Estrogen Dominance

Stress and Your Female Hormones

Thursday, September 2, 2010 by Kimberly Day

Women produce two major sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone. These hormones help to

keep in balance the various functions of the nervous systems, and they can have a strong impact on how you respond to stress. For example, estrogen tends to affect the levels of serotonin and acts as a natural mood elevator, whereas progesterone affects the levels of dopamine and has a sedative or calming effect. When these hormones (and subsequently, neurotransmitters) are out of balance in relation to one another, stress symptoms can be aggravated.

Additionally, stress itself can cause or aggravate hormone imbalances. In fact, it can interfere with your ability to ovulate, thereby blocking progesterone production and pushing further into estrogen dominance. This can lead to severe PMS, menstrual cramps, anxiety, fibroids, endometriosis, and infertility.

Studies from journals as varied as Human Stress, Psychosomatics, and Acta Psychiatry of Scandinavian have all shown that women with stressful lives are much more likely to experience PMS symptoms. In fact, a study from the Archives of Family Medicine found that women who suffered from PMS scored four times higher on a stress scale than other women.

Another Scandinavian study looked at baboons living in captivity. Researchers found that those who developed endometriosis had higher stress levels and were less able to react positively to stress as compared to baboons in the wild.

Like their estrogen dominant sisters, estrogen deficient women must also manage stress carefully. Not only can stress reduce estrogen levels, but it can reduce production of all female hormones. This can lead to a worsening of menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, insomnia, depression, and vaginal and tissue dryness, as well as other related issues, such as heart health.

A study from the journal Menopause looked at more than 400 women between the ages of 37 and 47 who were still menstruating. Researchers gave the participants an anxiety test at the start of the study and again six years later. By this time, many of the women were experiencing irregular periods and hot flashes.

The researchers found that those women with the highest anxiety levels had almost five times as many hot flashes as the less anxious women. Women with moderate anxiety had three times as many hot flashes. A second study from the Maternal and Child Health Journal found that vaginal dryness (also a common symptom of estrogen deficiency) was significantly associated with high emotional or psychological stress.

For more information on stress and female hormones, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site.

Fibroid-Fighting Recommendation #4

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by Susan Lark

My fourth fibroid-fighting recommendation is to slim down with exercise. Excess body fat is a significant site of estrogen manufacture in your body and tends to sustain estrogen dominance.

If you’re overweight, I recommend exercising for an hour at least five days a week. Of course, regardless of your weight, it’s important to exercise. A recent study found that women who exercise regularly are significantly less likely to have fibroids that grow large enough to cause problems.

To learn more about balancing female hormones, estrogen dominance, and much more, visit my Web site.

Fibroid-Fighting Recommendation #3

Monday, August 30, 2010 by Susan Lark

My third recommendation for fighting fibroids naturally is to add nutrients that have special effects for the uterus and female hormones--especially estrogen levels.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) normalizes the ovarian cycle, boosting natural progesterone levels to reestablish balanced estrogen levels. Take 1,200 mg daily.

Vitex (chaste tree berry) contains at least three phytoestrogens which block estrogen from its receptors and significantly help bring estrogen levels and progesterone levels into balance. It also helps to promote healthy ovulation, which is necessary for progesterone production. I recommend 225 mg per day of a standardized product.

To learn more about balancing female hormones and much more, visit my Web site.

Fibroid-Fighting Recommendation #2

Saturday, August 28, 2010 by Susan Lark

My #2 recommendation for fighting fibroids naturally is to use supplements that are known to fibroids heal and resolve.

Start by taking a top-quality, broad-spectrum multinutrient that contains at least 50 mg of B complex vitamins, 100 mg of vitamin B6, 1,000 mg of buffered vitamin C, 700 mg of bioflavonoids, 600 IU of vitamin E, 800 mg of calcium, and 400 mg of magnesium every day. These nutrients help support the liver’s ability to metabolize estrogen (and therefore balance estrogen levels), block its fibroid-stimulating effects, maintain healthy uterine muscle tone, and help reestablish healthy balance of female hormones.

For more hormone-balancing recommendations, visit my Web site.

