Before starting with the details of the bioidentical hormones, let us consider some of its aspects:
Non-bioidentical hormones are not identical to the hormones naturally produced within the body. The use of Charlotte bioidentical estrogen and progesterone is not associated with the risk of breast cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Bioidentical hormones have the same molecular structure as the hormones produced naturally within the body. The body does not distinguish between supplemental bioidentical hormones and the hormones produced within the body. As a result, bioidentical hormones are properly utilized, and are able to be naturally metabolized and excreted from the body.
Studies suggest that bioidentical progesterone is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Current literature indicates the use of bioidentical progesterone is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer. Three types of estrogen are produced in the body: estriol, estrone, and estradiol. The scientific literature suggests the use of estriol is not associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. While non-bioidentical estrogen replacement therapy is known to increase the risk of uterine cancer, topical estriol is not.
Research on bioidentical progesterone has shown beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, including decreasing the risk of blood clots, protecting against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and maintaining healthy HDL levels. A review of the scientific literature suggests that bioidentical progesterone may be superior to non-bioidentical progesterone in treating menopausal symptoms. Estriol is also highly effective in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
Estriol has been shown to improve bone density, promote youthful skin, and enhance sexual and urinary health. Foods and nutrients with scientific evidence to potentially protect against the development of breast cancer include green tea, soy isoflavones, fish oil, vitamin D, plant lignans, indole-3-carbinol (I3C; found in cruciferous vegetables), and D-glucarate.
Compelling research offers further insight into natural progesterone's ability to defend against breast cancer. In a fascinating study, scientists administered estrogen alone, bioidentical progesterone alone, estrogen plus bioidentical progesterone, or placebo to 40 women prior to surgery to remove a breast lump. The hormones were applied topically to the breast for about 12 days before surgery. As expected, when given alone, estrogen caused a 62% increase in breast cell proliferation rates compared to placebo. Conversely, the addition of bioidentical progesterone to estrogen resulted in a significant decrease in the estrogen-induced increase in breast cell proliferation rates. Even more impressive was the finding that the group receiving bioidentical progesterone alone had a 66% lower breast cell proliferation rate compared to the placebo group.
A growing body of literature has do[censored] ented a strong connection between a woman's progesterone levels and her subsequent risk for breast cancer. A trial reported in the International Journal of Cancer in 2004 measured blood levels of progesterone in 5,963 premenopausal women. Incredibly, the analysis of the data revealed that those women with the highest blood levels of progesterone levels who had regular menses experienced an 88% decreased risk of breast cancer. These findings corroborate another study in which 1,083 women treated for infertility were followed for upwards of 33 years to determine their subsequent breast cancer risk. Compared to women with normal progesterone levels, those deficient in progesterone had a 540% increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer, and were 10 times as likely to die from any cancer.
All these studies and literature established the diminishing risk of breast cancer with the intake of Charlotte bioidentical hormones for curing the menopausal symptoms.
