Hormone Therapy for Women : Supporting Literature

References | Estrogens | Progesterone | Androgens

 

Risk of Breast Cancer by Type of Menopausal Hormone Therapy: a Case-Control Study among Post-Menopausal Women in France

This study confirms differential effects on breast cancer risk of progestagens and regimens specifically used in France. Formulation of EP therapies containing natural progesterone was not associated with increased risk of breast cancer but may poorly protect against endometrial cancer.

PLoS ONE 2013;8:e78016.
Click here to view the article.



Progesterone receptor could slow breast cancer growth

Up to half of women with breast cancer could benefit from taking progesterone, after research discovers how it modulates the actions of the oestrogen receptor. More clinical trials are necessary to test whether giving women with ER/PR double-positive breast cancer progesterone, alongside oestrogen-blocking drugs, helps more women survive this disease.

Pharmaceutical Journal, 2015 Jul 17; 14:53.
Click here to view the article.



Progesterone receptor modulates estrogen receptor-α action in breast cancer

Progesterone receptor (PR) expression is employed as a biomarker of estrogen receptor-α (ERα) function and breast cancer prognosis. We now show that PR is not merely an ERα-induced gene target, but is also an ERα-associated protein that modulates its behaviour. In the presence of agonist ligands, PR associates with ERα to direct ERα chromatin binding events within breast cancer cells, resulting in a unique gene expression programme that is associated with good clinical outcome. Progesterone inhibited estrogen-mediated growth of ERα+ cell line xenografts and primary ERα+ breast tumour explants and had increased anti-proliferative effects when coupled with an ERα antagonist. Copy number loss of PgR is a common feature in ERα+ breast cancers, explaining lower PR levels in a subset of cases. Our findings indicate that PR functions as a molecular rheostat to control ERα chromatin binding and transcriptional activity, which has important implications for prognosis and therapeutic interventions.

Nature. 2015 Jul 16; 523(7560): 313–317.
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The 2017 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society.
The risks of HT differ depending on type, dose, duration of use, route of administration, timing of initiation, and whether a progestogen is used. Treatment should be individualized to identify the most appropriate HT type, dose, formulation, route of administration, and duration of use, using the best available evidence to maximize benefits and minimize risks, with periodic reevaluation of the benefits and risks of continuing or discontinuing HT.

Menopause. 2017 Jul;24(7):728-753.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.



Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Long-term All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: The Women's Health Initiative Randomized Trials.

Among postmenopausal women, hormone therapy with conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) for a median of 5.6 years or with CEE alone for a median of 7.2 years was not associated with risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, or cancer mortality during a cumulative follow-up of 18 years.

JAMA. 2017 Sep 12;318(10):927-938.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28898378



The mortality toll of estrogen avoidance: an analysis of excess deaths among hysterectomized women aged 50 to 59 years.

Estrogen therapy (ET) in younger postmenopausal women is associated with a decisive reduction in all-cause mortality, but estrogen use in this population is low and continuing to fall. Informed discussion between these women and their health care providers about the effects of ET is important and necessary.

Am J Public Health. 2013 Sep;103(9):1583-8.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23865654



Quality of life and costs associated with micronized progesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate in hormone replacement therapy for nonhysterectomized, postmenopausal women.

Natural micronized progesterone (MP) is a clinically effective, well-tolerated, and cost-comparable alternative to medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA).

Clin Ther. 2001 Jul;23(7):1099-115.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.



Sleep in menopause: differential effects of two forms of hormone replacement therapy.

The study suggests that medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and micronized progesterone (MP) are both effective for treating menopausal symptoms but that MP may better improve the quality of sleep in postmenopausal women taking estrogen.

Menopause. 2001 Jan-Feb;8(1):10-6.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.



Unequal risks for breast cancer associated with different hormone replacement therapies: results from the E3N cohort study

These findings of this study suggest that the choice of the progestagen component in combined HRT is of importance regarding breast cancer risk; it could be preferable to use progesterone or dydrogesterone.

Breast Cancer Res Treat 2008;107:103–11.
Click here to view the article.



Breast cancer in HRT users.

Int J Cancer. 2005 Oct 10;116(6):998; author reply 999.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Pilot study: absorption and efficacy of multiple hormones delivered in a single cream applied to the mucous membranes of the labia and vagina.

