Now that HRT has been discredited, is there a safe alternative that works as well? It’s a question that’s been raised by many readers, and we’ve printed some responses in previous broadcasts.
A new contribution comes from a research study that has found DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) could be a safe, and effective, alternative. They tested it on a group of 20 post-menopausal women aged between 50 and 65, who were given 25 mg DHEA every day for a year. Serum concentrations of testosterone, estrone and estradiol increased by up to four times after a year, and progesterone levels increased nearly three times over a similar period, although improvements were seen within six months.