[Phytoestrogens--an alternative to hormonal replacement therapy]

Abstract

Perimenopausal period is associated with the reduction of endogenous estrogens which might lead to many disorders of general health in women. Traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is effective for controlling vasomotor symptoms and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. However, according to the latest studies, many women are reluctant to initiate this therapy because of concerns regarding the benefits and risks considering contraindications and side effects of it. Therefore, a lot of studies were carried out to find the influence of phytoestrogens on menopausal symptoms. Phytoestrogens are defined as naturally occurring compounds, found in plants; they have a variety of activities: estrogenic and antiestrogenic. Could phytoestrogens be used as an alternative to hormonal therapies for the management of menopausal symptoms?