The Facts About Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy otherwise referred to as postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy or premenopausal hormone replacement therapy is a commonly used form of hormone replacement therapy used to treat various symptoms associated with female menopause, including hot flashes. This treatment relieves symptoms such as vaginal dryness and night sweats and may also help to prevent cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. For many years, hormone replacement therapy was the only way to help women deal with hot flashes. However, recent studies have linked this treatment to an increased risk of heart disease and breast cancer.

While there are some benefits to the bioidentical hormone replacement  in menopause, its use comes with several risks, the most dangerous of which is the risk of developing heart disease. Many experts believe that estrogen alone is not enough to increase a woman's HDL or good cholesterol, and substitute it with LDL, or bad cholesterol. Therefore, while decreasing LDL may be good for heart health, increasing HDL increases the risk of cardiac problems.

Another risk associated with hormone replacement therapy comes from the use of oral contraceptives. While they may help control menopausal symptoms, they may also cause severe birth defects. Also, while using them can control symptoms of menopause, they are known to cause major lifestyle changes and increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis. Estrogen alone does not seem to be enough to counteract these effects, which explains why many doctors now recommend hormone replacement therapy combined with oral contraceptives. Also, while using HRT does relieve menopausal symptoms, many women experience negative symptoms such as loss of sexual desire and vaginal dryness. Consider the autoimmune disorders for the best results.

Post-menopausal women need to realize that while hormone replacement therapy can help relieve the symptoms associated with menopause, it should not be used to replace estrogen alone. There are many other factors involved in the development of osteoporosis, including age, ethnicity, diet, exercise, genetics, and a person's level of quality sleep. Also, while using HRT to relieve menopausal symptoms, many women report feeling worsened by synthetic estrogen. As a result, it is best to avoid HRT altogether and use estrogen-only under medical supervision.

Unfortunately, there are no proven benefits of hormone replacement therapy to alleviate postmenopausal symptoms or to prevent osteoporosis. HRT may even increase the risk of breast cancer. Hormone therapy is most effective during the first few years after the onset of menopause; however, there are some reports of adverse reactions occurring up to 10 years later. Estrogen therapy has been proven effective in reducing hot flashes, but there is no evidence that it reduces the frequency or severity of menopausal symptoms. Also, while using HRT, post-menopausal women should avoid aspirin, certain types of antidepressants, and fish oil.

For women already at high risk for developing osteoporosis (hazardier women: postmenopausal women, black women, and women with low bone mass), HRT seems like a logical treatment option. Hormone therapy should be considered only as a last resort for cases of severe menopausal symptoms and when all other options have been tried and failed. If HRT is decided upon after other treatment options have failed, a physician should discuss the risks and side effects of the therapy with the patient. Patients should also be informed about the risk of liver disease associated with hormone therapy. Find out more about replacement therapy at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Androgen_replacement_therapy.