Fight Fibroids Naturally

Friday, August 27, 2010 by Susan Lark

Uterine fibroids affect 30–40 percent of women by age 50. However, fibroids rarely cause symptoms, so they’re often overlooked. Their growth is triggered by estrogen dominance, since estrogen is a growth-stimulating hormone. Estrogen dominance is a common hormonal imbalance during perimenopause, and fibroids often disappear on their own after menopause.

The problem with fibroids occurs when they get big enough or numerous enough to cause pain or increased bleeding during or between periods. Some women also experience more frequent urination or changes in bowel habits because of the enlarged fibroids pressing against the bladder or colon.

Many doctors recommend a hysterectomy to remove fibroids and prevent new ones from forming—after all, if you don’t have a uterus, you can’t have uterine fibroids. But hysterectomies can cause so many other problems in the long term, that I truly believe that they should be reserved only for extremely severe cases that cannot be resolved with any other treatments. Today and in the days to come, I am going to give you my top 5 recommendations for safely, naturally, and effectively dealing with uterine fibroids.

#1: Eat for hormonal balance. One key to bringing estrogen levels back into balance is to avoid foods that stimulate estrogen production and raise estrogel levels, such as alcohol, sugar, and saturated fats. Let your meals revolve around phytoestrogens—substances that are chemically and functionally similar to a woman’s own natural estrogen, except that natural plant estrogens are much weaker and less potent. Phytoestrogens soften estrogen’s effects. Fibroid tissue is studded with estrogen receptors, and phytoestrogens bind to those receptors, displacing the more potent estrogen.

Colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains such as buckwheat and ground flax meal are great phytoestrogen sources that are also rich in the vitamins and minerals needed to balance estrogen levels, strengthen capillaries, and reduce uterine bleeding. As for supplements, I recommend 4–6 tablespoons of ground flaxseed, or 700–3,000 mg of bioflavonoids taken in divided doses.

To learn more about balancing female hormones and much more, visit my Web site.

Alcohol Affects Estrogen Levels

Friday, August 27, 2010 by Kimberly Day

Numerous studies show that women are markedly less able to tolerate alcohol than men.

Women metabolize alcohol slower than men, thus it takes longer to clear out alcohol’s toxic effects.

Alcohol is particularly problematic for women with estrogen dominance, as it increases estrogen levels, and is associated with fibroids, endometriosis, heavy bleeding, and the development of breast cancer. Plus, it may inhibit ovulation. Moreover, excess alcohol can tax your liver, making it more difficult to detoxify excess estrogen, thus allowing more free estrogen to be circulated in the blood. This can lead to a whole host of issues for estrogen dominant women.

Plus, alcohol worsens menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and mood swings. It is particularly pronounced in women who suffer from night sweats and insomnia. And, alcohol is a diuretic. This means that overconsumption can lead to dehydration of your skin and tissues, as well as loss of essential minerals through urination.

For more information on foods that affect estrogen levels and other hormone issues, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site.

Dairy Affects Estrogen Levels

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 by Kimberly Day

Whether you have estrogen dominance or are looking for menopause relief, eliminating dairy

can help.

Dairy products are one of the primary sources of food allergies in the standard American diet. Symptoms include fatigue, depression, bloating, intestinal gas, bowel changes, wheezing, nasal congestion, and frequent colds.

If you have estrogen dominance, dairy can also make your PMS symptoms worse, and weaken your adrenal glands over time, greatly increasing your susceptibility to stress. Also, the high saturated fat content of many dairy products is a risk factor for excess estrogen levels in the body. Unhealthy, anaerobic bacteria in the intestinal tract actually convert metabolites of estrogen into forms of free estrogen that can be reabsorbed from the digestive tract back into the body. This elevates your body’s estrogen levels, which can aggravate conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis.

Women suffering from menopause symptoms may also notice that dairy causes anxiety, irritability, depression or mood swings, insomnia, fatigue, dizziness, confusion and disorientation, headaches, and joint pain.

Even if you are not allergic to dairy products, they can be difficult for many women to digest. Plus, the artificial hormones, as well as the pesticides used in livestock feed, make cow’s milk an unhealthy choice.

