Estrogen side effects
Data from:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Estrogen-Side-Effects---Do-You-Know-Them?&id=76555
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 the 1970's
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 occurance today for
women in their 30's and 40's - 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.
Data source:
http://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opestrogen.html#side
SIDE EFFECTS
Breast tenderness
Vaginal bleeding
or spotting
Enlarge fibroids
Migraine
headaches
Abdominal
bloating
Nausea
Skin rashes
Increase
triglycerides
Coronary artery
disease (with progestin)
Thrombophlebitis
Stroke Reduce hot
flashes
Less gain of
abdominal fat
Increase HDL
cholesterol
Decrease LDL
cholesterol
Helps vaginal
atrophy
In women 50-59
yrs old:
Lower mortality
Fewer cases
breast cancer
Better coronary
arteries
Long-term
Gall stones
Breast cancer
(especially with progestin)
Endometrial
cancer (if no progestin)
Fewer osteoporotic fractures
Decrease risk of
colon cancer
Improves pelvic
musculature
Prevents collagen
loss in skin (fewer wrinkles)
Questionable
effects on Alzheimer's disease
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