QuestionHi,
I'm 44 and have been taking birth control pills continuously for over 10 years (no periods).
This decision was based on my medical history:
This was my third surgery for endo. (1st at age 18).
There was concern that not all the endo. tissue was removed.
Conventional birth control use didn't stop the debilitating montly cycles (pain and diarrhea).
My question: Can I safely switch to "natural" forms of hormone treatment. Recent research suggests synthetic hormones, especially estradiol, is linked to increased risk for heart disease, breast cancer and stroke.
Supporters claim milder and more "bio-identical" forms of estrogen (such as estrone, estriol) and progesterone (from yams) are safer because they do not form the harmful metabolites (especially true of estradiol, common in birth control pills). Supporters of the "bio-identical" are speaking to women with pms and hot flashes whose only risk may be another hot flash. I risk another tumor. Thanks for any insight, Mel.
AnswerDear Mel, Unfortunately with endometriosis surgery (other than complete hysterectomy and checking the bowel (intestine and colon) for endo tissue left behind, there will always be a chance that the endo will return again and again. THere may be long periods of NO SYMPTOMS, but when the endo tissue becomes excessive, there will be problems again...
I am sorry I do not know much about alternative medicine. I do know that NATURAL hormones etc have not been tested or approved by the FDA, but then half the drugs that are tested and approved are not worth their weight in gold...
I went throught the change of life at 47.. The endo is caused by ovulation and when you stop the ovulation, the endo stops forming and is often destroyed. I never took ANY hormones for menopause. One reason is I never needed them. I did have a occassional HOT FLASH, but it was not debilitating and never has been.
I would suggest that you seek out the second opinion with a nutrionist or alternative medicine physician that specializes in hormone replacement and endometriosis treament. It is a known fact that building up the immune system with antioxident vitamins can HELP (but not cure) a lot of medical conditions including in a recent study endo..
As for a risk of another tumor, if you have one cancerous tumor (you did not mention here when and where,) then there is always a chance of having another one. Cancer can be put in remission, but there always the chance it will return whether it is in the breast, cervix, uterous etc...
I hope this helps and thank you, Karen
