Mark and Phillipa,

The way I understand it (and I could be wrong) is that the risks are largely associated with imbalances in the two hormones (progesterone and estrogen) and with the chemically altered forms of these hormones that are usually given to women in prescription form.

My own experience has been that my uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, and endometriosis, which can be quite severe and excedingly painful and debilitating, go away almost completely when I use a natural, pharmaceutical grade progesterone cream. And if I don't use the progesterone, I have extremely severe PMS all month long (bloating, pain everywhere, feeling like acid is flowing in my veins, insomnia, uncontrolable jerking in my legs, headaches, and feeling like I'm going crazy and wanting to die), and I lose a hell of a lot of blood, resulting in severe and chronic anemia.

I can't take the prescription form of progesterone because it gives me severe and debilitating side effects. The natural form gives me no side effects.

Using the natural estrogen cream prevents and/or alleviates hot flashes, and hair loss that I experience without it. The prescription form of estrogen gives me such severe side effects, it makes me want to die.

My understanding is that both the estrogen and the progesterone are necessary for the prevention of osteoporosis.