This study is the first documenting systemic absorption of multiple hormones by both saliva and blood as well as improvement of health-related quality of life. The therapy was generally well-tolerated with only 2 patients experiencing minor irritation, but they continued therapy. Additional studies in larger numbers of patients will provide better knowledge for clinicians wanting to provide similar therapy at the lowest effective dose.

Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2008;66(2):111-8.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Dr. Kent Holtorf is a leading authority in the field of hormone replacement therapy, and is also a board examiner for the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine (ABAAM).

Click here to read Dr. Holtorf’s article about the benefits of customized hormone therapy.



VTE and CVD Complications in Menopausal Women Using Transdermal Versus Oral Estrogen Therapy

The risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) complications were evaluated and healthcare costs were assessed in menopausal women using an estradiol transdermal system versus oral estrogen therapy (ET). It was determined that transdermal ET users incurred lower adjusted all-cause and VTE/CVD-related healthcare costs relative to oral ET users and transdermal users also incurred lower healthcare costs.

Menopause: June 2016 - Volume 23 - Issue 6 - p 600–610
Click here to access the abstract of this article.


Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Mortality

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 43 randomized clinical trials concluded there were no significant associations between use of menopausal hormone-replacement therapy and all-cause mortality. No significant associations were found between hormone use and mortality due to myocardial infarction, breast cancer, or stroke. When analyzed separately, there were also no associations with risks for death from cancers of the lung, ovary, or colon/rectum. Results were similar for estrogen-only therapy and for combined estrogen-progesterone therapy.

ENDO 2015: The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting. Abstract FRI-125, presented March 6, 2015.

//www.medscape.com/viewarticle/841074 (a Medscape account is needed to view this article)



Global consensus statement on menopausal hormone therapy.

Menopausal hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for symptoms related to the hormonal changes of menopause, such as hot flushes and sleep deprivation. Hormone therapy is also beneficial for bone health and may decrease mortality and cardiovascular disease. Risks associated with menopausal hormone therapy are acknowledged, but benefits derived will generally outweigh the risks for women under 60, or within 10 years of the menopause. Taking menopausal hormone therapy is a decision which needs to be individualized, according to a woman’s symptoms, and her individual health history. This decision should be made under the advisement of a qualified physician.

Climacteric. 2013 Apr;16(2):203-4.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


After 10 years of treatment, women receiving hormone replacement therapy soon after menopause had a significantly reduced risk of mortality, heart failure, or myocardial infarction, without any apparent increase in risk of cancer, venous thromboembolism, or stroke.

BMJ 2012;345:e6409
Effect of hormone replacement therapy on cardiovascular events in recently postmenopausal women: randomised trial
Click here to access this article.


The study examined the long-term effects of compounded natural transdermal hormones on cardiovascular biomarkers, hemostatic, inflammatory, immune signaling factors; quality of life measures; and health outcomes in peri/postmenopausal women within the context of a hormone restoration model of care. This model of care warrants consideration for peri/postmenopausal women especially in populations with high perceived stress and a history of stressful life events prior to, or during the menopausal transition.

Int J Pharm Compd. 2013 Jan-Feb;17(1):74-85.
The effects of compounded transdermal hormone therapy on hemostatic, inflammatory, immune factors; cardiovascular biomarkers; quality-of-life measures; and health outcomes in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Testosterone (T) therapy is being increasingly used to treat symptoms of hormone deficiency in pre and postmenopausal women. T is essential for physical and mental health in women. A source of confusion concerning the safety of T therapy in both men and women is the extrapolation of adverse events from high doses of oral and injectable anabolic-androgenic steroids to T therapy, despite a lack of evidence. Testosterone is not masculinizing and does not increase aggression or cause hoarseness. Testosterone increases scalp hair growth, is mood stabilizing, and is cardiac and breast protective. “Abandoning myths, misconceptions and unfounded concerns about T and T therapy in women will enable physicians to provide evidenced based recommendations and appropriate therapy.”

Maturitas. 2013 Mar; 74(3):230-4.
Testosterone therapy in women: Myths and misconceptions.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Literature reviewers conclude that oral postmenopausal estrogen replacement is associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolism. The review did not address transdermal estrogen therapy.

Ann Intern Med. 2002 May 7;136(9):680-90.
Postmenopausal estrogen replacement and risk for venous thromboembolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


The use of oral estrogen plus progestin hormone therapy in postmenopausal women was associated with doubling the risk of development of venous thrombosis.

