The Estrogen Alternative: What Every Woman Needs to Know about Hormone Replacement Therapy and Serms, the New Estrogen Substitutes

The Estrogen Alternative by Dr. Steve Goldstein and Ms. Laurie Ashner is a cutting edge resource important for ALL women. As the founder and creator of HotFlash! the online perimenopause/menopause support group and web site, I look for good usable health information. Goldstein and Ashner present a complete and very balanced presentation of the new menopause therapies. These non-hormonal remedies are cutting edge and a book like this is a must read for any woman who either does not want to take estrogen or cannot take estrogen. In addtion to common sense discussions about estrogen alternatives, both Ashner and Goldstein provide a complete health handbook-extending from weight loss to having a good night's sleep. I highly recommend this book to my online support group members and to ALL women. As a nurse and a woman it is refreshing to see a book like this; it is timely and made to help empower women in making good health choices.

I bought this book because my 60 year old mother can't take estrogen and is at serious risk for osteoporosis. This was really an honest evaluation of Evista, a drug my mother is considering. Dr. Goldstein doesn't sell it, but explains it, and who will benefit, who won't and who should wait and see. But this book is really about how to take care of yourself after menopause. It explained herbal therapies, what to do about weight gain, and even what to do about aging skin. The best part about it was that it was short, to the point and very readable. My mother, who doesn't have the patience to read anything, read this book in an evening! If you have a parent who is struggling with the estrogen dilemma, this is really reassuring.

If only I had this books years ago!  While breast cancer doesn't run in my family, like most women I was afraid to try any drug that might increase my chances of developing cancer.  Yet I had so many bad symptoms after I went through menopause that I was seriously afraid of losing my husband and alienating my children.  I was tired all the time, I suffered unexplained anxiety, had terrible mood swings and many other problems.I was terrified to try any drug that might increase my chance of getting cancer.  Then I got a copy of The Estrogen Alternative passed on to me by a friend.  It has changed my life.  The information that affected me most was that Dr. Goldstein says:  'the appeal of SERMs is that they can reduce the risk of breast and uterine cancers, while evening out so many negative symptoms. Going 'natural' isn't risk free.  Just because a supplement comes from plants and is available at health food stores doesn't make it safe.  If you think you are going to avoid the risk of breast cancer or any other side effect by using natural remedies, the reality is, if they are stopping your hot flashes, they are affecting your body, and therefore they are obviously affecting your breasts.'I began taking Raloxifene and I feel so much better.  My biggest hang up in taking it in the first place was that I was unsure of the side affects.  "The Estrogen Alternative" told me in plain English the pros and cons of taking a drug like this.  I recommend the book to all women who are in menopause and who are postmenopausal.  I also recommend it to the loved ones in their lives!

I had heard there was a new alternative to estrogen, but it was hard to find information about it and even my doctor didn't know a lot. This book had the answers and it's very easy to read and understand. I really appreciated the fact that the book doesn't push SERMs or estrogen, and really does discuss all of the other options. Women really do need to know how to make the estrogen decision, and this book really helped me.