Erika Schwartz
Encyclopedia
Erika Schwartz, MD, is a physician
who has made numerous television appearances promoting the use of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
to treat the symptoms of menopause
, and has written books on hormone
s and teen weight loss.
, Schwartz became dissatisfied with conventional hormone replacement therapy
and began using bioidentical hormones
for herself and her patients, developing protocols and reviewing research on the topic. Shortly before the termination of the Women's Health Initiative
study that demonstrated the previously unappreciated risks of HRT, Schwartz published a book for general audiences about alternative approaches to hormone replacement. In 2008, Schwartz co-authored a paper on hormones in wellness and disease prevention.
Though bioidentical hormones are promoted as a panacea
by advocates, there is no evidence that these hormones are any more effective, or present any fewer risks than conventional hormone replacement therapy. The Endocrine Society
and United States Food and Drug Administration concur that "the term bioidentical is a marketing term and not one of scientific or medical merit."
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who has made numerous television appearances promoting the use of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy , also known as bioidentical hormone therapy or natural hormone therapy, is a poorly-defined term referring to the use of hormones that are identical, on a molecular level, with endogenous hormones in hormone replacement therapy...
to treat the symptoms of menopause
Menopause
Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...
, and has written books on hormone
Hormone
A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one...
s and teen weight loss.
Advocacy for bioidentical hormones
When experiencing early menopauseMenopause
Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...
, Schwartz became dissatisfied with conventional hormone replacement therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (menopause)
Hormone replacement therapy is a system of medical treatment for surgically menopausal, perimenopausal and to a lesser extent postmenopausal women...
and began using bioidentical hormones
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy , also known as bioidentical hormone therapy or natural hormone therapy, is a poorly-defined term referring to the use of hormones that are identical, on a molecular level, with endogenous hormones in hormone replacement therapy...
for herself and her patients, developing protocols and reviewing research on the topic. Shortly before the termination of the Women's Health Initiative
Women's Health Initiative
The Women's Health Initiative was initiated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in 1991. The objective of this women's health research initiative was to conduct medical research into some of the major health problems of older women...
study that demonstrated the previously unappreciated risks of HRT, Schwartz published a book for general audiences about alternative approaches to hormone replacement. In 2008, Schwartz co-authored a paper on hormones in wellness and disease prevention.
Though bioidentical hormones are promoted as a panacea
Panacea (medicine)
The panacea , named after the Greek goddess of healing, Panacea, also known as panchrest, was supposed to be a remedy that would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely...
by advocates, there is no evidence that these hormones are any more effective, or present any fewer risks than conventional hormone replacement therapy. The Endocrine Society
The Endocrine Society
The Endocrine Society is a professional, international medical organization in the field of endocrinology and metabolism, founded in 1916 as The Association for the Study of Internal Secretions. The official name of the organization was changed to The Endocrine Society on January 1, 1952. It is a...
and United States Food and Drug Administration concur that "the term bioidentical is a marketing term and not one of scientific or medical merit."