Treating Menopause

Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT (as it is more commonly known) is the only FDA approved treatment for menopause. Women across the globe use HRT to alleviate menopausal symptoms, it is a highly effective therapy that most women endorse using.

It is widely known to provide relief from hot flashes and vaginal dryness and protects the bones from osteoporosis.

In hormone replacement therapy, estrogen and progesterone hormones that are normally produced by the ovaries, are given to supplement their lack of production during menopause. These hormones are given to raise their levels in the body.

Estrogen and progesterone are needed by the body as they thicken the lining of the uterus. Estrogen also effects how the body uses calcium, which is important for building strong healthy bones.

Estrogen helps maintain healthy levels of cholesterol in the blood as well. It is these low levels of estrogen and progesterone that cause menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and osteoporosis. HRT thus raises the levels of these two important hormones in a woman body, and helps to relieve menopausal symptoms.

Types Of Hormone Replacement Therapies

There are two main types of hormonal replacement therapy. Estrogen Therapy and Progestin-Estrogen Therapy.

• In Estrogen Therapy, the estrogen hormone is taken alone. An estrogen patch or pill is prescribed in low doses every day to relieve menopause symptoms and to prevent osteoporosis. 0.625 milligrams of estrogen is given daily.
• In Progestin-Estrogen Therapy, both estrogen and progesterone hormones are given. This therapy is also known as combination therapy. Here estrogen and a low dose of progesterone are prescribed continuously to prevent the regular, monthly bleeding that occurs when progesterone is taken alone. The current recommendation is to take the lowest dose of hormone therapy for the shortest time consistently.

Benefits Of HRT

Taking estrogen helps to relieve:

• Hot flashes
• Vaginal dryness
• Prevents the onset of osteoporosis
• Reduces the risk of bone breakage
• Improves the mood and gives women an overall sense of well-being
• Decreases tooth loss &
• Lowers the risk of colon cancer

The Risks Of HRT

While HRT has many great benefits for a menopausal woman, this treatment has certain risks. This is why it is only prescribed for short periods. Some health risks include;

• An increased risk of endometrial cancer
• An increased risk of blood clots, strokes and heart disease
• An increased risk of breast cancer &
• An increased risk for gall bladder disease
• Other possible health risks also include; an increased risk for memory loss and an increase in blood pressure problems in women.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Not Recommended For Women Who Have;

• Active or past breast cancer
• Recurrent or active endometrial cancer
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Active blood clotting
• Liver disease &
• Stroke

Women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant should not use HRT.

Hormonal Therapy Is Also Not Advisable For Women Who Have;

• Endometriosis
• Fibrocystic breast disease
• Uterine fibroids
• Gallbladder disease
• High risk for blood clots
• Migraine headaches &
• Epilepsy

Women who smoke cigarettes need to stop smoking before they can take any hormonal therapy.

Side Effects Of HRT

Like all medications, hormone replacement therapy has side effects. Common side effects include:

• Monthly bleeding
• Irregular spotting &
• Breast tenderness

The less common side effects of hormone therapy include:

• Blood clots and strokes
• Fluid retention
• Headaches (including migraines)
• Dizziness
• Skin discoloration
• Increased breast density
• & skin irritation from estrogen patches

To know if HRT is right for you, your doctor has to take in account your current health status and medical history. Every woman who considers taking this treatment needs to sit down and discuss it in detail with their doctor. Research is still ongoing in HRT and new developments are made frequently. You and your doctor need to carefully evaluate, how HRT can best serve you.