Actually, PM does NOT increase the levels of estrogen in the body. It contains several very powerful phytoestrogens that bind with estrogen receptors throughout the body and mimicking many of the effects estrogen has. At least as far as I have been able to determine through research, it does NOT have the same side effects as high doses of estrogen HRT.
Also realize that estrogen is a general term for a class of steroidal hormones that includes the three forms of estrogen found naturally occurring in natal females (estrone, estradiol, estriol) as well as numerous pharmaceutical creations such as estradiol valereate, DES, Premarin and others. The research that showed "estrogen" HRT to cause strokes, clotting problems, heart and liver damage used older pharmaceutical forms (primarily Premarin, google "Women's Health Initiative" as well as the numerous FDA advisories about Premarin) that were relatively weak (compared to estradiol valereate or naturally occurring estradiol) and had to be taken in such high amounts that they caused those significant side effects. The medical establishment and big pharma have not conducted similar tests on oral and sublingual estradiol valereate but so far very few incidences of the side effects noted with weaker Premarin have been noted when using estradiol, partly because it's so much more effective that lower, safer doses are used, even for transgender women.
In my opinion, the risk of adverse events such as stroke or embolism when taking PM is pretty darn low. This is not to say there is no risk, but the level of risk is NOT the same as taking something like Premarin. As far as breast cancer goes, PM seems to actually have protective effects against certain strains of estrogen sensitive breast cancer.
Hope this helps.
This post was last modified: 27-09-2012, 06:00 PM by chrishoney.