title: Alternatives to estrogen.
abstract: For many years, women have sought alternative therapies for menopausal symptoms and for general health overall. The highly publicized findings from the Women's Health Initiative have led to an increased pressure on the medical community to find safe and alternative medications for female health. This article reviews the challenges and problems with the use of alternative medicines, and the clinical trials that prove their efficacy, and discusses the safety issues that may occur with these types of products.
authors: Endocrine Research Unit, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, Nutrition and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. fitz@mayo.edu
authors: Lorraine A
authors: LA
authors: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000588:Amines; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001533:Belladonna Alkaloids; D031885:Cimicifuga; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004879:Ergotamines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008784:Methysergide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016387:Women's Health; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000588:Amines; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000975:Antioxidants; D001533:Belladonna Alkaloids; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004879:Ergotamines; D000077206:Gabapentin; D007529:Isoflavones; D008784:Methysergide; D010634:Phenobarbital; D048789:Phytoestrogens; D028321:Plant Preparations; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013469:Sulpiride; D014810:Vitamin E; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C044435:belladonna alkaloid, ergotamine, phenobarbital drug combination; C027429:veralipride