Medications containing female hormones to replace the ones the body no longer makes after menopause– is sometimes used to treat common menopausal signs and symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal pain.
Hormone therapy
Has also been confirmed to prevent bone loss and reduce fracture in postmenopausal women.Along with the benefits, there are dangers associated with using hormone therapy. These risks depend on a few factors, including the type of hormone therapy, the dose and how long the medication is taken. For best results, hormone therapy should be tailored to each person and re-evaluated every so often to be sure its benefits still outweigh the risks.A hormone replacement therapy program assists your body overcome the impacts of stress and aging, thus restoring your energy, sexual function, and overall sense of wellness. Men as well as women in Glen Burnie, Maryland and the surrounding areas can benefit from hormone replacement therapy provided at Maryland Plastic Surgery.
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Hormone Replacement Therapy is essential for great health
Signs of hormone deficiency may include anxiety, depression, impaired immune system, chronic fatigue, low stamina, adrenal exhaustion, low libido, muscle loss, inability to lose or gain weight, and other general discrepancies.Hormone replacement therapy is the key to getting your body correct and back on track.
What are the risks of Hormone replacement therapy?
In the largest clinical trial to date, a combination estrogen-progestin pill (Prempro) increased the risk of certain serious conditions, including:
HEART DISEASE
STROKE
BLOOD CLOTS
BREAST CANCER
Subsequent studies have recommended that these risks vary, depending on age.
Who should consider hormone therapy?
Despite its health risks, systemic estrogen is still the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms. The benefits of hormone therapy may outweigh the risks if you’re healthy and you:
- Experience moderate to severe hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms.
- Have lost bone mass and either can’t tolerate or aren’t benefiting from other treatments.
- Stopped having periods before age 40 (premature menopause) or lost normal function of your ovaries before age 40 (premature ovarian insufficiency).
Women who experience early menopause, particularly those who had their ovaries removed and don’t take estrogen therapy until at least age 45, have a higher risk of:
- Osteoporosis
- Heart disease
- Earlier death
- Parkinson’s- like symptoms (parkinsonism)
- Anxiety or depression
For women who reach menopause prematurely, the protective benefits of hormone therapy usually outweigh the risks.
Your age, type of menopause and time since menopause play significant roles in the risks associated with hormone therapy.
Please schedule an appointment with our team today to see if HRT can help you discover your best self.
Who should avoid hormone therapy?
Women who have or previously had breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, blood clots in the legs or lungs, stroke, liver disease, or unexplained vaginal bleeding should usually not take hormone therapy.
If you aren’t bothered by menopausal symptoms and started menopause after age 45, you do not need hormone therapy to stay healthy. Instead, talk to your doctor about strategies to reduce the risk of conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease. These strategies might include lifestyle changes and medications other than hormone therapy for long-term protection.
Side effects of Hormone replacement therapy
HRT needs to be prescribed for each woman individually. Some women experience side effects during the early stages of treatment, depending on the type and dose of HRT. These side effects will usually settle within the first few months of treatment and may include:
- breakthrough bleeding
- breast tenderness
- bloating
- nausea
Hormone replacement therapy does not trigger weight gain.
Weight gain at the menopause is related to age and life-style factors. An increase in body fat, particularly around the abdomen, can happen during menopause because of hormonal changes, although exactly why this happens is not clear. Normal age-related decrease in muscle tissue, and a decrease in physical exercise levels, can also contribute to weight gain.
Most studies do not show a link between weight gain and HRT use. If a woman is prone to weight gain during her mid years, she will put on weight whether or not she uses HRT.
Some women may experience signs at the start of treatment, including bloating, fluid retention and breast fullness, which may be misinterpreted as weight gain. These symptoms usually disappear once the therapy doses are changed to suit the individual.
