For more than two decades, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been unfairly demonized by the mainstream. And all as a consequence of just one flawed study from the 1990s.
The result has been countless women suffering unnecessarily from the symptoms of menopause.
But now, the FDA is finally catching up to what Renew Youth has known since its founding in 1999: properly prescribed bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is both safe and effective.
The Study That Changed Everything (For the Worse)
The abovementioned confusion all started with the Women’s Health Initiative Study, a research study conducted during the 1990s.
Conclusions reached during this massive research project suggested that women on HRT faced an increased risk for developing breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
These frightening results made headlines worldwide and sent shockwaves through the mainstream medical community.
Almost overnight, doctors stopped prescribing HRT. Women who were already on hormone therapy stopped taking it. And millions of women entering menopause were told to simply “tough it out”, rather than risk the supposed dangers of hormone therapy.
There was just one big problem:
The study was deeply flawed. So much so that its results were rendered essentially meaningless.
What Was Wrong with the WHI Study?
The Women’s Health Initiative Study had several critical problems with the way it was designed:
- A large percentage of the participants were overweight and had pre-existing health conditions.
- The study used synthetic hormones only. No bioidentical hormones (which are structurally identical to what the human body produces) were used.
- A significant percentage of the participants dropped out of the study early, which skewed its results.
- Many participants started HRT many years (or even decades) after reaching menopause (which doesn’t reflect current best practice).
- And the list goes on.
Unfortunately, glaring flaws in how the study was constructed notwithstanding, the damage was done. The study’s conclusions became medical gospel, and women have paid the ultimate price in the form of needlessly suffering from debilitating symptoms, increased osteoporosis rates, increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease and dementia, and a dramatically reduced quality of life.
Renew Youth Has Been Leading the Way Since 1999
Since the late 1990s, while the mainstream medical community was backing away from HRT, Renew Youth has been taking a different approach.
We recognized the flaws that were inherent in the WHI study. We understood the difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones. We understood that properly prescribed and monitored HRT could safely improve women’s lives.
Since 1999, we’ve been providing women with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy that:
- Uses hormones that are structurally identical to those produced by the human body.
- Is customized to each woman’s unique physiology.
- Includes regular monitoring and adjustments.
- Addresses multiple hormones, not just estrogen.
- Follows best practices for safety and efficacy.
Our decades of experience have confirmed what we knew from the start: bioidentical HRT, when prescribed correctly, is both safe and transformative for women’s health.
Better Late Than Never (The FDA’s New Position)
Finally—more than 25 years after the WHI study created widespread fear and confusion—regulatory agencies are acknowledging what should have been obvious all along.
Specifically, recent guidance from the FDA reflects a more nuanced understanding of HRT’s risks and benefits. In particular:
- The benefits of HRT outweigh the risks for most women.
- Starting HRT sooner as opposed to later (i.e. closer to the onset of menopause) is safer.
- The type of hormones used matters significantly.
- Individualized treatment is essential.
- Regular monitoring ensures safety and effectiveness.
In other words, the FDA is now endorsing the approach that Renew Youth has had in place for more than two decades.
Why Bioidentical Matters
Not all HRT is created equal, and the difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones is crucial.
Synthetic hormones are structurally different from what your body produces naturally. These structural differences can cause side effects and other negative outcomes.
Bioidentical hormones, on the other hand, are structurally identical to the hormones produced by the human body. When properly dosed and monitored, they have an excellent safety profile.
This distinction has been at the heart of Renew Youth’s approach since day one.
The Right Way to Do HRT
Properly prescribed HRT requires:
- Comprehensive testing of all relevant hormones, not just estrogen.
- Individualized dosing that is customized to each woman’s unique needs.
- Methods of delivery that follow best practice.
- Regular monitoring via lab testing every 6 months (at a minimum).
- The right mix of hormones, using bioidentical hormones only.
When properly prescribed, bioidentical HRT can effectively relieve hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, brain fog, fatigue, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and low libido (to name just a handful of symptoms).
Beyond symptom relief, HRT that is administered correctly provides long-term protection against osteoporosis, heart disease, cognitive decline, metabolic issues, and pelvic floor disorders.
We’ve Been Right All Along
There’s a certain satisfaction in seeing the FDA finally endorse what we’ve espoused since 1999.
But more importantly, this shift means that more women will finally get the care they need and deserve.
For 25+ years, Renew Youth has been helping women to navigate the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause with properly prescribed bioidentical hormone therapy. We’ve seen thousands of women transform their health, reclaim their energy, and rediscover their joy.
We’re proud to have never wavered from our evidence-based approach, even when it was unpopular. We knew the research would eventually catch up…and now it finally has.
What This Means for Your Health
If you’re experiencing symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, now is the time to explore your options.
The undeserved stigma around HRT is fading. The medical establishment is finally acknowledging what works (and what is safe). And providers with real expertise—like Renew Youth—are here to help.
You don’t have to suffer with symptoms. You don’t have to accept a diminished quality of life as “just part of aging.” You have options.
At Renew Youth, we have never stopped believing in the power of properly prescribed bioidentical hormone therapy. The FDA’s evolving position simply confirms what our 25+ years of experience has shown us: when done right, HRT is life-changing for women.
Are you ready to explore whether bioidentical HRT is right for you? Call us at (800) 859-7511 or use our easy contact form to schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation.