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| for women, while comparable studies in males focus on other factors such as diet and lifestyle. The reasons for this seem confusing. Is it the well-intentioned medical system which seeks to enhance a woman's aging process, or is it just another example of America's love affair with pharmaceutical products and the ''quick fix''? Nature has seen fit to discontinue the reproductive process in woman when her children are grown, at an age when life turns inward and aging naturally occurs. For most women, the natural way seems to work just fine without pharmaceutical intervention. |
| The claims of estrogen's many benefits include prevention of osteoporosis, prevention of heart disease and prevention of senility. Taking hormones to replace those which had been naturally produced in the body may have an effect on these disease processes according to some studies. Women who are at high risk for these diseases may want to discuss the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, long-term studies of the side effects of HRT are lacking, and there is some evidence to show that the risk of some cancers is considerably increased with its use. Any woman considering the use of HRT should ask her doctor for information on the risks of such treatment. |
| Before even considering HRT, the risk factors for these disease processes (other then estrogen "deficiency") should be explored. Family history of osteoporosis and heart disease, for example, should be investigated. A woman's lifestyle including nicotine use, the use of over-the-counter medications and prescription medications should be explored and discussed. Dietary habits should also be reviewed to see whether vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy |
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