JAMA. 2004 Oct 6;292(13):1573-80.
Estrogen plus progestin and risk of venous thrombosis.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Stanczyk et al. of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, report: "antiproliferative effects on the endometrium have been demonstrated with progesterone creams when circulating levels of progesterone are low. Thus, effects of topical progesterone creams on the endometrium should not be based on serum progesterone levels, but on histologic examination of the endometrium. Despite the low serum progesterone levels achieved with the creams, salivary progesterone levels are very high, indicating that progesterone levels in serum do not necessarily reflect those in tissues"

Menopause. 2005 Mar;12(2):232-7.
Percutaneous administration of progesterone: blood levels and endometrial protection.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


“These findings suggest that the choice of the progestagen component in combined HRT is of importance regarding breast cancer risk; it could be preferable to use progesterone.”

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Jan;107(1):103-11. Epub 2007 Feb 27.
Unequal risks for breast cancer associated with different hormone replacement therapies: results from the E3N cohort study.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Ovarian androgens normally protect mammary epithelial cells and the addition of testosterone (not METHYLtestosterone) to conventional hormone therapy for postmenopausal women does not increase and may indeed reduce the hormone therapy-associated breast cancer risk-thereby returning the incidence to the normal rates observed in the general, untreated population.

Menopause. 2004 Sep-Oct;11(5):531-5.
Breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal women using testosterone in addition to usual hormone therapy.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Chang et al. studied influences of percutaneous administration of estradiol and progesterone on human breast epithelial cell cycle in vivo and reported that progesterone decreases estrogen-induced breast cell proliferation by 400%.

Fertil Steril. 1995 Apr;63(4):785-91.
Influences of percutaneous administration of estradiol and progesterone on human breast epithelial cell cycle in vivo.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


While none of the hormone treatments used in this study had a detectable effect on mood, Cummings et al conclude "the lesser side effects of the micronized progesterone-containing regimen suggest that some women may prefer it to an MPA-containing regimen."

Menopause. 2002 Jul-Aug;9(4):253-63.
Comparison of physical and emotional side effects of progesterone or medroxyprogesterone in early postmenopausal women.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


“This study demonstrates that the daily administration of a combination of micronized E2 and progesterone results in symptomatic improvement, minimal side effects, an improved lipid profile, and amenorrhea without endometrial proliferation or hyperplasia in menopausal women."

Obstet Gynecol. 1989 Apr;73(4):606-12.
Menopausal hormone replacement therapy with continuous daily oral micronized estradiol and progesterone.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


This trial indicates that the use of natural progesterone does not increase the risk of breast cancer, as opposed to synthetic progestins.

Fertil Steril. 1998 May;69(5):963-9.
Estradiol and progesterone regulate the proliferation of human breast epithelial cells.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


A growing body of medical literature suggests that various progestogens are not equivalent. Furthermore, trials indicate that the use of natural progesterone alone or combined with estradiol does not increase the risk of breast cancer while use of medroxyprogesterone acetate or norethisterone acetate stimulate proliferation of breast cancer cells.

Maturitas. 2003 Dec 10;46 Suppl 1:S55-8.
Differential effects of progestogens on breast cancer cell lines.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Estrogen deficiency during menopause contributes to the development of abdominal obesity and insulin resistance, and could represent a major step in the development of diabetes in women. In a 2006 meta-analysis of 107 trials, Salpeter et al. concluded that appropriate HRT reduces abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, new-onset diabetes, lipids, pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules and pro-coagulant factors in women without diabetes.

Diab Obes Metab 2006;8:538–54.
Meta-analysis: effect of hormone-replacement therapy on components of the metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity can be improved by estrogen replacement therapy but the addition of an androgenic progestin, such as MPA or NETA, may reduce the beneficial effect of estrogens. While MPA is known to increase insulin resistance and impair glucose tolerance, natural progesterone does not.

Maturitas 2008;59:249–58.
Effects of estradiol and norethisterone on lipids, insulin resistance and carotid flow.
Fernandes CE, Pompei LM, Machado RB, Ferreira JA, Melo NR, Peixoto S.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Neuroprotective effects of progesterone include prevention and reversal of age-dependent changes and dysfunction. Some of these actions, particularly those mediated by conversion to neurosteroids such as allopregnanolone, may not be shared by synthetic progestins since progesterone behaves differently in the brain than synthetic progestins (particularly MPA), through direct effects, as well as indirectly through effects on the vascular endothelium. This may have important implications for the effective use of HRT in the maintenance of neuronal function during menopause and aging and for protection against neurodegenerative diseases.

