Hormone Replacement Therapy (Hrt): What You Need to Know

Undoubtedly, menopause, a normal part of the biological aging process, is the hardest time in women’s life after their period stops for 12 consecutive months. Before and during menopause, women’s hormones levels can fluctuate up and down substantially causing many menopausal symptoms such as insomnia, mood swings, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, irritability, depression, vaginal itching, tiredness, night sweats, urinary problems and vaginal discomfort. In order to relieve these symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has repeatedly become a favorable choice.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of the most debated prescribed reliefs for menopausal women used to help treat menopausal symptoms, lower colorectal cancer risk, and balance women’s levels of estrogen and prevent osteoporosis. HRT is given as synthetic hormones (created in a laboratory) which can later act exactly like natural hormones in the body.

As HRT is the most controversial treatment for menopausal women, it may not be suitable for everyone. The risks associated with HRT may outweigh its benefits. Previous studies have shown that risks outweigh benefits in certain individual, and yet, certain individuals benefited from taking this hormone therapy. Therefore, HRT is not highly recommended for every menopausal woman, and it should only be taken if necessary, meaning that menopausal symptoms to an extent may interfere with your quality of life greatly. The use of HRT involves lots of follow-ups and counseling with your physician. Prior to taking the plunge, you should discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of HRT treatment option. You should also ask your doctor how long you should be taking HRT treatment, the dosage you need to take, and continue with follow-ups on the information regarding what stage of menopause you are in. In this particular matter, you should be carefully evaluated until you are satisfied with the options towards HRT treatments and then you are still being monitored on a yearly basis and even thereafter when you are in this HRT treatment.

Normally, a doctor will recommend HRT at 50, which is around the time of menopause. Still, some women will start HRT treatment during the perimenopausal phase, when they are already going through menopause symptoms. Studies showed that women who start HRT around the time of menopause can even delay the onset of dementia.

HRT is not recommended for women who are 5 years after the on start of menopause as this will prompt their bodies to become accustomed to a lowered dosage of oestrogen, and by this time, they may have already experienced medical conditions like heart disease, stroke, and high cholesterol in which HRT is not best to be added since it may increase the risks.