Hormone Replacement Therapy – Types, Risks, Benefits, and Tips
Women’s estrogen levels drop when going through menopause, leading to symptoms like hot flashes and discomfort. Healthcare experts recommend hormone replacement therapy to manage these symptoms. Here, one uses prescription options to replace the hormone estrogen, which the body stops producing during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy also helps prevent bone loss and reduces the risk of fractures for postmenopausal women. However, one should consider the following details before opting for this therapy.
Types
Hormone replacement therapy (also known as estrogen therapy) focuses on making up for the estrogen deficit in the body following menopause.
Systemic hormone therapy: Here, a healthcare expert prescribes oral options, rings, gels, creams, sprays, and skin patches that contain high amounts of estrogen.
Low-dose vaginal products: Low-dose vaginal preparations are available in cream, oral options, or ring forms. A doctor may recommend low-dose options for those requiring limited amounts of estrogen. This form of hormone therapy usually treats vaginal and urinary symptoms of menopause.
Additionally, doctors may prescribe estrogen with progesterone if one has not had the uterus removed. The combination might be recommended as estrogen alone stimulates the growth of the uterus lining when not balanced with progesterone.
Risk factors
One should consider the risks involved in hormone replacement therapy. It increases the risk of health complications, including blood clots, stroke, heart disease, and breast cancer. The risks also differ from one person to the next based on the following factors:
Age: Women who start hormone replacement therapy at the age of 60 or 10 years after the onset of menopause may also be at a greater risk of developing health conditions. However, therapy initiated before the age of 60 and within 10 years of menopause seems to have benefits that outweigh the risks.
Health history: One’s personal and family health history are important factors in determining whether hormone replacement therapy is ideal for the individual. Understanding one’s risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, blood clots, and liver disease may also help the doctor decide if the therapy can be advised for the patient.
Type of hormone therapy: The type of therapy one chooses may also determine risks, like the risk of endometrial cancer. This includes considerations like estrogen being introduced to the body by itself or in combination with other treatment option. The type of estrogen may also influence one’s overall health.
Benefits
The key benefits of this treatment option are:
Relieves menopausal symptoms: Systemic estrogen therapy may help one get relief from menopausal symptoms, including night sweats and hot flashes. The therapy is also known to ease vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as itching, dryness, burning, and discomfort.
Prevents bone loss and fractures: Those who opt for systemic estrogen may notice improvements in their bone density as the treatment can prevent osteoporosis. Although healthcare experts usually prescribe other options to prevent bone thinning, estrogen therapy might benefit those who cannot get the desired results from other treatments.
Reduces risk of health conditions: Women may get their ovaries surgically removed before they turn 45. Some may also experience premature menopause before 45 or lose regular function of the ovaries before they turn 40. These factors reduce estrogen exposure compared with women who experience regular menopause. This is where hormone replacement therapy may help prevent health complications like heart disease, dementia, mood changes, and stroke.
Tips for managing risks
Here are some tips for controlling the risks of hormone replacement therapy. One should also speak to their healthcare specialist before introducing major changes to their daily routine:
Find the most suitable product: As there are various estrogen delivery methods, one should identify the type that works for them. Women who experience vaginal symptoms linked to menopause should consider using low-dose vaginal creams or rings instead of skin patches and oral options.
Minimize usage: Women below the age of 45 may require a good amount of estrogen to protect them from the long-term effects of estrogen deficiency. However, one should also use the lowest amount over a limited period until the symptoms are treated. A healthcare expert may recommend long-term treatments if one has chronic menopausal symptoms that affect their quality of life.
Plan regular appointments with the doctor: When undergoing hormone therapy, one should schedule regular appointments with their healthcare specialist. Doing so will help one stay ahead of any complications that may arise from the therapy.
Make healthy lifestyle choices: One’s lifestyle choices greatly influence their overall well-being and protection from lifestyle diseases. So, those opting for hormone replacement therapy should also adopt healthy habits like nutrient-rich meals, regular exercise, and stress management through relaxation techniques like yoga. Further, they should manage other chronic health conditions like high cholesterol and high blood pressure to avoid complications.
