Doctors prescribe estrogen to slow down bone loss, protect against heart disease and relieve the menopausal symptoms. Some of the common uncomfortable side-effects of estrogen replacement therapy are vaginal bleeding and spotting, menstrual cramps, PMS-like symptoms, no period, vaginal yeast infection, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and bloating, jaundice, hair loss, facial hair, skin rash, intolerance to contact lenses, headaches including migraines, dizziness, depression, increase or decrease in weight and changes in libido. However, it only slows down the bone loss while taking estrogen and stops when you stop using estrogen. Progesterone reverses bone loss and builds new bones.

The Womens Health Study did not research natural progesterone, but use synthetic progesterone.

A full supplement program with calcium and other minerals help support bone protection.