Endocr Rev. 2007 Jun;28(4):387-439. Epub 2007 Apr 12.
Novel perspectives for progesterone in hormone replacement therapy, with special reference to the nervous system.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


As women age and estrogen levels decline, cutaneous changes such as dryness, atrophy, fine wrinkling and poor healing occur. This article reviews the effects of declining estrogen levels on the skin and the effects of estrogen supplementation.

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Oct;53(4):555-68
Estrogen and skin: the effects of estrogen, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy on the skin.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Ninety-seven percent of the 189 women participating in this study experienced varying degrees of symptom control, but complications described with traditional HRT did not develop in these patients using customized natural hormones. The findings of this study point out a need for larger controlled trials of customized natural hormones in the management of menopause.

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2009 Aug 19:1-5. [Epub ahead of print]
Natural Hormone Therapy for Menopause

Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Transdermal estradiol was similarly effective as raloxifene in preventing bone loss at the lumbar spine, was well tolerated, and had no clinically significant effect on endometrium or breast density.


Menopause. 2009 May-Jun;16(3):559-65.
Effect of microdose transdermal 17beta-estradiol compared with raloxifene in the prevention of bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women: a 2-year, randomized, double-blind trial.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


In this 2005 review of clinical studies comparing synthetic progestins to natural progesterone, Campagnoli et al concluded: "The balance of the in vivo evidence is that progesterone does not have a cancer-promoting effect on breast tissue. ...We therefore suggest that when HRT is indicated, preparations containing progesterone and not a synthetic progestin should be used, according to a sequential or cyclic-combined regimen. In this way the risk of endometrial cancer is minimised without increasing the risk of BC [breast cancer]."

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 Jul;96(2):95-108.
Progestins and progesterone in hormone replacement therapy and the risk of breast cancer.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


In this 2005 clinical trial, Fournier et al compared synthetic progestins to the natural progesterone and reported: "The risk was significantly greater… with HRT containing synthetic progestins than with HRT containing micronized progesterone, the relative risk being 1.4 and 0.9, respectively."

Int J Cancer. 2005 Apr 10;114(3):448-54.
Breast cancer risk in relation to different types of hormone replacement therapy in the E3N-EPIC cohort.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


This large French study raises the possibility that micronized progesterone, when combined with human estrogens, may have less impact on breast cancer mortality.

J Clin Oncol. 2008 Mar 10;26(8):1260-8.
Use of different postmenopausal hormone therapies and risk of histology- and hormone receptor-defined invasive breast cancer.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


Transdermal Progesterone and Estrogen Improve Blood Pressure in Menopausal Women with High Stress

Dr. Kenna Stephenson of the University of Texas Health Science Center has shown luteal phase levels of progesterone and estrogen administered via transdermal delivery improve blood pressure in perimenopausal and menopausal women with prehypertension and stress related to work or home.

//sanjay-kapur.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html



Progesterone vs Synthetic Progestins: Clinical Options

James A. Simon, MD, Clinical Professor, George Washington University, Washington, DC, notes: “Clinicians have numerous options in selecting a progestogen for the individual patient. The specific properties of progesterone or synthetic progestins may result in differing side-effect profiles for individual patients. Route of administration also offers differing systemic or local effects that should be considered for some uses and specific patients.” Differences exist among the exogenous progestogens, which include both natural progesterone and synthetic and semi-synthetic progestins, drugs which are “structurally related - but are not identical - to either progesterone or testosterone... Progesterone and progestins differ not only in their structure, but also in their potency, as determined by standard bioassays... Additionally, studies often do not evaluate the effects of progestogens on specific organs or compare the side-effect profiles of individual agents. These characteristics constitute an important, although rarely discussed, aspect of the differences among progestogens.”

