Prempro®

Provera, also known as Prempro or medroxyprogesterone is a synthetic form of progesterone, often referred to as progestin.  Studies show that the addition of a progestin, such as Prempro, for 10 or more days of a cycle of synthetic estrogen administration have reported a lowered incidence of endometrial cancer than would be induced by estrogen treatment alone.

However, there are risks associated with the use of progestins in estrogen replacement regimens. Again, the problems stem from the fact that progestins are not progesterone (the body’s natural hormone). A quick look a the approved labeling for Provera reveals that more than 60% of the text is devoted to Contraindications, Warnings, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions. Provera/Prempro is a serious drug with many serious consequences including:

• Adverse effects on lipoprotein metabolism (including cholesterol & triglycerides) – this can lead to cardiovascular disease
• Impairment of glucose metabolism – this is especially important for diabetics or those with diabetic tendencies
• Increased risk of breast cancer
• Increased breast tenderness, weight gain, depression and breakthrough bleeding

Again these warnings are taken from medical studies and the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR)!

Knowing more about these drugs and from where they originate gives you a much better understanding as to why they have such dramatic and adverse reactions in the human body.

There IS a Better Way!

Many women stop taking these drugs because the side effects are worse than the symptoms from which they sought relief in the first place. Many women are also concerned about the long-term dangers of taking HRT. Luckily, there are many natural things that you can do to manage the underlying imbalances that are causing these symptoms (see What You Can Do for more details).