However, most doctors routinely prescribe powerful synthetic hormones such as Premarin that lead to many undesirable side effects. While some women appear to do fine on the drug, others experience problems, and all experience an increased risk for certain types of cancer. Premarin is derived from the urine of pregnant mares. To manufacture the drug, between 75,000 and 85,000 mares are kept on some 500 farms in North Dakota and Canada. To collect their urine, these mares are confined in stalls throughout the duration of their pregnancy.
Water is restricted because a concentrated urine is desired.
Exercise is also denied. As soon as they give birth, they are immediately impregnated again. Many women, particularly those who have experienced its undesirable side effects, have concluded that it may not be the best choice for them either. Medical research has demonstrated numerous benefits associated with phytoestrogens. In a study published in the journal Menopause , for example, half the women who participated ate a diet rich in phytoestrogens such as soybeans and flax seeds, while half ate a standard diet.