The Journal of Family Practice 2007 Feb; 2(7):S3-S5


Comparison of Different Routes of Progesterone Administration for Luteal Phase Support in Infertility Treatment

Different routes of natural progesterone supplementation have been tried as luteal phase support in infertility treatments. Orally administered progesterone is rapidly metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract and oral administration has proven to be inferior to intramuscular (IM) and vaginal routes. Progesterone IM achieves serum progesterone values that are within the range of luteal phase and results in sufficient secretory transformation of the endometrium and satisfactory pregnancy rates. The comparison between IM and vaginal progesterone has led to controversial results as regards the superiority of one or the other in inducing secretory endometrial transformation. However, there is increasing evidence in the literature to favor the use of vaginal progesterone. Vaginally administered progesterone achieves adequate endometrial secretory transformation but its pharmacokinetic properties are greatly dependent on the formulation used. After vaginal progesterone application, discrepancies have been detected between serum progesterone values and histological endometrial features. Vaginally administered progesterone results in adequate secretory endometrial transformation, despite serum progesterone values lower than those observed after IM administration, even if they are lower than those observed during the luteal phase of the natural cycle. This discrepancy is indicative of the first uterine pass effect and therefore of a better bioavailability of progesterone in the uterus, with minimal systematic undesirable effects.

Hum Reprod Update. 2000 Mar-Apr;6(2):139-48.
Comparison between different routes of progesterone administration as luteal phase support in infertility treatments.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.



Uses of Progesterone in Clinical Practice

Progesterone is the natural progestogen produced by the corpus luteum during the luteal phase. It is absorbed when administered orally, but is greater than 90% metabolized during the first hepatic pass. This greatly limits the efficacy of once-daily administration and also results in “unphysiologically” high levels of progesterone metabolites which can cause dizziness and drowsiness to the point of preventing the operation of a motor vehicle. Synthetic progestins, such as medroxyprogesterone acetate and norethindrone acetate, have been specifically designed to resist enzymatic degradation and remain active after oral administration. However, according to Drs. Warren and Shantha of the Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, these synthetic progestins exert undesirable effects on the liver and often cause severe psychological side effects. Transvaginal administration of progesterone is a practical non-oral route available for administering progesterone. Early experience was gained with vaginal suppositories. The clinical acceptance of progesterone administered as a vaginal gel was enhanced by the characteristics of a polycarbophil-based gel, which conveys controlled and sustained-released properties. Investigations have shown that because of local direct vagina-to-uterus transport, which results in a preferential uterine uptake of progesterone, progesterone vaginal gel given in conjunction with physiological amounts of estradiol produces endometrial changes similar to those seen in the luteal phase, despite plasma progesterone levels that remain subphysiologic. Studies in infertility show that vaginal progesterone in this form allows secretory transformation of the endometrium and the development of pregnancy despite providing low systemic progesterone concentrations. Fewer side effects occur when vaginal progesterone is used for hormone replacement than are typically encountered with progestins and oral progesterone.

Int J Fertil Womens Med. 1999 Mar-Apr;44(2):96-103
Uses of progesterone in clinical practice.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.



Pregnenolone – The Parent Hormone Affecting Memory, Sleep, Anxiety, and Mood

• Pregnenolone is at the top of the hormone cascade, the “parent hormone” from which neurosteroids and sex hormones are formed, and gives rise to important “neurohormones” that affect learning, memory, mood, sleep, and many other functions.
• Pregnenolone may relieve anxiety, help to fight depression, and reduce symptoms of withdrawal from nicotine and alcohol addiction.
• Hormone levels naturally decline with advancing age. People with lower pregnenolone levels are more likely to suffer from memory deficits, mood disorders, and even some mental illnesses.
• Pregnenolone and other neuroactive steroids can protect brain cells against the long-term damage that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

The conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone constitutes the first of many steps in the synthesis of some of the body’s key hormones, including dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, and cortisol. Pregnenolone’s metabolites fulfill a myriad of essential roles in the body, from stimulating memory via excitatory pathways to easing anxiety through inhibitory mechanisms.1,2

Pregnenolone has vast potential for maintaining healthy cognitive function and may be “the most potent memory enhancer yet reported.”3 Alzheimer’s disease patients have lower levels of pregnenolone, allopregnanolone (a pregnenolone metabolite) and DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS) in all the main memory-related areas of their brains, compared with control patients. Furthermore, the brains of patients with the highest neurosteroid levels display the lowest collections of the destructive amyloid-beta proteins. 4,5

Researchers have also shown that pregnenolone increases brain levels of acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter required for optimal brain function, which is deficient in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.6 Acetylcholine is not only vital for thought and memory, it is also involved in controlling sleep cycles, especially the phase of sleep that is associated with memory (called paradoxical sleep or the random eye movement [REM] phase).

