The Advantages of Hormone Replacement Therapy

With menopause being a fact of life, women are faced with the likelihood of a regimen of hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. Following an HRT program helps a woman get back to a normal quality of life. During menopause she is experiencing numerous changes that can interfere with her physical and emotional well-being. Knowing about these changes provide understanding on how to handle this time of life.

What Is Menopause?

• A women's decrease in reproductive hormones, ovulation and ending of the menstrual cycle signals her menopausal phase in life when she will no longer have children. This does not happen at the same time for every woman. Menopause can begin around the age of 40 up to 60 years of age. A surgical hysterectomy will also trigger the onset of menopause.

Menopausal Symptoms

• One of the most common symptoms of menopause is hot flashes. Just as the name states, this sudden overwhelming feeling of heat comes and goes without warning at anytime. Other symptoms include night sweats, memory loss, depression, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, vaginal dryness, heart palpitations, incontinence, changes in weight and diminished sex drive.

Treatment

• A prescribed regimen of HRT will put back the hormones that have decreased due to menopause. Estrogen alone, or in combination with progesterone, is prescribed depending on the symptoms experienced. HRT can be taken orally, as an inhaler, vaginal ring, implanted under the skin and applied to the skin in a gel or patch.

The Advantages of HRT

• Women on HRT find that obvious symptoms are reduced or completely go away. These changes have a positive effect on work, family and social life. HRT also helps in the fight against osteoporosis by strengthening bone mass. Women with a family history of bone loss that may not show many of the outer symptoms benefit with long-term HRT. Starting hormone replacement therapy at the onset of menopause helps in the prevention of ischemic heart disease. Although research continues, evidence shows HRT also delays the onset of Alzheimer's.

Conclusion

• Following an HRT program obviously has advantages that will help lead a full life. During treatment it is important to report any changes in symptoms to the doctor so dosages can be adjusted or changed accordingly. Therapy is intended for a short time until menopause is complete. For some women, this can be a few years, and for others, it can be much longer. With the many advantages that hormone replacement therapy has presented, research continues for advancements in women's health.