Hormone replacement therapy, HRT, is a common indication for people who have reached menopause and are struggling with associated symptoms. Menopause is a period when a woman transitions from one stage in their life to another due to physiological factors. On average, this milestone usually occurs between the age of forty and fifty years. At this point, the person may begin to experience hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Menopause may, however, come much earlier for women whose ovaries have been removed for one reason or another. There are a number of things on hormone replacement therapy St Petersburg FL women need to understand if considering this treatment.
Menopause is said to have occurred when the ovaries no longer produce the hormones oestrogen and progesterone which play a vital role in the human female body. Oestrogen is responsible for growth and development of the breasts, one of the secondary sexual characteristics in women. Working together with progesterone, it is responsible for preparing the body for pregnancy. Menstruation takes place monthly if pregnancy fails to occur.
Hormone replacement therapy can come in form of progesterone or estrogen only formulations or in combination. The formulations are synthetic but work in a similar manner as the natural forms in the body. The route of administration is usually oral but they can also be administered through the vagina in form of gels, creams or rings. They can also be given as skin patches.
It should be noted that hormone therapy is not indicated for every woman who has menopausal symptoms. A thorough evaluation needs to be done before one can safely take the drugs. This is because HRT is known to be associated with breast and uterine cancer. It also predisposes deep venous thrombosis hence increases the chances of one getting cardiovascular disease. These rather serious effects have been particularly linked to oestrogen only pills.
Some of the side effects of hormone therapy include bloating, nausea, weight gain, mood swings, retention of fluid in the body and vaginal bleeding. The patient should be made aware of this and should continue taking their medication because these effects are largely transient. Changing the route of administration may help in addressing persistent side effects.
Patients who experience headaches when taking oral pills can be advised to change to skin patches. The main downside of the patches is that they have a tendency to cause irritation and discomfort to some patients. The idea is to be able to find out which mode of administration best suits your needs and stick to it.
Menopausal symptoms usually subside once the patient starts taking the drugs. The route of administration depends on the dominant symptoms. For instance, vaginal creams are better if the main complaint is vaginal dryness and pain during sex. Generally, one begins to see a difference within one to three months of using medication. They will begin to notice that their skin and hair has improved in appearance. Also, susceptibility to bone pain and fractures will be greatly reduced.
All in all, one needs to weigh the benefits against the risks before choosing to use hormone replacement therapy. When you have chosen to use HRT, it is advisable to use the lowest possible dose and the shortest duration of time necessary to provide relief of symptoms.
Menopause is said to have occurred when the ovaries no longer produce the hormones oestrogen and progesterone which play a vital role in the human female body. Oestrogen is responsible for growth and development of the breasts, one of the secondary sexual characteristics in women. Working together with progesterone, it is responsible for preparing the body for pregnancy. Menstruation takes place monthly if pregnancy fails to occur.
Hormone replacement therapy can come in form of progesterone or estrogen only formulations or in combination. The formulations are synthetic but work in a similar manner as the natural forms in the body. The route of administration is usually oral but they can also be administered through the vagina in form of gels, creams or rings. They can also be given as skin patches.
It should be noted that hormone therapy is not indicated for every woman who has menopausal symptoms. A thorough evaluation needs to be done before one can safely take the drugs. This is because HRT is known to be associated with breast and uterine cancer. It also predisposes deep venous thrombosis hence increases the chances of one getting cardiovascular disease. These rather serious effects have been particularly linked to oestrogen only pills.
Some of the side effects of hormone therapy include bloating, nausea, weight gain, mood swings, retention of fluid in the body and vaginal bleeding. The patient should be made aware of this and should continue taking their medication because these effects are largely transient. Changing the route of administration may help in addressing persistent side effects.
Patients who experience headaches when taking oral pills can be advised to change to skin patches. The main downside of the patches is that they have a tendency to cause irritation and discomfort to some patients. The idea is to be able to find out which mode of administration best suits your needs and stick to it.
Menopausal symptoms usually subside once the patient starts taking the drugs. The route of administration depends on the dominant symptoms. For instance, vaginal creams are better if the main complaint is vaginal dryness and pain during sex. Generally, one begins to see a difference within one to three months of using medication. They will begin to notice that their skin and hair has improved in appearance. Also, susceptibility to bone pain and fractures will be greatly reduced.
All in all, one needs to weigh the benefits against the risks before choosing to use hormone replacement therapy. When you have chosen to use HRT, it is advisable to use the lowest possible dose and the shortest duration of time necessary to provide relief of symptoms.
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