Menopause

HRT or hormone replacement therapy is a commonly used treatment for menopause. There are several benefits of using HRT to help control or lessen the sometimes debilitating symptoms of menopause, one of the main ones being that the replacement of the hormone estrogen helps the body to believe it is still producing the hormone itself and that there is no imbalance i.e. it is the imbalance of hormones in the body that cause many of the common menopausal symptoms. Thus, replacing the lost hormones and restoring balance may help in some cases.

The biggest potential benefit of using HRT is that it will help keep your risk for heart disease down. When the body produces natural estrogen it helps to keep the cholesterol levels down while also keeping the muscles functioning properly, including the muscles of the heart walls. As estrogen levels decrease the body has a much higher risk of developing heart disease and also of suffering heart attacks. This may be of particular importance if you already have other risk factors for heart disease such as obesity or smoking. You may also be genetically prone to heart disease. These are all things that should be considered and discussed with your doctor when deciding on the use of HRT to treat menopause.

HRT can also help to keep osteoporosis at bay. During normal estrogen production the body uses the estrogen to keep the bones healthy and strong. With less estrogen in the system, the bones are prone to weakening however by taking estrogen supplements the body can once again keep bones strong. Bone density varies between women and it depends on how well you did when you were younger with keeping bones healthy. This includes things such as diet, exercise and vitamin supplements. There are other prescription medications now available to treat and help prevent osteoporosis so these should be included in a discussion with your doctor to determine the best treatment.

A big benefit of HRT is that it can help ease the severity of the symptoms of menopause. By increasing the amount of estrogen in the body back to pre-menopause levels some of the negative symptoms can be alleviated. HRT can be especially well-suited to those who have unbearable symptoms. This may include very strong hot flashes and insufferable night sweats. HRT will also help with other symptoms as well. Any of the symptoms that occur with the loss of estrogen can be effectively helped with HRT and as these include irritability and moodiness, hair loss, unwanted hair growth, restless sleep, vaginal dryness, loss of concentration, memory loss, fatigue and headaches then it is well worth looking into.

The decision to undergo HRT is a very personal one. You should gather all the facts that you can and then make an appointment to discuss it with your doctor. The potential benefits can be extremely helpful, particularly to those of you whose symptoms are debilitating. This alone may be a deciding factor in the decision. Usually hormone replacement therapy is used for several years and once the proper dosage is found that suits your needs then it can be very helpful in treating the symptoms of menopause.

HRT And Mammograms |