Neurosteroids are known to affect anxiety in humans.7 Researchers from the University of California in San Francisco performed two studies of pregnenolone and anti-anxiety medications and concluded that pregnenolone, taken as a supplement while using an anti-anxiety medication, could reduce many adverse effects of the medication, such as sedation and memory impairment.8

There is increasing evidence that lower levels of pregnenolone are associated with a variety of mental health conditions beyond anxiety, including depression, phobias, and even schizophrenia.9,10,11,12 One study revealed that schizophrenic patients with the lowest levels of pregnenolone were also most likely to have high levels of anxiety.13

Pregnenolone and other neurosteroids have also been shown to counteract the anxiety-like behavior that is associated with nicotine or morphine withdrawal, due to their potent effects on sigma receptors, and may offer relief to individuals seeking to overcome these addictions. 15,16

Please click on the links below for more information.
//www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/nov2007_report_pregnenolone_01.htm
1 Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2006 Aug;84(4):555-67.
2 Jpn J Pharmacol. 1999 Oct;81(2):125-55.
3 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1995 Nov 7;92(23):10806-10.
4 J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Nov;87(11):5138-43.
5 Biol Psychiatry. 2006 Dec 15;60(12):1287-94.
6 Prog Neurobiol. 2003 Sep;71(1):43-8.
7 Neuropsychobiology. 2004;50(1):6-9.
8 Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2004 May;29(4):486-500.
9 Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2005 Feb;29(2):169-92.
10 Neuropsychopharmacology. 2005 Jun;30(6):1181-6.
11 Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2006 Aug;84(4):644-55.
12 Am J Psychiatry. 2002 Jan;159(1):145-7.
13 Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2007 Apr;17(5):358-65.
14 J Pharmacol Sci. 2006 Feb;100(2):93-118.
15 Brain Res Brain Res Rev. 2001 Nov;37(1-3):116-32.



Researchers at The University of Texas at Tyler, led by Kenna Stephenson, M.D., showed that use of progesterone in a topical cream (20 mg per day) relieved menopausal symptoms. In addition, in a subpopulation of hypercortisolemic women, nocturnal cortisol levels were reduced to normal range while they were using the progesterone cream as compared to placebo. Stress activates cortisol, and an abnormal cortisol pattern has been associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, cancer, obesity and other diseases.

Blood 2004 Nov; 104(11):16
Progesterone Relieves Menopausal Symptoms and Normalizes Nocturnal Cortisol Levels


The French E3N-EPIC cohort study assessed the risk of breast cancer associated with HRT use in 54,548 postmenopausal women.

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Jan;107(1):103-11
Unequal risks for breast cancer associated with different hormone replacement therapies: results from the E3N cohort study.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


The neuroprotective and promyelinating effects of progesterone are promising not only for preventing, but also for reversing, age-dependent changes and dysfunctions.

Endocr Rev. 2007 Jun;28(4):387-439.
Novel perspectives for progesterone in hormone replacement therapy, with special reference to the nervous system.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.



Clinical evidence shows that, during menopause, estrogen withdrawal gives rise to modifications in mood, behavior and cognition and that estrogen administration is able to improve mood and cognitive efficiency in post-menopause. There may be a critical period of time for HRT-related neuroprotection, and early initiation of estrogen therapy may be necessary for cognitive benefit.

Hum Reprod Update. 2007 Mar-Apr;13(2):175-87
Estrogen, cognition and female ageing.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Jan;91(1):136-44.
Pharmacokinetics of Testosterone Gel in Healthy Postmenopausal Women
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


This study is the first documenting systemic absorption of multiple hormones by both saliva and blood as well as improvement of health-related quality of life.

Absorption and Efficacy of Multiple Hormones Delivered in a Single Cream

Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2008 Apr 29;66(2):111-118.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


New research from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) links the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) before the age of 65 years to a reduced risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in women. At the American Academy of Neurology’s 59th Annual Meeting, researchers presented an analysis that showed early HRT use was associated with a 46% overall reduction in dementia risk and a 64% reduction in AD. WHIMS also included 2 studies that looked at cognitive outcomes and HRT in women over 65 years old. At an average 5-year follow-up, both the conjugated equine estrogens plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE + MPA) and the CEE-alone trials showed conjugated estrogens, with or without MPA, increased dementia risk when therapy was initiated after age 65 years. In the CEE + MPA trial the risk doubled, while in the CEE-alone trial there was about a 50% increased risk. There is evidence from animal models suggesting estrogen at an earlier age may be beneficial, and these results are intriguing because they seem to support that evidence.

