Definition: Selective Estrogen-Receptor Modulator (SERM) is the generic name for a drug that can simulate the way estrogen acts in the body. There are various types of SERMs, each with their own unique responses to different types of body tissue, i.e. bone and breast tissue. Scientists are excited about SERMs because of their capacity to be developed to perform the functions of estrogen in cases of specific disease processes such as osteoporosis and breast cancer.
1 Medicinenet.Definition of SERM. Medicinenet. Retrieved: July 31, 2006
2 National Osteoporosis Foundation. Medications To Prevent & Treat Osteoporosis. National Osteoporosis Foundation Retrieved April 29, 2006.
3 Osborne, Zhao, Fuqua, Selective estrogen receptor modulators. Breast Center and Departments of Medicine and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine Retrieved July 31, 2006.
Raloxifene is an approved SERM for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Calcitonin is a SERM that reduces spinal fractures (but no other types of fractures.) Calcitonin is also a naturally occurring hormone.
Ask your doctor to help you decide which, if any SERM is appropriate for you.
Bibliography1 Medicinenet.Definition of SERM. Medicinenet. Retrieved: July 31, 2006
2 National Osteoporosis Foundation. Medications To Prevent & Treat Osteoporosis. National Osteoporosis Foundation Retrieved April 29, 2006.
3 Osborne, Zhao, Fuqua, Selective estrogen receptor modulators. Breast Center and Departments of Medicine and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine Retrieved July 31, 2006.
