Dear Friend,

Most of what we hear about the effects of estrogen is in reference to the two principle estrogens produced by the female body, estradiol and estrone, or horse-derived estrogens used in formulas like Premarin®.

Estriol is a third natural human estrogen that hasn't received the attention it deserves. This estrogen is produced in high levels during pregnancy by the placenta. When a woman is not pregnant, estriol is naturally produced in small amounts in the body.

Considered the friendly estrogen, research shows estriol may turn out to be the estrogen that is be a good alternative for for a wide array of anti-aging and hormone therapy applications, including vaginal dryness, urinary frequency, and skin care.

Potency Isn't Everything

Although used widely in Europe for over 20 years, estriol has been largely ignored by U.S. pharmaceutical companies, possibly because it is a natural hormone that cannot be patented. Natural estriol is not commercially available in the U.S. at this time.

Estriol is the "weakest" of the estrogens, but studies show that estriol's weakness may also be its strength. In numerous clinical trials, estriol has been used as an alternative to the more potent estradiol and estrone for managing menopausal symptoms. As a topical treatment for the skin, estriol has been used to manage the effects of aging and menopause. This includes not only the anti-aging benefits like decreasing the appearance of facial wrinkles and smoothing skin, but also an assortment of benefits that stem from helping to maintain healthy skin in the vagina, cervix, vulva, and urethra.

Because estriol is less stimulating than estrone and estradiol, it also does not appear to exhibit the strong estrogenic effects they do such as endometrial tissue growth.

Low-dose Estrogen for Management of Menopausal Symptoms and Osteoporosis

Concerns over conventional hormone replacement protocols and the potential increased risk of certain cancers have increased interest in low-dose estrogen as a friendlier alternative for managing menopausal symptoms. Decades of use in Europe and clinical studies (Altern Med Rev. 1998 Apr;3(2):101-13.) support estriol as a therapeutic consideration for hormone therapy. A two-year study by Yang et al reported estriol to be effective in relieving symptoms, especially hot flashes and insomnia, in 86 percent of patients within three months. No participants complained of side effects. With regard to osteoporosis, results have been mixed in several international studies on estriol's influence in preventing bone loss.

Low-dose Estrogen Helps Maintain Healthy Vaginal Tissue

Vaginal dryness and atrophy, urinary frequency, and repeat urinary tract infections are problems that many women experience during perimenopause, menopause, and other periods of estrogen decline. These symptoms occur because falling estrogen levels can lead to thinning of the vaginal and urethral tissue.

Low-dose estrogen can have a very robust local effect on the many estrogen receptors in these tissues and can be useful in reducing vaginal dryness and thickening skin and mucosa. Studies show low-dose estrogen can also lower vaginal pH, promoting a healthy environment for the growth of protective flora, which may then help prevent urinary tract infections. Most often, a small amount of low-dose estrogen in an individually compounded cream or suppository is prescribed for use two or three times a week.

Empty the Hope Chest

Although at this juncture it requires a prescription from your healthcare provider, low-dose estrogen may allow us to finally empty out our "hope chests" full of half-used potions for erasing the ever-increasing lines in our faces. Anti-aging skin creams touting exotic ingredients like caviar sell at cosmetic counters for up to $300 an ounce. Though sales clerks are hard-pressed to produce clinical studies showing their effectiveness, we keep buying and hoping one of them will work.

You won't find estriol at the cosmetic counter as it requires a prescription, but there are clinical studies indicating low-dose estrogen as estriol cream applied regularly to the face and neck can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Low-dose Estrogen May Be the Real Key to Reversing Skin Aging

Scientific studies validate that diminishing hormone levels play a significant factor in aging of facial skin and that low-dose estrogen represents a new and promising therapeutic approach. These studies show that estrogen's effects on the skin may include:

• Greater skin thickness due to increased collagen production
• Reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Improved skin integrity and elasticity
• Greater vascularization (oxygen and nutrient carrying blood vessels)
• Increased moisture content
• Inhibition of excessive sebum (oil) production

• In 96%, skin elasticity and firmness improvement was significant
• In 96%, skin moisture increase was significant
• In 89%, decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkle depth was highly significant

Learn More About Low-dose Estrogen Therapy

If you are a woman experiencing any of the health or aging challenges we've discussed, estriol could be beneficial. My advice is to learn more. Talk with your healthcare provider or give us a call at 800.558.7046. We'll be happy to discuss customized, low-dose natural prescriptive options.

Here's to a vibrant you,

Marla

Links to more information:

Natural hormones

Estriol studies

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