally, for women taking estrogen alone (Premarin), the WHI found no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease. (Note that it found no help either) But researchers did find that over one year, 10,000 women taking estrogen compared with a placebo might experience 12 more cases of stroke and six more cases of blood clots in the legs, plus an increase in mammography abnormalities. This last point is important, because women who take estrogen or combination estrogen-progestin therapy may need more frequent mammograms and additional testing. Your doctor will say that this is clearly “workable.” (It looks real good for mammogram companies as well.)

Information surrounding hormone replacement therapy can be scary and confusing. But the absolute risk to an individual woman taking hormone therapy is quite low — possibly low enough to be acceptable to you, depending on your symptoms.  Again, speaking with your doctor and taking into account all the risks vs. benefits will help assist you in making the best decision for your overall health.

In regard to osteoporosis, it increases bone density, the progression of the disease is slowed as well as the symptoms themselves can be helped to be relieved. Let’s take a look at the most commonly prescribed HRT drugs on the market today.

1.      Conjugated Estrogen (Cenestin, Premarin) ,

2.      Estradiol Transdermal System (Alora, Climara, Esclim, Estraderm Patch, FemPatch, Menostar, Vivelle, Vivelle-Dot)

3.       Esterified Estrogens (Estratab, Menest)

4.      Estradiol (Estrace, Gynodiol)

Wihether to take hormone replacement therapy is a personal decision every woman will eventually have to make. Adding in the component of osteoporosis, there is no question that hormone replacement therapy greatly assists in the treatment of this often debilitating disease.

Risks Too Great, Benefits Too Low with HRT

Own there on and against the wishes of the medical professionals, millions of women are walking away from hormone replacement therapy. The reasons are many but include:

  1. Increases Symptoms of Menopause
  2. Slows bone loss, does not prevent or reveres osteoporosis
  3. In the era of "green" the thought of using synthetic hormones when the real hormones are available is unsetteling.

Research Bioidentical Hormones

You will have to look into natural hormone replacement therapies on your own. You will probably have to change doctors. Start your search at your local "compounding pharmacy". That type of pharmacist will know of doctors in your area that have weighed the options, questioned the conventional HRT line, and more importantly, will support your quest for stronger bones and better health.

Osteoporosis Treatment: Find One The is Safe and Effective


Osteoporosis treatment