All You Need To Know About Hormone Replacement Therapy

When a woman stops having her periods, it means she has started her Menopause. Menopause is a natural part of aging. Hormone levels in the woman’s body are fairly unstable in the years running up to and during Menopause. Symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness and reduced sex drive are experienced. These symptoms are mild in some women and go away on their own. Hormone Replacement Therapy helps the others relieve these symptoms. It functions by replacing hormones that are at a lower level as you near Menopause. HRT also prevents weakening of bones which is a common complaint after Menopause.

Candidate

HRT is not recommended for the following-

• Women who might be pregnant
• Women who struggle with vaginal bleeding

· Women who have had certain kind of cancers

· Women who might have had a stroke or a heart attack

• Women who have experienced blood clots
• Women who suffer from liver disease

HRT comes in different types. While some have one hormone, others have two. The majority comes in the form of pills that you are supposed to take daily. Skin patches, vaginal creams, gels, and rings are also used in Hormone Replacement Therapy.

The different types of HRT come with their own share of risks. It may increase the chance of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer and gallbladder disease in it patients. These risks depend on the patient's medical history and lifestyle. It is important that the physician discusses these risks with you before determining the kind of HRT best suited for you. HRT is usually started with a low dose which is gradually increased if needed. The effects are felt a few weeks into the treatment. Side-effects may also be experienced during this time. Your health care provider is most likely to recommend treatment for three months initially to observe if it helps and then change the dosage or type of treatment if it doesn't give the desired results.

Alternatives

There are certainly alternative ways by which a woman experiencing perimenopause can lessen her symptoms. These are

· By reducing consumption of caffeine, alcohol and spicy food

• By exercising regularly
• By not smoking
• By wearing loose clothing

· By sleeping in a well-ventilated and cool room

· By adding a fan, cooling gel pad or pillows to their bedroom

Some SSRIs may help with hot flashes.

Conclusion

Discuss with your GP how long you want to continue with the HRT. Most women stop with it once their menopausal symptoms pass. Gradually decreasing the dosage of HRT is recommended if you want to ensure that your symptoms don’t return. You may have to restart your HRT if your symptoms persist months after you’ve stopped the treatment or if you have severe symptoms. Side effects like breast tenderness, nausea and headaches may occur but are likely to go away within three months of starting the treatment.

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