For more information on foods that affect estrogen levels and other hormone issues, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site.

Estrogen Dominance-Friendly Snack

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 by Kimberly Day

I recently came across Beanitos, a new snack “chip” that is made from black beans or pinto

beans, whole grain rice and/or flaxseed, sea salt, and vegetable oil. They are corn-free, gluten-free, and soy-free. They are also low glycemic, high in fiber, and are packed with essential fatty acids and protein. In short, they are a Godsend for women with estrogen dominance!

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are health-promoting nutrients your body needs to perform a whole range of functions. For women with estrogen dominance, EFAs are particularly helpful for reducing inflammation, false fat, and the pain that often accompanies conditions such as endometriosis and menstrual cramps.

The fiber helps to eliminate excess estrogen from your body. According to a study from Tufts University Medical School, vegetarian women excrete two to three times more estrogen in their bowel movements than do other women who eat a diet lower in fiber and higher in fat. This is great news for women with estrogen dominance who are trying to reduce the estrogen load in their body.

And since estrogen dominant women are prone to insulin resistance, the low glycemic, high protein is a huge boon! Plus, they taste great…I paired them with homemade guacamole to get even more great EFAs.

So, if you have estrogen dominance, switch away from your other chips and give these a try.

For more information on estrogen dominance, excess estrogen levels, or other hormone issues, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site.

Conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy and Strokes?

Saturday, August 21, 2010 by Susan Lark

Did you know that taking conventional hormone replacement therapy increases your risk for stroke? In fact, preliminary studies show that in younger females, estrogen actually protects brain tissue traumatized by stroke, but after menopause estrogen becomes neurotoxic: It takes the area of the brain damaged by stroke and actually enlarges it.

It is important to remember that conventional hormone replacement therapy does not cure menopause symptoms, it only postpones them. For the majority of women, menopause symptoms come back when they discontinue hormone therapy, whether they quit cold-turkey or gradually wean off. But alternative therapies, such as supplements and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, actually target the causative hormonal imbalance, rather than the symptoms.

Review all my menopause-related entries in this blog, and my Web site, for more information about natural solutions for menopause relief.

Fight False Fat with Acupressure

Friday, August 20, 2010 by Kimberly Day

One of the many oh-so-pleasant things about having estrogen dominance is the tendency

toward false fat. As you likely know, false fat occurs when you have excess bloating and fluid retention around your abdomen.

In addition to choosing foods that work to reduce inflammation and bloating, you can also use a specific acupressure point. Dr. Lark has found that this particular exercise helps to relieve bloating and fluid retention, and helps minimize weight gain. I use it every day as part of my natural weight loss plan.

Sit with your back against a wall and your legs straight out in front of you.
Place your left hand on your crease of your left groin, where you bend your leg. Place your right hand on your left leg, about two to three inches above the knee. Hold for one to three minutes.
With your left hand still pressing on the crease of the left groin, place your right hand just below the inside of your left knee. The point is on the underside of the curve of the bone just below the knee. Hold for one to three minutes.

For more information on natural weightloss, estrogen domiance, or other women’s health related topics, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site.

Two More Reasons to Quit Conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy

Thursday, August 19, 2010 by Susan Lark

Considering how much news comes out on the consequences of taking conventional hormone replacement therapy, I think it is important to stay abreast of the latest research on the subject. Ovarian cancer and asthma are just two more reasons to choose natural hormone therapy methods, like bioidentical hormone replacement.

A study of nearly a million women showed that even if hormone replacement therapy is taken for less than a year, and even if it’s low dose, it brings a significant increase in ovarian cancer risk. That’s irrespective of dosing frequency (daily vs. cyclic), mode of delivery (skin patch, pills, vaginal preparation, or hormone intrauterine device), and whether the formula’s estrogen is countered by progesterone. The cause-and-effect relationship between hormone replacement therapy and ovarian cancer was confirmed by the finding that after a woman has been off of it for two years, her increased ovarian cancer risk drops back to her original risk level. Ovarian cancer remains the deadliest of a woman’s hormone-sensitive cancers.