While studies describe the therapies used in the WHI as “estrogen with or without progesterone”, the WHI actually used only synthetic CEE and MPA (which is chemically different than progesterone).

HRT Before Age 65 May Decrease Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
American Academy of Neurology 59th Annual Meeting: Abstract S31.004. April 28 – May 5, 2007
Click here to access the Medscape article.



Progesterone Therapy for Catamenial Epilepsy

Catamenial epilepsy refers to seizures that occur or worsen around menstruation. Researchers at North Carolina State University evaluated the hypothesis that neurosteroid "replacement" is an effective and a rational therapy for catamenial epilepsy. It is well known that progesterone possesses anticonvulsant properties. The clustering of seizures around the beginning of menstruation corresponds with a significant drop in the levels of progesterone circulating in the body and an increase in the estrogen:progesterone ratio. Recent studies have shown that progesterone is metabolised to the neurosteroid allopregnanolone which plays a crucial role in seizure protection. Declining levels of allopregnanolone, which occur during the menstrual cycle, can provoke seizures.

“Cyclic natural progesterone use has been demonstrated as an effective treatment for catamenial and non-catamenial seizures in women. Progesterone is efficiently absorbed after oral administration as lozenges, and rectal administration as suppositories.” Progesterone was given at 100 to 200 mg, t.i.d. on days 15 to 28 of the menstrual cycle. In a 3 month investigation of cyclic natural progesterone therapy, 23 of 25 (92%) women continued on the same AED and progesterone protocol and continued to have a very substantial (62% to 74%) reduction in seizure frequency.

Epilepsy Behav. 2008 Mar 16 [Epub ahead of print]
The role of sex steroids in catamenial epilepsy and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: implications for diagnosis and treatment.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.

Adv Biomed Res. 2013 Mar 6;2:8.
Progesterone therapy in women with intractable catamenial epilepsy.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.

Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2005;37(5):288-293
Pharmacotherapy of catamenial epilepsy
Click here to access this article.

Seizure. 2008 Mar;17(2):176-80. - ADD
Hormone replacement therapy: will it affect seizure control and AED levels?

Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.

Neurology 1995;45:1660-2

Copolymer 1 reduces relapse rate and improves disability in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: results of a phase III multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. The Copolymer 1 Multiple Sclerosis Study Group.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.

Neurology 1999;52:1917-8
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.


The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) links the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) before the age of 65 years to a reduced risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in women.

American Academy of Neurology 59th Annual Meeting: Abstract S31.004.
April 28 - May 5, 2007
Click here to read a Medscape article on this topic.



The following finding that conjugated equine estrogen was associated with venous thrombotic risk may have implications for the choice of hormones in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

JAMA. 2004 Oct 6;292(13):1581-7
Esterified estrogens and conjugated equine estrogens and the risk of venous thrombosis.
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These observations suggest that the addition of testosterone to conventional hormone therapy for postmenopausal women does not increase and may indeed reduce the hormone therapy-associated breast cancer risk-thereby returning the incidence to the normal rates observed in the general, untreated population.

Menopause. 2004 Sep-Oct;11(5):531-5
Breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal women using testosterone in addition to usual hormone therapy.
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The pharmacodynamic differences of testosterone and methyltestosterone are briefly reviewed in the context of choice for individualized clinical use.

Mayo Clin Proc. 2004 Apr;79(4 Suppl):S8-13
Hot flashes and androgens: a biological rationale for clinical practice.
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The results of this study suggest a significant reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in our population of non-obese, healthy postmenopausal women who used transdermal 17-beta-estradiol. This could suggest that, in some women, the estrogen deficiency that occurs after menopause could represent a fundamental step in the process of diabetogenesis.

Diabetes Care. 2004 Mar;27(3):645-9
Transdermal 17-beta-estradiol and risk of developing type 2 diabetes in a population of healthy, nonobese postmenopausal women.
The full text article is available FREE online: //care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/3/645


Mayo Clinic researchers surveyed 176 women taking natural micronized progesterone who had previously taken synthetic progestins. After one to six months, the women reported an overall 34% increase in satisfaction on micronized progesterone compared to their previous HRT, reporting these improvements: 50% in hot flashes, 42% in depression, and 47% in anxiety. Micronized progesterone was also more effective in controlling breakthrough bleeding.

