The WHI age group analyses were secondary and not part of the protocol; they were conducted AFTER the trials showed cardiovascular risks. No drug exists that both prevents and exacerbates the very same disease. Estrogen is thrombogenic and puts women into a hypercoagulable state, as seen in pregnancy or on oral contraceptives. Both of these entail cardiovascular risks - strokes, emboli, and heart attacks. Estrogen does not prevent heart disease.
I 100% agree about the breast cancer findings related to PREMARIN alone (20% reduced risk). However, Premarin is much weaker than human estradiol and contains a mixture of various estrogens that seem to be having more of a tamoxifen effect than a pro-carcinogenic effect. Comparative trials have shown that Premarin without a progestin increases breast density by a measly 1% whereas estradiol it's 5%. So WHI should not be misconstrued to make it seem as though "estrogen", categorically, prevents breast cancer.
I don't doubt Ms. Robson's chest pain response to estrogen. However that does not mean she was having angina or an acute coronary syndrome that just magically disappeared with estrogen "replacement". Perimenopause is a time of swinging and HIGH endogenous estradiol, and women complain of heavy flow, fibroids, painful breasts, moodiness, and palpitations. Perimenopause is also a time of low/absent progesterone. Normal, health female physiology before menopause requires BOTH hormones, not just estrogen. Awoman with a hysterectomy, such as Ms. Robson, is ill-advised to be taking any kind of estrogen without progesterone. It is risky, even in the absence of a uterus.
I refer you to the recent KEEPS trial publications which showed that neither Premarin nor transdermal estradiol halted the progression of atherosclerosis. There were no positive effects of carotid thickness or coronary calcium scores. Symptom relief and feeling of wellbeing are undeniable, but estrogen is not a health tonic or antiaging elixir.
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The WHI age group analyses were secondary and not part of the protocol; they were conducted AFTER the trials showed cardiovascular risks. No drug exists that both prevents and exacerbates the very same disease. Estrogen is thrombogenic and puts women into a hypercoagulable state, as seen in pregnancy or on oral contraceptives. Both of these entail cardiovascular risks - strokes, emboli, and heart attacks. Estrogen does not prevent heart disease.
I 100% agree about the breast cancer findings related to PREMARIN alone (20% reduced risk). However, Premarin is much weaker than human estradiol and contains a mixture of various estrogens that seem to be having more of a tamoxifen effect than a pro-carcinogenic effect. Comparative trials have shown that Premarin without a progestin increases breast density by a measly 1% whereas estradiol it's 5%. So WHI should not be misconstrued to make it seem as though "estrogen", categorically, prevents breast cancer.
I don't doubt Ms. Robson's chest pain response to estrogen. However that does not mean she was having angina or an acute coronary syndrome that just magically disappeared with estrogen "replacement". Perimenopause is a time of swinging and HIGH endogenous estradiol, and women complain of heavy flow, fibroids, painful breasts, moodiness, and palpitations. Perimenopause is also a time of low/absent progesterone. Normal, health female physiology before menopause requires BOTH hormones, not just estrogen. Awoman with a hysterectomy, such as Ms. Robson, is ill-advised to be taking any kind of estrogen without progesterone. It is risky, even in the absence of a uterus.
I refer you to the recent KEEPS trial publications which showed that neither Premarin nor transdermal estradiol halted the progression of atherosclerosis. There were no positive effects of carotid thickness or coronary calcium scores. Symptom relief and feeling of wellbeing are undeniable, but estrogen is not a health tonic or antiaging elixir.
September 25, 2014 - 12:29pmThis Comment
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