My doc prescribed premarin cream for me, and while I'm anti-hormones in general, I would like to go with this treatment IF cruelty-free alternatives can be found. I won't use premarin no matter what, but if a topical alternative can be found using synthetic hormones, I would like to use it.
Does anyone know--is Estrace cruelty-free? The Estring ring? Are there others?
I am not a doctor, but I do use doctor-prescribed bio-identical hormones, which are all derived from plant sources. I had a complete hysterectomy a few years ago, and like you, did not want to take animal-derived estrogen. I am not sure if the estrogen alternatives you mentioned are cruelty-free, but a friend of mine asked her doctor for a synthetic form of HRT (not made from horse urine) and he was able to prescribe one for her. It was not a cream, but in pill form.
I think bio-identical hormones are the best for hormone balancing, however -- more natural and not from animal sources. I also believe they are safer, from what I have read. Few doctors know how to prescribe them, sadly, but if you look online in your area for clinics specializing in women's health, or just Google Bio-Identical Hormones, you may find a good source in your area. Believe it or not, a book by Suzanne Summers is extremely informative on the subject and will give you lots of good information. It's called (and you just have to overlook the title!)"The Sexy Years: Discover the Hormone Connection to Good Health." I hope some of this helps.
Estrace and Estring are "cruelty free" in that they are synthesized in the laboratory and no animal derived compounds are used. I do not know, however, if animal testing is used in their production or testing; I am currently trying to find this out. Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) is probably the most "natural" in that the hormones are synthesized to be just like the natural estrogens our bodies make. You have to get it from a COMPOUNDING PHARMACY. You can explain to your doctor that you want an alternative to Premarin, even if your doctor doesn't prescribe BHT there are several "formulary approved" estrogens: Estrace (pill and cream), Estratest (contains testosterone too), Femtrace, Activella (contains progesterone too). Some of these come generic which is even cheaper for you.
