Custom-compounded creams made from plant-derived hormones are said to be biochemically similar to those produced by the body. These “natural” hormone creams contain one or more various hormones in different amounts which may help relieve hot flashes, night sweats, depression, and other symptoms of menopause. In addition to that, the said hormone cream preparations may also improve heart health, according to a new study.

Women’s Health Initiative, a previous study funded by the U.S. government, has associated the long-term use of conventional hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer.

However, a few well-designed studies suggest that the custom-compounded hormone preparations actually work. Kenna Stephenson, MD, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler said that these compounds “can make remarkable changes in a woman’s life.”

For a period of 12 months, Stephenson studied 150 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women aged 30 to 70 years old. Half of the participants received a conventional hormone pills: birth control pills for younger women; and Prempro (estrogen plus pro
gesterone) or Premarin (estrogen only) for the menopausal women.

The other half was given a cream containing a customized blend of some combination of estrogen, progesterone, and the androgens testosterone and DHEA.

After a year, those women who were taking compounded hormones reported the following findings:
  • significantly less depression, anxiety, and pain
  • had fewer hot flashes and night sweats
  • improved quality of life
  • lower blood pressure and triglyceride levels
  • lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and other markers of harmful inflammation in the arteries that can lead to blood clots
On the other hand, conventional hormone pills have been shown to raise triglyceride and CRP levels, according to Nieca Goldberg, MD, an American Heart Association spokeswoman and heart specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Mark Walters  is a part-time writer and a part-time researcher. He is currently self-studying various Far Eastern languages and is an avid fiction reader. He is currently writing articles oriented towards consumers of pharmaceutical products.

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