Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) refers to a drug that has female hormones. This medication is taken to replace the hormone-estrogen that the body stops producing during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy is mainly applied in treating typical menopausal symptoms, including vaginal discomfort and hot flashes. It also prevents bone loss and minimize fractures in postmenopausal females.
On the other hand, there exist risks associated with using hormone therapy. The risks are dependent on the dose, the type of hormone replacement therapy, the duration of the medication, and the patient’s health risks. For excellent results, hormone replacement therapy must be customized for each person and reassessed from time to time to ensure that the advantages still overshadow the risks.
Hormone replacement therapy with estrogen alone is very protective against breast cancer. It’s safer than initially reported and much benign than you may think. It also protects individuals against breast cancer instead of increasing the risk.
HRT is primarily designed to replace estrogen that the body no longer produces after menopause. There exist two main estrogen therapy types, which include the following.
• Systemic hormone replacement therapy: Systemic estrogen — mainly comes in the form of a pill, ring, skin patch, cream, gel, or spray — usually has a higher estrogen dose, which gets absorbed throughout your body. You can use it to treat all the common signs of the menopause stage.
• Low-dosage vaginal products. Low-dosage vaginal preparations – available in tablets, cream, or rings form – reduce estrogen level taken in by your body. Therefore, you may use low-dosage vaginal preparations to treat urinary and vaginal signs only during menopause.
If the uterus has not been removed, the doctor will usually prescribe estrogen together with progestin (a medicine similar to progesterone) or progesterone. The reason being, estrogen alone, if not stabilized by progesterone, may stimulate the growth of the uterine lining, increasing your risk of getting endometrial cancer. If your uterus has been removed (hysterectomy), it may not be necessary to take the progestogen.
<h3>What Are the Risks and Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy?</h3>
In the biggest clinical study to date, estrogen and progestin (Prempro) augmented the risk of several serious conditions, including the following.
• Heart disease
• Blood clots
• Stroke
• Breast cancer
Successive studies have indicated that the risks may vary with age. For instance, women who start hormone therapy beyond 10 to 20 years after the commencement of menopause or at the age of 60 and above are at increased risk of getting the above conditions. However, if you initiate hormone therapy before age 60 or within the first ten years of menopause, the advantages may outweigh these risks.
The risks of HRT can also vary depending on whether you take estrogen alone or together with a progestogen, the type of estrogen and dosage, and other well-being factors such as the risk of cardiovascular disease (blood vessel and heart condition), cancer risks, and the medical history of your family. All of the above risks must be put into consideration when deciding if hormone therapy is a good choice for you.
When it comes to hormone replacement therapy benefits, if the individual is healthy and has the following, they may offset the risks.
• Moderate to acute facial flashing. Systemic estrogen replacement therapy is the most efficient medication to relieve bothersome night sweats and hot flashes of menopause.
• Other signs of menopause. Estrogen may relieve vaginal symptoms during menopause, such as itching, dryness, discomfort, and burning during intercourse.
• Necessity to prevent fractures or bone loss. Systemic estrogen assists in protecting against bone-thinning disease, referred to as osteoporosis. However, doctors usually recommend drugs referred to as bisphosphonates to remedy osteoporosis. Though estrogen therapy can help if you cannot tolerate or don’t benefit from other medications.
• You have premature menopause, or you have an estrogen deficiency. In case the ovaries were surgically detached before the age of 45, menstruation stopped before that age 45 (early or premature menopause), or you lost normal ovarian function before the age of 40 (primary ovarian failure), then your body’s exposure to less estrogen is greater than for the females with typical menopause. Estrogen replacement therapy can reduce the threat of certain health problems, including heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, stroke, and mood swings.
Finally, to determine if hormone replacement therapy is a good medication option for you, consult with your doctor regarding your 1individual health risks and symptoms. Make sure you keep the conversation going during menopause.
As scientists learn more regarding hormone therapy and other treatments for menopause, the recommendations might change. In case you continue to experience bothersome menopausal symptoms, regularly discuss treatment alternatives with your specialist. If you are ready to start your Hormone therapy, please do not hesitate to contact us at 205-352-9141.
