Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is a common treatment for menopause andropause.
It can help alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats while also providing additional benefits like reducing the risk of osteoporosis and cognitive decline.
During menopause, the body’s hormones levels decrease. This results in unpleasant side effects such as hot flashes and night sweats which can interfere with sleep causing. You to wake up feeling tired rather than refreshed after a good night of restful slumber.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a treatment for the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and night sweats.
HRT can also help prevent osteoporosis by replacing estrogen and progesterone/progestin that the body will no longer produce naturally.
A Brief History of Hormone Replacement Therapy
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in the 1940s.
When estrogen and progesterone were introduced into clinical trials, the effects of HRT seemed promising.
The treatment was seen as a potential cure for menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, weight gain from water retention, etc.
But later it turned out that they increased risk factors like heart disease and breast cancer in older women while also increasing their risks to other diseases e.g osteoporosis or Alzheimer’s Disease due to advancing age.
To avoid these problems today doctors prescribe hormone replacement therapy only when necessary using minimum doses with the shortest possible duration so that its benefits outweigh any negative consequences on health.
HRT is still beneficial for some women, especially those with severe symptoms or who have certain medical conditions.
Categories of HRT
Systemic hormone therapy and low-dose vaginal preparations are the two main types of Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Systemic hormone therapy is an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms.
Vaginal estrogen creams, vaginal rings, and suppositories can help with specific symptoms of menopause such as dryness, burning itching issues.
The vaginal products have the benefit of not being absorbed by the body. However, they do not treat hot flashes or night sweats and this method offers no protection against osteoporosis.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
Bioidentical hormones are medical forms of the same hormone naturally produced by an individual person. They can be synthesized from the saliva samples. But there is no guarantee that they will have the right levels to treat menopausal symptoms.
To elaborate, BHRT may provide relief from the symptoms of menopause for some women. The risks are similar to those associated with conventional HRT.
Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy
For women suffering extreme symptoms of menopause, or for women experiencing premature menopause (menopause before the age of 40) due to a medical condition. Hormone Replacement Therapy is an effective solution.
Systemic hormone therapy is a useful treatment for women who are not able to take other medications or treatments, as it can be used in the case of osteoporosis.
Best Candidates for HRT
Some factors to consider when deciding whether or not you should pursue Hormone Replacement Therapy include your current symptoms, age, and medical history.
For example, if someone is in their late 30s with severe menopausal symptoms. They would be a good candidate for this treatment whereas if an older woman has no significant complaints. She may benefit from other forms of therapy such as acupuncture or yoga instead.
Hormone Replacement Therapy is a medical treatment that replaces the hormones our body no longer produces. It can help people with hormonal imbalances and symptoms related to aging, low sex drive, mood swings, weight gain.
There are a variety of treatments available for HRT including oral estrogen therapy or transdermal estrogen therapy.
If you have been noticing any of the above symptoms. Then contact us to get started on an effective hormone replacement plan today!