As for asthma, it has been known for several years that conventional hormone replacement therapy significantly increases a woman’s odds of developing asthma after menopause, even if she has no respiratory allergies. In a recent study of nearly 60,000 asthma-free women entering menopause, taking conventional hormone replacement not only increased their risk of developing asthma by 20 percent, but that risk rose to 54 percent if the hormone therapy consisted of estrogen without progesterone. And, if a woman already had some form of allergies before starting estrogen replacement therapy, her risk of developing asthma went up by a whopping 86 percent.

All the more reason to use natural hormone replacement therapy, or safe, effective alternatives for menopause releif, like black cohosh and the many other nutrients I discuss in this blog!

Help for a Little-Discussed Effect of Menopause

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 by Susan Lark

Vaginal dryness and loss of tone in the vagina are some effects of menopause that many women don't like to take about. In fact, a reader of my newsletter recently wrote in asking for my opinions on vaginal rejuvenation, which is a procedure that surgically tightens up the vaginal muscles to enhance sexual pleasure.

It is true that vaginal muscles can become stretched after birthing babies, and also due to age and fluctuating estrogen levels. However, libido and sexual pleasure are influenced by many factors, not just the "tightness" of the vagina. If you feel you need to enhance your sexual pleasure, I suggest trying natural methods first before resorting to risky surgeries like vaginal rejuvenation.

Some of the best nutrients to try include Mucuna pruriens, a concentrated natural form of L-dopa (300 mg per day in capsule form, standardized to 60 mg L-dopa; L-arginine (500 mg one to three times daily); and maca (2 to 10 grams per day).

To learn more about how to achieve menopause relief naturally, visit my Web site.

Fight Diabetes with Tea

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 by Kimberly Day

According to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, people who drank three to four cups of regular or decaf coffee or tea a day reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 25 percent! Researchers attributed magnesium and antioxidant lignans (among other things) to the potential health benefits of these beverages.

I personally find about half of this news to be good. As I’ve written before, a study from the October 2001 issue of Fertility and Sterility found that caffeine elevates estrogen levels in women. Similarly, a from the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that the more coffee a woman consumed, the higher her estrogen levels were likely to be. Researchers went on to caution women against drinking more than two cups of coffee per day.

Conversely, the news about tea (especially green tea) is all good! Not only does tea appear to help protect against cancer, but it also helps promote natural weightloss. Plus, it has been shown to be cardio-protective, while also ease the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

My advice? To help decrease your risk of diabetes, opt for green tea and skip the java. You can lower your blood sugar without raising your estrogen levels, while also promoting natural healthy weight loss. Now that’s something to cheer about!

For more information on female hormones, weight loss, or other women’s health related topics, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site.

Estrogen Dominance and Lycopene

Saturday, August 14, 2010 by Kimberly Day

Lycopene is one of the most concentrated carotenoids found in the blood, organs, and tissues of the body. One of the most important health benefits of lycopene is its ability to reduce the risk

of cancer, particularly cancers of the reproductive tract.

One study in particular from the International Journal of Cancer found that the 75 percent of women who ate the least amount of tomatoes (a rich source of lycopene) were three to five times more at risk for pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix than those who ate a lycopene-rich diet. Another study found that a diet high in lycopene significantly reduced the risk of ovarian cancer in women in premenopause. Investigators suggested that consumption of fruits, vegetables and food items high in carotene and lycopene, particularly raw carrots and tomato sauce, may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.

Help reduce your risk for estrogen-dependent cancers by eating foods high in lycopene, including tomatoes and carrots, as well as red peppers, watermelon, apricots, cantaloupe, pumpkin, guava, and sweet potatoes.

For more information on balancing female hormones and premenopause, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site.

Bioflavonoids for Estrogen Dominance

Friday, August 13, 2010 by Kimberly Day

Flavonoids encompass a wide group of antioxidants, including bioflavonoids and flavanols. Bioflavonoids are usually found in the pulp and rind of citrus fruit. They have wea

k, estrogen-like properties, and have also been shown to interfere with the production of estrogen by binding to estrogen receptor sites. In this way, bioflavonoids work to normalize estrogen levels, bringing excessively high estrogen down to more normal levels.

