What does hormone replacement therapy do?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), relieves hot flashes, sweating, and other menopause symptoms. HRT helps balance the levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body. It also reduces your risk of osteoporosis.
What are the different types of hormone replacement therapy?
Dr. Giles focuses on natural services such as bioidentical hormone therapy, but there are several types of hormone replacement therapies.
Bioidentical hormone therapy
Bioidentical hormone therapy is the safest method of hormone replacement for menopause. Bioidentical hormones are identical to the ones found in the human body. Treatment methods are painless and include pills, patches, gels, creams, and vaginal rings.
Estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy
Women who have a hysterectomy don’t need progesterone and can be treated with just estrogen
Sequential hormone replacement therapy
Women experiencing perimenopause but who still menstruate may receive estrogen plus progestogen doses every 14 days for 13 weeks.
Continuous hormone replacement therapy
Women in postmenopause can take a combination of estrogen and progestogen on a continuous schedule.
Local estrogen
Women experiencing vaginal dryness or irritation can take estrogen via vaginal tablets, rings, or creams.
What are the risks of hormone replacement therapy?
Combination estrogen-progestin hormone replacement therapy increases the risks of certain conditions, including heart disease, blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer.
If hormone therapy begins before the age of 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks.
Side effects of all hormone replacement therapy includes tenderness of the breasts and bleeding, but bioidentical hormones help reduce the risk of side effects.
Who should consider hormone replacement therapy?
Women who are healthy but experience severe menopause symptoms should consider hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Giles may recommend HRT if you are otherwise healthy but have the following:
- Moderate to severe hot flashes
- Loss of bone mass
- Premature menopause (stopped having periods before the age of 40)
- Premature ovarian insufficiency (lost normal function of ovaries before age 40)
Women who have their ovaries removed and don’t take estrogen therapy until the age of 45 are at high risk for osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms, heart disease, anxiety, depression, and early death.
The protective benefits of hormone replacement therapy for women in premature menopause usually outweigh the risks.
If you experience severe menopause symptoms, speak with Dr. Giles to find out if you’re a candidate for hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Giles helps choose the right HRT for your medical needs. Call the practice or schedule your appointment online today.
