I have a question

[rana]

I was at the chemists where I noticed those tablets & creams that ameloriate menopausal symptoms.  I guess these must be hormone replacement.   However while these are as dear as blazes, they do not appear to need a Doctors prescription.

I asked my wife about this and she reckoned that it was because they contain hormones from natural sources ie red clover, while ones requiring a prescription are synthetic and much stronger.

As a matter of curiousity can anybody shed some light on this?  Does it mean that those natural remedies to reduce problems of menopause are of not much use?

[stephanie_craxford]

Hello Rana.

As a matter of curiousity can anybody shed some light on this?  Does it mean that those natural remedies to reduce problems of menopause are of not much use?

The natural amount of estrogen that these products contain will only relieve the symptoms for which the product was manufactured for and then there is some doubt in their efficiency at doing that.  These products are often referred to as "herbal hormones", and they will have no effect on the body by way of causing any form of development.  In fact you would need to take a dangerously high amount of the product in order to get an equivalent prescribed manufactured dose of estrogen.  There is a topic here that you can read on the subject.

There is also another good article on the subject that can be found here.

Google "herbal hormones" and you we get a ton on sites that try to push these products onto transsexuals as an option to prescribed HRT.  As stated in the topic here at Susan's the bottom line it is a complete waste of money.

Steph

[rana]

Thank you Steph

I did not intend to be lazy here.  I did not realise  the subject has already been discussed already - I should have looked. 
Nevertheless thank you for showing the info.   It did not make sense to me at the time and you have highlighted why

regards
rana