Women share hormone replacement horrors

(WXYZ) - When Mickey Christopher visitedHRC Medical in Wixom for her scheduled appointment, she was startled to read the sign on the door. It said the company--which was now operating under another name--was closed.

The company marketed its bioidentical hormone replacement therapy as safe and natural; a way for menopausal women to improve their sex drive and combat fatigue by having their hormones replaced by having tiny pellets placed under their skin.

But its what the company doesnt tell you, says the FDA and many doctors, that can lead to uncommon but serious risks.

"For estrogen therapy, the most serious risk is death," said Dr. Mark Dykowski, an OBGYN with Beaumont Hospital.

"Estrogen has a big black box warning for the FDA, that says it can cause breast and uterine cancer. It can cause stroke, heart attack, blood clots and death...Theyre not being honest with patients if they dont include those risks."

Since our first report in February , 22 complaints aboutHRCMedical have been filed with Michigans Attorney General. Legal action taken byTennesse'sAttorney General effectively closed the business down.

Mickey Christopher says she's glad the company is no longer operating, but told 7 Action News that she wishes action had been taken sooner.

"A normal testosterone level for women is 2 to 45," Christopher said.

"And mine was 188 (after the therapy)."

Christopher said her treatments helped level out her mood swings and improve her sex drive, but the side effects were much worse.

Originally posted here:
Women share hormone replacement horrors