What is hormone replacement therapy?
Menopause is a phase of a woman's life where periods stop and estrogen levels decrease. It is a normal part of getting older. In the years prior to and during menopause, the levels of female hormones often fluctuate. This frequently causes symptoms including hot flashes and vaginal dryness. For some women, undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy, can relieve these symptoms. HRT can also protect against osteoporosis.
What are they benefits of hormone replacement therapy?
The benefits of this treatment usually outweigh the risks for the majority of women under 60 years old. Benefits of HRT can include:
- Reduction in vasomotor symptoms- HRT is the most effective treatment for minimizing vasomotor symptoms. Vasomotor symptoms are typically improved within four weeks and the maximum benefit is seen in three months. A significant reduction in the frequency of hot flashes, by around 18 a week, and the severity of hot flashes by roughly 87%.
- Improvement in quality of life- HRT can also improve sleep, muscle aches, and quality of life.
- Improvement in mood changes- HRT can improve mood and depressive symptoms. HRT should be considered to eliminate mood swings which are the result of menopause.
- Improvement of urogenital symptoms- Several studies have shown that HRT dramatically improves vaginal dryness and sexual function. HRT is successful in improving these symptoms related to vaginal atrophy. HRT can also alleviate symptoms of urinary frequency. Topical estrogen can be very effective in improving urinary symptoms. With this treatment, vaginal symptoms are improved, vaginal atrophy and pH decrease, and there is a better epithelial maturation.
- Reduction in osteoporosis risk
- Reductions of cardiovascular health risks
When is it a good option to use HRT?
Today’s guidelines recommend using HRT for troublesome vasomotor symptoms in premenopausal and early postmenopausal women who do not have high risk factors associated with the medication including heart disease. HRT can be used:
- For the treatment of menopausal symptoms when the risk to benefit ratio is in favor of the woman, who understands those risks.
- For women with early menopausal symptoms until the age of natural menopause, around 51 years, even if they are asymptomatic.
- For women under 60 years who are at risk of an osteoporotic fracture when non-estrogen treatments shouldn’t be used.