Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Right for You?

Many women do not produce enough estrogen due to age and thus start experiencing menopausal symptoms that might cause discomfort and thus hinder quality living. Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment that involves the introduction of female hormones into a woman’s body to manage various symptoms due to underlying reproductive concerns. Physicians at The Riegel Center implement hormone replacement therapy Plano to help menopausal patients find relief for symptoms like vaginal discomfort and hot flashes. Although this treatment effectively promotes reproductive health, there is evidence supporting the use of this therapy in ensuing bone integrity by preventing bone loss and fractures, especially in postmenopausal women.

What are the common types of hormone therapy?

One of the main reasons women experience menopausal symptoms is because the body stops producing as much estrogen as it used to in a woman’s earlier years. Physicians recommend hormone therapy, which involves replacing estrogen in the body to help manage menopausal symptoms. The following are the basic types of hormone therapy:

Systemic hormone therapy: This type of hormone therapy involves the administration of high-dose estrogen into the body at once. Your body will absorb the estrogen slowly, thus helping you relieve your symptoms. Physicians recommend several forms of systemic hormone therapy depending on a patient’s condition and goals. The most common forms of systemic hormone therapy include skin patches, pills, creams, or sprays.

Low-dose vaginal products: Physicians recommend this hormone therapy for patients with vaginal and urinary symptoms. Your body will absorb low doses of estrogen over time and thus relieve menopausal symptoms.

Physicians recommend another type of hormone therapy for patients who have not undergone a hysterectomy, which is a procedure to remove the uterus. This hormone therapy involves the introduction of both estrogen and progestin, which is a synthetic form of progesterone. The reason patients may need both hormones is to prevent abnormal growth in the uterine lining due to estrogen increase, which may result in endometrial cancer. However, patients without a uterus may not need to balance estrogen with progestin.

What are the risks of hormone replacement therapy?

Although hormone replacement effectively relieves menopausal symptoms, there are risks involved with the treatment. For this reason, physicians must evaluate a patient’s condition and individualize treatment to minimize risks associated with the treatment. Some of the side effects of hormone replacement include it being a risk factor for various medical conditions like stroke, heart disease, blood clots, and breast cancer.

Your physician needs to evaluate your medical and family history to determine your risk of potential complications from the procedure. The most common risk factors of hormone replacement therapy include:

• Age: If you begin hormone replacement therapy after ten years of symptoms onset, you will likely develop complications.
• Type of hormone therapy: Patients who receive estrogen alone without progesterone are at risk of developing endometrial cancer, except those without a uterus.
• Health history: A family and medical history of heart disease could influence your candidacy for the treatment.

Call the offices of The Riegel Center if you are considering hormone replacement therapy to address your menopausal symptoms.