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What is hormone therapy?
What is hormone therapy used for? It is the female hormonal replacement. In menopause, the hormone estrogen is lost, so this therapy replaces it with medication. There are many menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, as well as vaginal discomfort, and vaginal dryness that is associated with menopause. There are many ways of treating these symptoms, and one of the most common methods of doing so is to use hormone therapy.
As it reduces bone loss and fractures during menopause, hormone therapy can also be beneficial for women who have experienced menopause.
Hormone therapy comes with some risks. Hormone therapy can be risky depending on its type, dose, duration, your health history, and type of medication you use. Each individual should receive hormone therapy at a dose that meets their needs, and the risks should be assessed periodically to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
How does hormone therapy work?
During menopause, a woman’s body ceases to produce estrogen, which is why hormone replacement therapy mainly replaces it.
The two forms of estrogen therapy are:
- Hormone therapy for the entire body. In addition to the pills, patches, rings, gels, creams, and sprays, there are many other forms of estrogen available on the market. A significant amount of estrogen is found in systemic estrogen in comparison to oral estrogen, and it is rapidly absorbed by the body. Systemic estrogen may be used for the treatment of menopause symptoms.
- Vaginal products with low doses. Creams, tablets, and rings, which contain low doses of estrogen, are designed to reduce the absorption of estrogen through the skin. Low-dose vaginal preparations are commonly used to treat menopause symptoms in the vaginal area.
It is possible to prescribe estrogen, progesterone, and progestin along with estrogen to a woman who has not had her uterus removed. Progestin (a form of progesterone with effects similar to estrogen) can also be prescribed, as well. Endometrial cancer is more likely to develop when progesterone is lacking in the body and estrogen only is present.
In the absence of progesterone, estrogen prompts uterine lining growth. Depending on the extent of the hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), you may not need to take progesterone afterward.
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How does menopausal hormone therapy benefit you?
It may be worth it to undergo menopausal hormone replacement therapy if you are healthy and in a position to do so.
- A hot flash can be mild, moderate, or severe. The most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms is systemic estrogen therapy, which has previously been shown to reduce night sweats and hot flashes.
- The present symptom of menopause is present. A woman’s vaginal symptoms can be uncomfortable during menopause, including dryness, itching, burning, and discomforting, all of which are common during this period.
- We must take preventative measures to avoid fractures and bone loss. Systemic estrogen has been demonstrated to prevent osteoporosis-induced bone loss. The treatment of osteoporosis usually involves the use of bisphosphonates. If you are unable to tolerate other treatments, estrogen therapy may be beneficial to you.
- Infertility can occur due to estrogen deficiency or the early onset of menopause. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that estrogen effects may be different for a woman who has already had her ovaries removed before the age of 45 or has not menstruated for over a year (premature menopause), or has lost her normal ovarian function before the age of 40 (primary ovarian insufficiency). This is because women who have undergone these procedures have been exposed to more estrogen than typically menopausal women, as they have been more exposed. As a result of estrogen therapy, many health problems can be improved or prevented, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, dementia, and mood changes.
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It isn’t always successful to use hormone therapy
If hormone therapy is right for you, your doctor will consider your symptoms and health risks. Keep in touch with your doctor throughout your menopause.
The future is likely to bring changes to menopausal treatments, such as hormone therapy. If you are experiencing bothersome menopausal symptoms, talk to your doctor.