BodyLogicMD Chief Medical Officer Weighs In On National Article

September 27, 2011 -The Wall Street Journal published an article today, "New Views of Hormone Therapy in Menopause" that took a closer look at some of the risks and benefits associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

“I’m extremely happy about this article,” said Jennifer Landa, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD. “It’s essentially what I’ve been saying all along!” However, this article may not have placed enough stress on certain points. “I think the most important point for people to take from the article,” stresses Landa, “is that it is the combination of estrogen and progestin — in particular medrocyprogesterone acetate (MPA) — that was shown to have an increased risk of breast cancer and heart attack.”

Progestin is not the same thing as progesterone. It is a synthetic version that the body does not recognize as natural. Even one of the experts quoted in the article gets this wrong: Wulf Utian, the founder and former president of NAMS, is quoted as saying, “If you minimize a woman’s exposure to progesterone, you minimize her slight risk of breast cancer.” Dr Landa clarifies: “If you minimize a woman’s exposure to progestin, you minimize her slight risk of breast cancer.”

Dr. Landa points out that progesterone, on the other hand, is extremely beneficial to women — and it even decreases a woman’s risk of both breast cancer and fibrocystic breasts. “Progesterone also plays a huge role in the central nervous system and has more supportive effects throughout the whole body,” Landa states.

There is another point that Dr. Landa disagrees with. In reference to the menopausal symptoms that hormones are frequently used to treat, the article states, “Critics of hormone therapy note that other medications can address many of these symptoms.” However, Dr. Landa explains, “A deficiency of estrogen and progesterone cannot be addressed by anything other than replacing estrogen and progesterone.”

Meiinda Beck, the author of the article, and Dr. Landa agree on the importance of lifestyle. The article closes with, “Experts stress that maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking and regular exercise can do more for long-term health than any medication can.” Dr. Landa couldn’t agree more: “Lifestyle is the foundation for optimal health and wellness.”