Because bioflavonoids do bind to estrogen receptor sites, they can also act as a supplemental form of estrogen, helping to combat common menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Flavanols, namely polyphenols and catechins, also bind to receptor sites, which is why they have been found to be so beneficial in protecting women from cancer. By binding to breast tissue estrogen receptors sites, polyphenols work to prevent carcinogens (tumor promoters, hormones, and growth factors) from binding to and harming the cells. In essence, the polyphenols "seal off" the tissue from invasion by carcinogens.

The superior antioxidant properties of polyphenols also help in the fight against heart attacks and other forms of cardiovascular disease. Japanese researchers have found that tablets of green tea extract providing 254 mg of catechins raised blood levels of antioxidants and reduced plaque-forming oxidation.

Foods rich in bioflavonoids include citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, and limes) and buckwheat (a gluten-free grain that is not botanically related to wheat). Other good sources are apricots, cherries, grapes, plums, blackberries, papayas, green pepper, broccoli, and tomatoes. Foods rich in flavanols include green tea, apples, grapes, and onions.

For more information on estrogen dominance or natural treatments for menopause symptoms, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site.

Beta-Carotene for Estrogen Dominance

Thursday, August 12, 2010 by Kimberly Day

Beta-carotene is a plant-based, water-soluble precursor to vitamin A that is abundant in the

ovaries, and is found in very high concentrations in the corpus luteum and the adrenal glands—both of which produce progesterone to help balance excess estrogen levels in women with estrogen dominance, and support progesterone levels, even if greatly reduced after menopause.

Research studies have also found carotenoids such as beta carotene are useful in treating or preventing conditions related to estrogen dominance, including ovarian cancer, heavy menstrual bleeding, and benign breast disease. Additionally, studies have shown that high levels of vitamin A can help reverse fibrocystic breast disease.

To ensure that you are getting enough beta-carotene in your diet, be sure to include plenty of the following foods: carrots, kale, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, mangoes, cantaloupe, apricots, and cabbage.

For more information on estrogen dominance, visit Dr. Lark’s Web site.

Higher Estrogen Levels Causing Early Puberty in Girls

Monday, August 9, 2010 by Susan Lark

The media today are reporting on new research that says that girls are starting puberty earlier than ever--some as early as age 7. Researchers speculate that rising obesity plays a role, since fat increases estrogen levels in the body. Environmental toxins, such as BPA and pthalates, and even common ingredients found in beauty and personal care products, like parabens, also cause changes in estrogen levels in the body.

According to researchers, not only does early puberty have negative emotional and mental affects on girls, but it can also increase their risk of breast and endometrial cancers when they get older, due to the fact that they have a longer lifetime exposure to estrogen.

This study is quite disturbing, but there are things you can do to protect yourself and your daughters and granddaughters. First, choose the most natural beauty care products you can because these are the ones that tend to be free of estrogen-like chemicals. Second, choose organic (and, if possible, locally-grown) produce. It may be a bit more expensive than conventionally-grown food, but the peace of mind you get knowing you and your loved ones are eating more nutritious, cleaner, purer food is worth those extra few cents. And finally, make exercise fun! Go to the park and kick a ball around, play on the monkey bars, or go for a walk to your local store or library. Anything that gets you and your kids or grandkids moving will help prevent obesity.

For more information on estrogen levels and natural weightloss, visit my Web site.

Understanding Bioidentical Hormone Replacement

Saturday, August 7, 2010 by Kimberly Day

Trying to reverse female hormone issues can be quite complicated, especially when you are

trying to increase estrogen levels to offset menopause symptoms. And with all the negative side effects surrounding conventional hormone replacement therapy, many women don't know where to turn.

Fortunately, you don't have to look any further than bioidentical hormone replacement. Biochemically identical hormones are molecularly identical to the hormones found in the human body. Moreover, they are produced in the laboratory from natural ingredients such as soy and wild yam, derived from plants, not horse urine. Since bioidentical hormones are biologically similar to the hormones your body produces, they do not appear to have the grave risks associated with conventional HRT.

