What To Expect From Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be a highly transformative medication for middle-aged women experiencing menopause. When it comes to menopausal symptoms, we know it’s something to take seriously. Wondering what to expect from hormonal replacement therapy? Keep reading to learn more!

What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?

HRT is a treatment that helps your body balance its menopausal symptoms. Mainly, it supplies the estrogen that your body struggles to produce. Whether it be through patches, pills, rings, or creams, there are a variety of forms available for you to choose from.

Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy

HRT is a fantastic option for women to reduce menopause symptoms such as:

• Hot flashes
  HRT helps you find relief from the momentary heat flashes menopause brings. Their occurrences and level of intensity decrease with more estrogen in your bloodstream.
• Mood swings
  With less estrogen in your body plus all of the other uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, of course, mood swings will occur now and then.
• Vaginal dryness
  Vaginal dryness causes tissues of the vagina to weaken, becoming thinner and drier. With HRT, estrogen helps regulate this area to ease the irritation.
• Night sweats
  Are you tired of waking up in the middle of the night sweating? Interrupted sleep disturbs your body’s sleep schedule and energy levels during the day. HRT helps get your sleep schedule back on track by reducing night sweats.
• Irregular periods
  Estrogen is one of the main hormones in your menstrual cycle. HRT can specifically help with perimenopause, which is the transitional period leading up to menopause.
• Weight gain
  Fluctuations in hormones during menopause can quickly lead to weight gain. However, HRT will balance hormones, allowing your body to regulate weight normally again.

When Should You Start Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Once you have experienced any of the symptoms above, it may be time to look into HRT. However, as of 2021, 73% of women reported they were not treating their menopause. It is most effective to start HRT when your body is still in its perimenopausal stage, which occurs before menopause fully begins. You should also consider HRT if your final menstrual period was less than ten years ago for it to be most effective. If you are 60 or above, the risks of HRT are higher. That’s why it’s best to start treatment soon after experiencing the early effects of menopause. Women can usually do HRT for up to five years. During that time, most women’s quality of life significantly improved, with a low chance of symptoms returning.

Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy

While HRT is highly effective, it does carry risks for some individuals. However, no risks are guaranteed because factors such as age, health history, the type of hormones you take, and the delivery of each one impact individuals differently. Here are some risks to keep in mind:

• Heart disease
• Breast cancer
• Blood clots
• Stroke

Hormone Therapy Services in Greenwood, IN

Struggling with menopause symptoms is not something to take lightly. Here at Supro Direct, we believe you deserve to feel your best daily. If you are struggling with your menopause symptoms, contact our team so we can help find a solution best for you!