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Keywords: Estrogen Premarin Estrace Estring Climera Estraderm estrogen patches estrogen pellets estrogen cream estrogen inject ions breast cancer uterus cancer uterine cancer menopause phytoestrogen phyto estrogens natural hormones hormone estrogen replacement therapy ERT Hormones produced in the body include the "sex hormones" estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When a woman passes through menopause -- either naturally or induced by surgery, drugs, or radiation --hormone levels fall, leading to potential problems of hot flashes, night sweats, dry vagina, incontinence, and decreased interest in sex, as well as increased risk of osteoporosis. Hormone therapy is then typically considered to provide help. When estrogen is given, that is called "estrogen replacement therapy" (or ERT for short). However, the amount of estrogen medication prescribed is not enough to be truly "replacement"; in fact, it is only a small fraction of the amount of estrogen that the ovary usually produces. When the uterus is present, the natural progesterone that the body once produced must be replaced, sometimes with progesterone vaginal suppositories or progesterone tablets, but most often with tablets of "progestin" (a synthetic progesterone). Adding progesterone or progestin prevents any increase in the risk of uterine cancer from estrogen. When progesterone or progestin is added to estrogen, that is called "hormone replacement therapy" (or HRT for short). Unfortunately ERT and HRT are sometimes incorrectly used interchangeably --by the media as well as by health care providers --contributing to the confusion. Under special circumstances and good supervision, some women take just estrogen alone, but health care providers must monitor the uterus of these women very carefully through endometrial biopsy and/or pelvic ultrasound. These tests are expensive; in addition, biopsy is invasive and may be painful during or after the procedure. Note that a woman who has had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) has no need to take progesterone or progestins. Dr. Andrew Dott teaches advances hysteroscopic and laparoscopic surgical techniques, is on the speaker's panels for several American pharmaceutical companies and is a professional lecturer. Among his lecture topics are female and male menopause, menopause, herbs and medications, endometriosis, and contraception. He is available to travel and give seminars on the topics covered in this website both nationally and internationally.
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