You May Need Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Hormone Replacement Therapy may not be for everyone. However, some women find that the treatment relieves their menopause symptoms.
You may need hormone replacement therapy if you have any of the following signs:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal Dryness
- Pain or itching during intercourse
- Bone loss
- Low-sex-drive
- Changes in mood
- Irritability
- Sleep problems
Hormone replacement therapy may be beneficial for other conditions that are caused by hormonal deficiency.
What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy? (HRT)
HRT may be needed if your estrogen and progesterone are low. Treatment can help relieve symptoms associated with menopause, bone loss, cancer and infertility.It is used to treat women who have low estrogen or progesterone. This treatment is used to treat symptoms of menopause, and conditions such as bone loss caused by the falling levels.
Low Hormone Levels Can Be Caused By Several Conditions
As you age, your hormone levels naturally decrease. Certain conditions can cause abnormally low sex hormonal levels that require treatment. These conditions include:
Menopause
Menopause occurs when you are period-free after a year, without being pregnant or nursing. It’s a natural process that occurs as a result of aging.
The ovaries shrink in the years leading up to menopause and hormone levels fluctuate. Many people are affected by symptoms such as hot flushes or vaginal drying.
Surgery to remove ovaries
You may not have enough of the hormone estrogen to protect you against certain conditions such as heart disease, osteoporosis and stroke. It can also help prevent mood changes, depression, and dementia. You can use HRT in order to prevent such conditions.
Early menopause
You may need hormone replacement therapy if you have menopause before the age of 45. You may require hormone replacement therapy in order to prevent disease.
Primary ovarian insufficiency
It is a condition in which the ovaries stop working normally. You may not have enough hormones if this happens before the age of 45. You may require hormone replacement therapy.
Other hormone disorders
Other conditions such as infertility and breast carcinoma can be treated with hormone replacement therapy.
When To Consult A Doctor About Hormone Replacement Therapy
Menopause is part of the aging process and will eventually pass. Others find that they are mildly uncomfortable, while others feel that it interferes with their normal lives. If you are experiencing menopausal signs or symptoms, and find them to be unbearable you should consult a doctor to discuss the best way to proceed.
You should consult your doctor if you experience symptoms that are similar to those of other conditions such as early menopause, irregular periods, bleeding or abnormal bleeding or infertility.
Tests & Diagnosis For Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
Your doctor may not check for menopause symptoms if you are over 45 years old. Your doctor will examine you and take your medical and personal history. He or she may also suggest lifestyle changes that can help improve symptoms.
Your doctor may order blood tests to measure your hormone levels if you are younger than 45. Your doctor may perform physical examinations, ultrasounds, and other tests to determine the cause of hormone deficiency.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Treatments
There are many different hormone treatments. Many women who suffer from menopause or sex hormonal conditions take estrogen, progesterone or a combination.
Hormone replacement therapy types:
There are several different ways to take hormone therapy, including:
- Injection of creams, tablets or rings to deliver estrogen into the vagina
- Applying Estrogen creams, lotions, or gels to the skin
- Apply Progesterone Cream to the Skin
- Estrogen or estrogen-progesterone skin patch
- Take the progesterone or estrogen tablet by mouth
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) cream inserted into the vagina
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is preferred by some women, who prefer natural hormones derived from plants or compounds. There is not enough research on these products to determine the risks.
Your doctor will start you off with a small dose and monitor its effects for a few months. There is disagreement among doctors about the best way to use hormonal therapy. Studies also indicate that hormone replacement therapy can have some side effects.
If you are:
- Do you have a history with blood-clots?
- You may have liver disease
- Are you a woman with a history or breast, ovarian endometrial or uterine Cancer
- Have high Blood Pressure?
- Are pregnant
