What are synthetic Hormones?
These hormones are manufactured in a laboratory and only available from a pharmacy with your prescription. These preparations can be composed of either estrogen or progestin or a combination of the two. For example: synthetic estrogen (ex: Premarin) is made from the urine of pregnant horses and then modified so it can be patented. However, the chemical composition of the modified horse urine is unlike the hormones produced by the human body. Similarly, synthetic progestin (ex: Provera) was created to attempt to mimic the effects of the progesterone our bodies produce. Progestin, however, is not the same as progesterone and the difference is very significant. For example, progestins are used by women to prevent pregnancy, whereas progesterone is used to assist fertility. Since synthetic hormones are foreign to a woman’s body, using them can create many adverse effects on a woman’s brain, blood vessels, skin, heart, estrogen sensitive tissues and overall health.
