The Advantages & Risks Of Hormone Therapy

Majority of woman require no medical treatment for menopausal issues & only 10% seek medical advice. If menopause or perimenopause is affecting a woman on a regular

basis in her daily life she without avoiding or over looking must visit a doctor. Depending on her symptoms, medical history & own preferences doctor will advice the type of treatment.

 Among all the treatments one of the most popular one is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or Hormone Therapy (HT) as because it is considered to be very effective for many major menopause symptoms including vaginal dryness, vaginal itching & inflammation, vaginal discomfort, various urinary problems, bone density loss, hot flushes & night sweats. What is basically this HRT or HT? Actually it is the use of those two hormones estrogen & progestin. For woman who has uterus needs both these hormones but for that woman with no uterus (medical removal) estrogen alone is the better  hormone therapy. Now a days  HRT is available in a wide range of formulation like skin patches, gels, skin sprays, subcutaneous implants but previously it was provided as tablets.HRT increases the estrogen level in the woman’s body. Before deciding to proceed for HRT a woman & the doctor should very carefully consider her overall situation, her symptoms & relative complaints to decide that either HRT would be the best option for her or any other therapies which would reduce the risk. Woman who decides to use Hormone Replacement Therapy are suggested to intake lowest effective dose of hormones for shortest possible period & to be very careful in choosing as some are more risky in terms of blood clots & cancers than others. Like most other treatments HRT also consists of risks & benefits.

Let us focus on the advantages & disadvantages of HRT

Advantages

*If initiated right after menopause it not only improves symptoms also makes improvement in cardiovascular risk factors.

*HRT not only provides relief from hot flashes but also improves the sleep quality   or insomnia.

* Extremely effective in preventing bone resulting fractures & bone loss.

*Reduces vaginal dryness, inflammation, itching & discomfort.

*Older woman can get added advantage of reducing body fat if active besides getting relief from menopausal symptom.

*Helps reducing depressed, anxious, sad & other mood swings.

*Reduces joint & back pain

*Reduces the risk of colorectal risk (cancer in colon or rectum)

 RISKS

*Increased risk for breast cancer

*Higher ovary cancer risk

*Raised risk for uterine cancer (cancer of the womb)

*Greater chances of heart attack

*More risks for stroke

*Increasing risk for coronary heart disease

*For woman exceeding 65 or over HRT slightly speeds up loss of brain tissue helpful for concentration & memory

Apart from HRT there are also treatments like antidepressants in lower dose, Omega 3 s,Gabapentin , vaginal estrogen, osteoporosis treatments, clonidine & many other.

A woman must take the decision of choosing her treatment by considering every possible factor very carefully as well as properly discussing & understanding with her doctor.