Amberen

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Originally Posted by jalessi i have scoured the internet regarding taking Amberen I didnt just go off what their website says. Many women stated that they felt reduction in their hot flashes. .

I would assume that most of these women still have their uterus and ovaries.

Just something to consider when reading testimonials.

I have tried Amberen and spoken with their customer service folks numerous times. Amberen will stimulate estrogen production via the adrenal glands even in the absense of ovaries. The majority of their customer base is actually women who have had hysterectomies. I have one ovary (post menopausal) and I liked the way I felt on it. I could tell a difference within about 4-5 days. I slept better, energy levels during the day was improved and the difference in joint pain issues was amazing. The active ingredient is ammonium succinate.(if you google this ingr. you can find the Amberen study on it).

Since it does raise estrogen blood serum levels, there may be an issue with those of you not taking regular HRT for cancer concerns. I do not know how your dr's would view this.

Um... the adrenal glands do NOT produce estrogen, and the customer service reps are salespeople, not doctors. Postmenopausal ovaries still produce some estrogen, and it's possible something in Amberen might stimulate an increase in production. It's also possible the effect is purely psychological -- that is, if you want it to work, it seems as though it does.

The adrenal glands can produce testosterone and its precursors. However, the body has to have enough of the enzymes necessary to convert those to estrogen in order for conversion to occur, and those enzymes are not present in the adrenal glands. They are present in abdominal fat cells (somewhat) and the ovaries (more), which is how estrogen production can occur in those areas. So, for women without ovaries, the ability to make estrogen is much lower and it's primarily estrone, which (1) is much weaker than estradiol at relieving symptoms and (2) is riskier - that is, there are metabolites of estrone which have been shown to cause breast tumors in lab mice.

So, for me (my ovaries were removed with my hyst in 2002), I'll stick with estradiol, which has been studied, rather than the snake oil du jour.

s,
-Linda

"The adrenal gland continues to produce androstenedione, which is converted to estrone and estradiol in body fat and in muscle and skin cells"--project aware website....sorry, my statement of adrenals "stimulating estrogen production" was verbal shorthand for the above quote.

Regardless, there is more going on with what Amberen is doing than merely a "placebo effect". We have had several fairly positive reviews of this product on this site from women without ovaries, one ovary and with both. I do not have a clear understanding of how or why it works. I am hopeful that it can help women who are otherwise intolerant of regular HRT, that is the extent of my "vested interest". It's nice to have alternatives. I will say though, that the protocol of three months on/three months off will not likely work for those with hysterectomies. When I stopped after 2 plus months, I crashed big time within a few days.

In my experience, I discontinued use as I started to develop vaginal burning. I have nerve damage as a result of my hysto...so I am not sure if Amberen caused it or not. (was worse when on Amberen, but some burning still persists being off of it). A friend of mine likewise experienced this same thing.(she was in regular menopause) Very weird.

Jalessi, did you notice anything like this?