J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2000 May;9(4):381-7
Comparison of regimens containing oral micronized progesterone or medroxyprogesterone acetate on quality of life in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional survey.
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Fertil Steril 1999 Sep;72(3):389-97
Micronized progesterone: clinical indications and comparison with current treatments.
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J Am Coll Cardiol 2000 Dec;36(7):2154-9
Natural progesterone, but not medroxyprogesterone acetate, enhances the beneficial effect of estrogen on exercise-induced myocardial ischemia in postmenopausal women. (This is not a "claim", it is the title of the article.)
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Vaginal progesterone suppositories have also been shown to decrease the rate of preterm birth in patients at increased risk. Da Fonseca et al noted that among 142 women who had one prior preterm birth, prophylactic cerclage, or uterine malformation, daily use of a 100-mg vaginal progesterone suppository compared with placebo significantly decreased the likelihood of delivery prior to 37 weeks.

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2003; 188(2):419-424.
Prophylactic administration of progesterone by vaginal suppository to reduce the incidence of spontaneous preterm birth in women at increased risk: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study.
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Other related articles:
Obstet Gynecol 2005 May;105(5 Pt 1):1128-35
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007 May;196(5):453.e1-4



The PEPI Trial, a 3-year multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 875 healthy postmenopausal women, stated that synthetic progestins partially negate the beneficial effects on cholesterol levels that result from taking estrogen. Natural progesterone maintained the benefits of estrogen on cholesterol without side effects.

JAMA 1995 Jan 18;273(3):199-208
Effects of estrogen or estrogen/progestin regimens on heart disease risk factors in postmenopausal women. The Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Interventions (PEPI) Trial.
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Certain progestogens, such as micronized progesterone, can be administered concurrently with estrogen replacement therapy, providing protection against endometrial hyperplasia without significantly affecting the beneficial effects of estrogen on lipid profiles, atherosclerosis and vascular reactivity.

J Reprod Med 2000 Mar;45(3 Suppl):245-58
Rationale for hormone replacement therapy in atherosclerosis prevention.
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J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002;87:1062-1067
Estrogen status correlates with the calcium content of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in women.
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J Neurosci. 2003 Dec 10;23(36):11420-6
Estradiol attenuates programmed cell death after stroke-like injury.
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Endocrinology 2001 Mar 1;142(3):969-973
Minireview: Neuroprotective Effects of Estrogen-New Insights into Mechanisms of Action.
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The use of conjugated equine estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate in a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of 16,608 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79 years doubled the risk of venous thrombosis. This estrogen, which is derived from pregnant mares' urine, plus synthetic progestin therapy increased the risks associated with age, overweight or obesity, and factor V Leiden.

JAMA. 2004 Oct 6;292(13):1573-80
Estrogen plus progestin and risk of venous thrombosis.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.

Chem Res Toxicol 1998 Sep;11(9):1105-11
The equine estrogen metabolite 4-hydroxyequilenin causes DNA single-strand breaks and oxidation of DNA bases in vitro.
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MPA reduces the dilatory effect of estrogens on coronary arteries, increases the progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis, accelerates low-density lipoprotein uptake in plaque, increases the thrombogenic potential of atherosclerotic plaques and promotes insulin resistance and its consequent hyperglycemia. These effects may be largely limited to MPA and not shared with other progestogens.

J Reprod Med 1999 Feb;44(2 Suppl):180-4
Progestogens and cardiovascular disease. A critical review.
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The WHI assessed the major health benefits and risks of the most commonly used combined hormone preparation in the United States, the synthetic combination of conjugated equine estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate. Absolute excess risks per 10,000 person-years attributable to this synthetic hormone combination were 7 more CHD events, 8 more strokes, 8 more pulmonary emboli, and 8 more invasive breast cancers, while absolute risk reductions per 10,000 person-years were 6 fewer colorectal cancers and 5 fewer hip fractures.

JAMA. 2002 Jul 17;288(3):321-33
Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women: principal results From the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial.
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Among postmenopausal women aged 65 years or older, synthetic estrogen plus progestin did not improve cognitive function when compared with placebo. However, typical HRT users are in their 50s and this study focused on women aged 65 and over, who have a higher risk for dementia.

JAMA 2003 May 28;289(20):2663-72
Effect of estrogen plus progestin on global cognitive function in postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study: a randomized controlled trial.
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In the following study, estrogen plus progestin increased the risk of ischemic stroke in generally healthy postmenopausal women.

JAMA 2003 May 28;289(20):2673-84
Effect of estrogen plus progestin on stroke in postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative: a randomized trial.

Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.