July 2008 | KUSI San Diego
 

Dr. Steve Center of the Scripps Memorial Hospital has discussed the idea that bioidentical hormone therapy given to women in their late 30s to early 40s may prevent the need for a hysterectomy. In women, progesterone levels start to drop ten years prior to menopause. Estrogen then becomes the dominant hormone, which can lead to the development of abnormalities in the uterus. When given bioidentical hormone treatments, women are helping prevent the abnormalities that can take place in the uterus that lead some women to needing a hysterectomy. Dr. Center's patient, Kim, received a hysterectomy and immediately after her surgery began the treatments. As a result, she claims to have only had six hot flashes in the year following the surgery and feels the best she has ever felt.

There is currently no research showing that bioidentical hormones cause any possibility of cancer. The hormones used are developed from natural plant products and are compounded to be identical to human hormones, unlike synthetic hormones which are not chemical identical to human ones. Bioidentical hormone therapy is a practical and natural alternative for women to prevent the need for a hysterectomy.