Dear Marla: Since the WHI study, there has been a lot of talk about ''individualized'' hormone therapy. What does that mean? Lynn, Tucson, AZ

Dear Lynn:

The portion of the WHI study halted in 2002 administered the same dose of the same synthetic hormone - Prempro - to all participants. The outcomes helped point out the need for hormone therapy to be customized to the individual's specific needs.

Hormone medications differ and can be tailored to the individual patient in several ways.

Which hormones to supplement

The hormones that a woman needs vary according to her individual hormone profile. Symptoms are the first indication of which hormones may require supplementation. Measuring hormones through a simple saliva hormone test provides a more scientific and accurate way of determining a woman's hormone profile. Estrogen, progesterone and/or testosterone are the most commonly prescribed hormones.

Natural vs. synthetic hormones

The difference between natural or natural hormones and synthetic hormones is the chemical structure. Natural hormones have a chemical structure that is identical to those the body produces while the chemical structure of synthetic hormones is similar but not exactly the same. These chemical differences can mean that synthetic hormones act differently in your body and produce substantially different effects. We recommend and use only natural hormones in our prescription formulations.

Dosage

How much of each hormone is prescribed also varies according to a woman's individual hormone profile and how well her body utilizes the supplemental hormones she is taking. Follow-up hormone testing provides the information needed to individualize the prescribed dosage and provide the lowest effective dose.

Delivery System

Hormone medications can be ''delivered'' in a variety of dosage forms that include creams, patches, micronized oral capsules, sublingual (under tongue) tablets and suppositories. The effectiveness of dosage forms can vary among women and among hormones. For more specific information on delivery systems, see our pages on estrogen, progesterone and testosterone therapy.

For additional information on individualizing hormone medications, please contact Women's Health America at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 800.558.7046.

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