Over 50? Keeping Up With Your Healthcare Needs

Three Things You Should Know About Hormone Replacement Therapy

21 June 2019

Nellie Ryan

If you are a woman who is entering the early stage of menopause or is already experiencing the full range of symptoms, you should consider the benefits of hormone replacement therapy. There are both benefits and risks associated with this therapy, but most women have found that their quality of life has improved from it. The following are a few things you should know about HRT.

There are many benefits to HRT

As your body changes during menopause, fewer hormones are produced. This leads to a variety of symptoms, many of which affect the quality of your life. By replacing the reduced supply of estrogen and progesterone, the symptoms of menopause are lessened. You will likely experience less frequent hot flashes, and other symptoms such as sweating when trying to sleep at night. In general, HRT can help alleviate problems with sleep due to menopause. Vaginal issues such as dryness, itching and other discomforts are often alleviated. HRT will also help to prevent the loss of bone density and prevent the onset of osteoporosis.

HRT is not a treatment for every woman

Some women should not be using hormones. In general, these are women with serious conditions. A few examples are those with heart disease, women who have had a stroke in the past, and women who have suffered from certain forms of cancer. Even something common like high blood pressure can be an issue if it is not under control. There are many other conditions that may not be compatible with HRT. Ultimately, you need to consult with your primary care physician to determine if this treatment is something that is right for you.

There are side effects to HRT

Although most women who have been treated with hormones have benefited from them, there are side effects you should be aware of. The side effects that are of most concern are those related to serious conditions that exclude patients from being treated to begin with Many of the conditions listed above can be made worse by hormones, but if the condition you have is mild or was something you experienced years ago, such as a stroke, your doctor may still give you the go-ahead for the treatment.

After a consultation with your doctor and you have decided to go forward with hormone replacement treatment, you will need your progress closely monitored. You will also need to be given continued education and counseling during treatment. Much of this can be done by a nurse in conjunction with your primary care physician. For example, there are nurse specialists for HRT such as Carli Larson. These nurses can help you figure out what will work specifically for you.

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