The bioidentical estrogen that Dr. Lark typically recommends is estriol. Of the three types of estrogen produced within your body, estriol is the weakest and least potent. More importantly, several research studies have found that it is as effective as the stronger, more potent estrogens for treating menopause symptoms.

One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that estriol was particularly effective in treating vaginal atrophy, mood swings, and hot flashes. Researchers selected 52 symptomatic, postmenopausal women and separated them into four groups, giving each group either 2 mg, 4 mg, 6 mg, or 8 mg of estriol per day for six months. On average, women in every group experienced a decrease in their menopausal symptoms after one month of treatment. Furthermore, in the groups with the three highest dosages, women who had ranked their symptoms as severe now felt that their symptoms were very mild.

Estriol and all biochemically identical estrogen have to be prescribed by your physician. Estriol is available at most compounding pharmacies, as well as a few mainstream pharmacies, including the Women’s International Pharmacy in Madison, Wisconsin, which sends estriol formulations to physicians throughout the U.S.

For more information on bioidentical hormone replacement or other natural hormone replacement therapy options, visit Dr. Lark's Web site.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Dangers

Friday, August 6, 2010 by Kimberly Day

Reports on the risks associated with conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have

filled medical journals for more than 20 years. There was clear evidence that conventional HRT use increased a woman’s risk for heart disease and breast cancer. And yet, many physicians were still insisting on prescribing conventional hormone replacement therapy. And many women were still taking it. But the summer of 2002 forever removed the curtain of doubt surrounding the dangers of HRT.

On July 17, 2002, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported on the findings from one part of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), an 8.5 year project funded by the National Institutes of Health. The WHI involved 161,809 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79, and outlined the benefits and risks of a variety of treatments designed to lower the incidences of several diseases, including heart disease, breast and colon cancer, and fractures in postmenopausal women. Of this group, 16,608 women who were healthy and had an intact uterus participated in one part of the WHI, which tested the effectiveness of estrogen/progestin therapy.

According to the findings, women taking estrogen/progestin for five years or more had an increased risk for blood clots, coronary heart disease (CHD), strokes, and breast cancer. The researchers concluded, "The results indicate that this regimen should not be initiated or continued for primary prevention of CHD."

The data indicated that if 10,000 women took the drugs for a year and 10,000 did not, women in the first group would have eight more cases of invasive breast cancer, seven more heart attacks, eight more strokes, and 18 more instances of blood clots.

In fact, researchers felt so strongly about the negative implications of long-term combined hormone replacement therapy, especially the unacceptably high risk for breast cancer, that they ended the study three years early! Participants were contacted and instructed to stop taking the drug—immediately.

The Research is Clear

The research leaves no room for doubt about conventional hormone replacement therapy and its negative effects on women’s health.

It does not reduce a woman's risk of heart disease. While it can improve HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, these improvements are not associated with fewer heart attacks or other heart problems.
It increases a woman’s risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots.
It does not reverse pre-existing heart disease.
It raises levels of C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation that is a strong predictor of a future heart attack.
It increases the risk of invasive breast cancer.
It increases the likelihood of an abnormal mammogram after just one year of use.
It increases risk of gallbladder disease by 40 percent.

Where Do We Go From Here?

While many physicians and researchers are still hoarding the "fool's gold" known as hormone replacement therapy, complementary medicine is busily mining the mother lode of real gold—and women are taking notice.

Large numbers of American women are either abandoning their hormone replacement therapy or deciding to never start taking it. Many are rejecting physicians unfamiliar with or unsympathetic to natural health supports. They are also realizing the power and wisdom of using natural medicines and herbal remedies for easing menopausal discomforts, and are very interested in natural solutions for heart disease and osteoporosis.

Before changing your hormone replacement therapy regimen, be sure to discuss your plans with your physician. Chances are, you will be able to eliminate your conventional hormone replacement therapy or dramatically reduce the dose you require for symptomatic relief. Either way, you win: Recent research indicates that breast cancer risk returns to normal within a few years of stopping HRT, and it's likely that lower-dose HRT has less of an adverse impact on estrogen-positive breast cancer risk.

For more information about hormone replacement therapy and for a variety of natural hormone replacement therapy options, visit Dr. Lark's Web site.