The Tragedy of Women’s Hormone Replacement: A Q&A with Dr. Gustav Lo, MD, Serving Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham, Michigan
Q: Why aren’t more women in Bloomfield Hills treated with hormone replacement for menopause?
A: I’ll tell you exactly why, and it’s a story that’s impacted countless women, including many right here in Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham, Michigan. Back in the 80s, I was in med school when treating menopause with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was becoming the standard of care. More than half of my classmates were women, and there was a strong emphasis on women’s health. Not addressing menopause symptoms was almost viewed as neglectful. Even then, we knew that hormone therapy went beyond alleviating hot flashes. It improved skin health, preserved sexual function, helped maintain cognitive abilities, and early research even pointed to longer life expectancy by reducing heart attack and stroke risks.
In Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham, we see firsthand how women want options that align with optimal health and wellness. Whether you were a family doctor like myself, an internist, or a gynecologist, treating menopause was part of our training, as 100% of women experience it eventually. For the first decade of my practice, when women in Bloomfield Hills or Birmingham began to show menopausal symptoms, I recommended hormone therapy, typically Premarin combined with synthetic progesterone. This helped millions of women. However, there was an issue.
Premarin wasn’t like natural human estrogen. It was derived from horses, hence its name: Pre-mar-in, short for pregnant mare urine. It worked for many, but it wasn’t ideal.
Then, in 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative study changed everything. It showed that using Premarin increased the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular issues. This study completely transformed HRT recommendations. Doctors like myself, who had been advocating HRT, were suddenly faced with warning our patients about potential cancer and heart disease risks.
Fortunately, bioidentical hormones, which resemble natural human hormones, were beginning to emerge around the same time. These human-identical options reduced the risks linked to Premarin and synthetic progestins. However, the study’s findings left an enduring mark, and medical schools and residency programs stopped teaching about the benefits of HRT. Instead, they focused on the risks tied to animal-derived estrogen, even though these newer, safer bioidentical hormones were available.
This happened nearly 20 years ago, but many doctors still carry that legacy of fear. Conventional training emphasizes avoiding HRT due to outdated risk concerns, or it suggests that HRT only helps with hot flashes, overlooking the myriad of health benefits it provides.
Today, in Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham at RegenCen, we offer options that weren’t available decades ago. We’re here to help you optimize your hormone health during perimenopause and beyond. If you’re looking for support to live your healthiest, most vibrant life, our hormone replacement therapy in Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham is here to support you with compassionate, expert care close to home.
Experience trusted, local hormone replacement therapy in Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham, Michigan, to feel your best every day. Schedule your complimentary consultation at www.regencenonlinebooking.com.
