These are sensitive issues which is exactly why they should be brought up and discussed. We women need this information and to understand. Many doctors either dismiss our concerns (as hypochondriacs) or throw a prescription at us and send us on our way. It’s a sort of take it or leave it, this is the standard of care approach. Whether it’s a GP, OB/GYN or Endocrinologist, and even Oncologists.
Thank you Dr. Marik . As a gyn physician , I have had patients with breast cancer with no HRT and with various types of HRT combinations synthetic and “natural “. To all you women out there …talk with your healthcare provider and do your own research . Again , thank you Dr. Marik.
2016: I started bio-identical hormone pellet implants. Every 3 months I would get a new implant but I had to beg them to reduce the testosterone. I believe now, that is part of how they kept clients coming back. High levels of test make life interesting, for sure. And the problem with pellets is, once they are in you cannot do anything about dosage. As for the progesterone and estrogen, when their doctors checked my labs they assured me they were fine.
Early 2018: Mammogram and ultrasound indicated DCIS. My research indicated that for the vast majority of women, it would never turn into anything that needed attention. Nevertheless, it put me into a panic, I quit the pellets, and I sought help bringing my hormones down to reasonable levels. During that process, two independent doctors and a PhD pharmacist were shocked at how high all my hormone levels were.
2022-2023: I could feel a lump precisely where the DCIS was seen. Fast-growing.
2025: Had the lump removed and it was ER+ PR+.
I'd spent years telling anyone who would listen how great (and safe) bio-identical hormones were. I think they can be, if they are being dosed carefully and thoughtfully.
You need to be clearer with terminology. You say ‘the type of progesterone’ - there is either a synthetic progestin or there is natural progesterone. Dr Louise Newson says there is no evidence of harm from replacing the body’s natural hormones, if you have evidence to the contrary please discuss it with her, she genuinely asks people to let her know. There will never be a randomised controlled trial so that is a disservice to women saying they should be wary until there is one. Drug companies make a fortune from all the drugs given for symptoms that can be explained by hormone deficiency after menopause- statins, bisphosphonates, SSRIs etc. I still find this article irksome and scaremongering and feel like you’re ’hedging your bets’. When patients are deficient in thyroxine, we replace it at physiological levels, same with insulin for a type 1 diabetic, why should women be denied access to wellbeing through replacement of their hormones ( including testosterone) at the correct physiological dose, just because the ‘powers that be’ scared everyone ( including a lot of doctors)with some media hype? Where have we seen this pattern before - drug companies having influence over medical policy because it’s not in their interests for women to feel well and not need all the SSRIs, bisphosphonates etc. No one seemed to care two hoots about dishing out all the artificial hormones in contraceptives for the last few decades and all the increased risks of cancer and clots from them! Please also read Dr Louise Newsons’s latest book The Power Of Hormones to hear about all the discoveries and the appalling medical misogyny that’s been going on for years.
Thanks. Seems like I touched upon a sensitive issue. Was not my intention.
These are sensitive issues which is exactly why they should be brought up and discussed. We women need this information and to understand. Many doctors either dismiss our concerns (as hypochondriacs) or throw a prescription at us and send us on our way. It’s a sort of take it or leave it, this is the standard of care approach. Whether it’s a GP, OB/GYN or Endocrinologist, and even Oncologists.
Thanks..
Thanks for your input
Thanks for this.
Agree.. its a shame.
Well these are the facts
I would imagine that most Ob?GYN should know this.
Unfortunately, there are many who are not educated at all on this and not willing to consider.
Thank you Dr. Marik . As a gyn physician , I have had patients with breast cancer with no HRT and with various types of HRT combinations synthetic and “natural “. To all you women out there …talk with your healthcare provider and do your own research . Again , thank you Dr. Marik.
2016: I started bio-identical hormone pellet implants. Every 3 months I would get a new implant but I had to beg them to reduce the testosterone. I believe now, that is part of how they kept clients coming back. High levels of test make life interesting, for sure. And the problem with pellets is, once they are in you cannot do anything about dosage. As for the progesterone and estrogen, when their doctors checked my labs they assured me they were fine.
Early 2018: Mammogram and ultrasound indicated DCIS. My research indicated that for the vast majority of women, it would never turn into anything that needed attention. Nevertheless, it put me into a panic, I quit the pellets, and I sought help bringing my hormones down to reasonable levels. During that process, two independent doctors and a PhD pharmacist were shocked at how high all my hormone levels were.
2022-2023: I could feel a lump precisely where the DCIS was seen. Fast-growing.
2025: Had the lump removed and it was ER+ PR+.
I'd spent years telling anyone who would listen how great (and safe) bio-identical hormones were. I think they can be, if they are being dosed carefully and thoughtfully.
You need to be clearer with terminology. You say ‘the type of progesterone’ - there is either a synthetic progestin or there is natural progesterone. Dr Louise Newson says there is no evidence of harm from replacing the body’s natural hormones, if you have evidence to the contrary please discuss it with her, she genuinely asks people to let her know. There will never be a randomised controlled trial so that is a disservice to women saying they should be wary until there is one. Drug companies make a fortune from all the drugs given for symptoms that can be explained by hormone deficiency after menopause- statins, bisphosphonates, SSRIs etc. I still find this article irksome and scaremongering and feel like you’re ’hedging your bets’. When patients are deficient in thyroxine, we replace it at physiological levels, same with insulin for a type 1 diabetic, why should women be denied access to wellbeing through replacement of their hormones ( including testosterone) at the correct physiological dose, just because the ‘powers that be’ scared everyone ( including a lot of doctors)with some media hype? Where have we seen this pattern before - drug companies having influence over medical policy because it’s not in their interests for women to feel well and not need all the SSRIs, bisphosphonates etc. No one seemed to care two hoots about dishing out all the artificial hormones in contraceptives for the last few decades and all the increased risks of cancer and clots from them! Please also read Dr Louise Newsons’s latest book The Power Of Hormones to hear about all the discoveries and the appalling medical misogyny that’s been going on for years.
Thanks..XXX
Thanks...
Thanks..
Thanks..
Sure.. its a learning experience for us all.
Not that I am aware of.