HRT- Cenestin

Different Forms of HRT: Cenestin

(conjugated estrogen from plant sources)

Cenestin is one of the newer forms of estrogen replacement, introduced in 1999. Its claim to fame? It's the first conjugated estrogen made from plant sources -- soy and yams. In effect, then, it's the plant version of Premarin.

It consists of nine different estrogens -- synthesized from plant sources. These estrogens include synthesized equine estrogens -- so the pros and cons of Premarin apply here as well. On one hand, it's a great answer for women who like the idea of Premarin but are unhappy with the notion of horse urine. But, as the estrogens are plant synthesized horse estrogens, they're not the same as human estrogens.

Since it's so new, Cenestin has only been approved for as a means of treating menopausal symptoms like hot flashes -- and hasn't yet received approval for preventing osteoporosis. However, given that its make-up is the same as Premarin, it probably is equally effective where your bones are concerned.

Standard dosage: 0.625, 0.9

Pros: Unlike Premarin, plant-based --making it a good choice for someone who wants conjugated estrogens, but prefers a plant product.

Cons: Synthetic estrogen, not bio-identical to the ones your body makes; Because it's so new, it hasn't yet received approval for osteoporosis prevention...as there have been no long-term studies done with Cenestin.