Hormone therapy was once routinely used to treat menopause and protect long-term health. Subsequently, extensive clinical studies revealed health risks. What does that mean to you?
Hormone Replacement Therapy is a drug containing female hormones. Medications are taken to replace estrogen that the body no longer makes during menopause. Hormone therapy is most commonly used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal discomfort. The purpose of HRT is to manage the symptoms of menopause, not necessarily to bring hormone levels back to "normal" levels.
Because each dose varies from person to person, it is difficult to comprehensively test the safety and effectiveness of synthetic bioidentical hormones. The lack of information about the risks of bioidentical hormones leads many to assume that these "natural" hormones are better or safer than synthetic hormones.
Hormone therapy has also been shown to prevent bone loss and reduce fractures in postmenopausal women. Let's know whether it is right for you or not.
What are the basic types of hormone therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy mainly focuses on replacing the estrogen the body has stopped making after menopause. There are two main types of anti estrogen therapy:
Systemic hormone therapy
Systemic estrogens – tablets, skin patches, rings, gels, creams, or sprays – usually contain high doses of estrogen that are absorbed throughout the body.
Low-dose vaginal estrogen
Low-dose vaginal estrogen supplements, which come in cream, tablet, or ring form, minimize the amount of estrogen absorbed by the body. For this reason, low-dose vaginal preparations are usually only used to treat menopausal vaginal and urinary symptoms.
If your uterus is not removed, your doctor will usually prescribe estrogen, progesterone, or progestin (a medication similar to progesterone). This is because estrogen alone, when unbalanced by progesterone, can stimulate the growth of the uterine lining, thereby increasing the risk of endometrial cancer. If you have had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), you may not need to take a progestogen.
Who can benefit from hormone treatment?
The benefits of hormone therapy may outweigh the risks if you are in good health and you:
There are moderate to severe hot flashes
Systemic estrogen therapy remains the most effective treatment for relieving the uncomfortable hot flashes and night sweats of menopause.
There are other menopausal symptoms.
Reduce Vaginal Symptoms
Estrogen can reduce vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning, and discomfort during sex. Need to prevent osteoporosis or fractures. Systemic estrogen therapy for females protect against osteoporosis, known as osteoporosis. However, doctors often recommend medications called bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis. But estrogen therapy can be helpful if you can't tolerate it or don't benefit from other treatments.
Experiencing early menopause
If you had your ovaries removed before age 45, stopped menstruating before age 45 (early or early menopause), or lost normal function before age 40 (primary ovarian failure), your body has less estrogen exposure that women going through typical menopause. Estrogen therapy can help reduce the risk of several health problems, including osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, dementia, and mood swings.
What are the risks of hormone therapy?
In the largest clinical trial to date, hormone replacement therapy, including the estrogen-progestogen pill (Prempro), increased the risk of several serious diseases, including:
Heart disease
Stroke
Blood clots
Breast cancer
Further studies have suggested that these risks vary depending on the following:
Age
Women who begin hormone therapy at 60 or older or more than ten years after menopause have a higher risk of these conditions. But if hormone therapy is started before age 60 or within ten years of menopause, the benefits outweigh the risks.
Types of hormone treatment
The risks of hormone replacement therapy vary depending on whether estrogen is used alone or combined with progestogen and the dose and type of estrogen.
Health history
Family and personal medical history and your risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, blood clots, liver disease, and osteoporosis are essential factors in determining if hormone replacement therapy is appropriate for you or not.
You and your doctor should consider all of these risks when deciding whether hormone therapy might be an option for you.
What can you do if you can't take hormone therapy?
You can manage menopausal hot flashes with healthy lifestyle approaches such as staying calm, limiting caffeinated beverages and alcohol, and practicing rhythmic, relaxed breathing or other techniques. Other relaxation techniques. Several non-hormonal prescription medications can help reduce hot flashes.
For vaginal problems such as dryness or pain during intercourse, a vaginal moisturizer or lubricant can provide relief. You can also ask your doctor about the ospemifene (Osphena) prescription, which can help relieve pain during intercourse.
Conclusion
Hormone replacement treatment is not good or bad. Make sure to keep the conversation going throughout your menopausal years.
As researchers learn more about hormone therapy and other menopause treatments, recommendations may change. If you continue to have bothersome menopausal symptoms, regularly review treatment options with your doctor.
