Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy

Five Common Questions about HRT

Women going through menopause often have many questions about the process and also the taking of hormone replacement therapy.

The Menopause can be a confusing time in a woman’s life and a time when they experience the most change often feeling fatigued and anxious and might even experience panic attacks and night sweats.

HRT is often prescribed to help alleviate these symptoms so following are five common questions many women ask about hormone replacement therapy.

What is hormone replacement therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy is a commonly prescribed medication to help alleviate the symptoms of menopause. Synthetic hormones have benefits as well as disadvantage.

Many women find that after taking replacement therapy for several weeks, the side effects and symptoms of menopause are less frequent. HRT can be given in several different forms.

Oral pills, skin patches, injections and vaginal gels are all forms of hormone replacement therapy. Women taking replacement hormones are usually given the lowest possible dose for the shortest amount of time.

What are the benefits of hormone replacement therapy?

There are several short and long-term benefits of taking replacement hormones. Most women taking hormones often report an overall sense of well being after taking hormone for several weeks.

It reduces night sweats, panic attacks, vaginal dryness, headaches and migraines. There are also long term benefits of taking hormone replacement therapy.

Women taking hormone have a decreased chance of developing osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease and macular degeneration.

HRT Benefits women who wish to alleviate the unwanted symptoms of menopause should look into taking replacement hormones.

Are there side effects of taking hormone replacement therapy?

Yes. There are both short and long-term side effects of taking replacement therapy. Women taking these hormones often report several short-term side effects. Some of these include nausea, headaches, excessive vaginal discharge and fluid retention.

Weight gain is also reported, but findings show that taking hormones do not actually cause weight gain, it is actually caused by a slower metabolism. In addition, there are long-term effects, some of which are still being studied.

Some research shows that taking hormone replacement therapy can lead to increased risk of some forms of breast cancer and endometrial cancer.

Should some women avoid taking replacement hormones?

Some women are discouraged from taking hormones. Women who have unexplained vaginal bleeding or a history of endometrial cancer should not take hormones.

Also, women with suspected breast cancer or a history of breast cancer are discouraged from taking hormones. Other women who should not take replacement hormones are those with chronic liver disease or those who have a history of blood clots or strokes.

A doctor can help determine which women should and should not take hormone replacement therapy.

Do all women take hormones?

No, many women prefer to deal with their symptoms of menopause using alternative or natural remedies.

There are many herbal supplements and vitamins and minerals that are believed to help with menopause.

Women can also help aid menopause by eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and reducing the amount of stress they encounter each day.