Estriol – A Safer Estrogen Alternative?

We always hear the term estrogen represented as a single hormone but did you know estrogen is actually a blend of three different hormones rather that just one? The weakest yet perhaps the mightiest of those three hormones is estriol.

Estriol – Small but Mighty

Estrogen is made up of a combination of three different hormones – estradial, estrone and estriol.  Estriol has been  basically overlooked by the mainstream medical community because it is the weakest of the three forms of estrogen.  The human body only produces significant amounts of estriol during pregnancy.  After menopause, estriol levels in a woman are about the same as estriol levels in men.

It was originally believed that estriol played an insignificant role in the health of women because it is so weak.  Research  has shown, however, that the weakness of estriol is what makes it so powerful.

The Benefits of Estriol

Traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT)  has come under attack in recent years.  It has  been linked to increased rates of breast cancer, uterine cancer, stroke and other serious health issues.

Estradiol is the most powerful and “aggressive” of the estrogen hormones and is the most commonly used in HRT.  It is also the form of estrogen most likely to encourage estrogen dominance and feed estrogen-sensitive cancer cells.

Estriol, on the other hand, is mild enough to not raise  your risk of cancer or promote estrogen dominance  but is strong enough to deliver the anti-aging benefits of estrogen replacement therapy.

One  study of estriol use for menopausal symptoms was conducted at the University of  Ulm in Germany.  Its conclusion?  “Estriol therapy was successful in 92% of all cases.  In 71%, hot flushes and sweating were completely eliminated, in 21% they were ameliorated, becoming weaker and occurring more seldom . . . Depressive moods were abolished in 24% of the cases, and in 33% they were ameliorated, so that an overall improvement occurred in 57%.”

The study also showed the quality of the patient’s skin improved, showing less signs of aging, and the therapy also reduced forgetfulness and decreased vaginal dryness, migraine headaches and irritability.

There have  been studies that show estriol is an effective treatment in women who have Multiple Sclerosis or osteoporosis as well and research indicates that not only does estriol not promote breast cancer, it may actually help prevent it.

Is Estriol Safer than other Estrogen Replacement Therapies?

Estriol has been used safely and effectively as the HRT of choice in Europe for more than 30 years.  There is no evidence that it increases the risk of breast cancer, uterine cancer, stroke or any of the other problems connected to the traditional HRT used in the USA.

So why don’t U.S. doctors prescribe estriol compounds anymore instead of the typical HRT’s they normally dispense?  Apparently, the big drug companies told the FDA not to allow it.  In fact, Wyeth-Pharma, the manufacturer pushing hardest for the FDA restrictions on estriol compounds for HRT in the US, actually sells two types of estriol drugs in Europe.  Unfortunately for us, they are also the manufacturers of Premarin and PremPro, costly synthetic hormones widely prescribed by mainstream physicians.  Could it boil down to profits versus effectiveness and safety on this one?

Estriol Creams are Available

Although the companies who get rich selling harmful synthetic HRTs don’t like it,  we can still buy estriol creams that are safe and effective.  The estriol is combined with progesterone and applied topically, giving us a safe, natural way to fight menopause symptoms and other aging problems.  Creams are the best way for your body to absorb estriol.  If you would like to experience the benefits of estriol  for yourself, you can obtain these creams from natural wellness stores and online retailers.

Related posts:

1. When to use Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
2. $113 Million Hormone Therapy Settlement