(Newswire.net — January 29, 2021) — During menopause or near the menopause period the body production levels of estrogen and progesterone levels decrease. Doctors prescribe hormone replacement therapy for menopause patients due to several reasons. The therapy is referred to as menopausal hormone therapy which aims to reduce hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Active ingredients in the HRT can vary from those containing both progesterone and estrogen, those with estrogen-only and those with testosterone.
Menopause is a transition period in women from the reproduction period to the next life stage. The transition may result in troublesome and distracting symptoms in some patients. Examples of symptoms experienced by most women during menopause include.
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Mood changes
- Irregular periods
- Osteoporosis or bone thinning
- Sleep problems
- Hair thinning
- Vaginal dryness
- Loss of concentration, memory, and focus
There are different stages of menopause and they are unique in the type of therapy requirements the patients need. Perimenopause refers to early menopause that starts before a woman has reached the menopausal age. The ovaries begin to produce less estrogen and progesterone at around 40 years. Some of the menopause symptoms start to appear and the periods become irregular. A woman can still get pregnant during this stage and lasts for around 7 years before going to the next stage.
Menopause is the period in which a woman’s fertility and menstrual cycle stop due to a decline in the production of hormones. It lasts for 7 years with several symptoms that require HRT. Postmenopause is the last stage of menopause and is likely to cause several bothersome effects. The symptoms from the menopausal period extend into the postmenopause years after menstruation has stopped.
Hormone replacement therapy has a lot of benefits in controlling and treating these menopausal symptoms. The therapy also has other advantages such as.
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Reducing risks of heart failure and heart attacks
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Prevention of skin aging and sagging
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Improvement of muscle function
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Reduce mortality rate in premenopausal people.
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Relieves vaginal symptoms like drying, thin tissue, and pain during intercourse.
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Normalizes an overactive bladder.
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Help in diabetes prevention.
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Ensures bone protection during menopause by reducing the risk of bone fractures.
The menstruation cycle is aided by the fluctuation in the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the female body. The levels differ at different ages and stages of life. During the premenopausal stage, the hormone levels begin to fall at around 40 years. The menstruation cycles continue for a while and the periods start to become irregular. Some of the menopause symptoms start to occur. Menopause, on the other hand, starts at 12 months after the woman’s last period i.e. at around 52 years. The symptoms at this stage are very common and require the use of HRT to control them. When menopause starts earlier than the expected age it is referred to early menopause. This condition may require removal of the uterus or ovary, cause some types of cancer, and may result in certain types of diseases.
HRT in controlling and managing menopausal symptoms may cause certain health effects depending on the type of treatment administered. Most of the adverse effects of the therapy disappear in weeks and may need adjustments on the dosage in case they raise a concern. Examples include headaches, breast tenderness, acne, nausea, vaginal bleeding, mood changes, and depression. The common types of Hormone replacement therapy administered to women for menopausal women include.
Estrogen HRT
For women, whose whole uterus and ovaries have been removed and do not need uterine protection from progesterone effects such as uterine cancer. Estrogen hormone can be administered in the form of patches, gels, pills, creams, rings, and tablets. Estrogen therapy should be prescribed in the lowest possible dosage as per the treatment goals.
Continuous HRT
Includes the use of a combination of both estrogen and progesterone hormones for the treatment of symptoms after menopause. The ERT is best for women who have menopausal symptoms but also have a functional uterus to protect from progesterone effects. Estrogen has an effect on the uterine lining such that it stimulates its thickening, raising the risk levels of uterine cancer. Progesterone in the drug combination helps to protect the uterus walls from the estrogen risk. For use of higher EPT dosage, it increases the risk of breast cancer.
Progesterone therapy
Progesterone therapy introduces hormones in the body that work by mimicking the effects of progesterone produced in the body. This therapy is majorly used to treat perimenopausal symptoms in cases where the woman cannot use estrogen therapy. The therapy is given in the forms of oral progestins which exist in both synthetic and natural types of pills. Most doctors recommend oral progestins because they have limited effects on lipids and are effective for women with high levels of cholesterol and intrauterine progestins.
Both estrogen hormone therapy and combined estrogen and progesterone hormone therapy have risks. Before settling for a specific type of therapy it is essential to access the risks and weigh them with the benefits. The risks include stroke for both types of therapy but disappear once the medications are stopped, blood clot risks especially for those using an oral form of the medications, uterine cancer, and breast cancer.
Hormone replacement therapy has been used as a control and maintenance approach to several health issues. The therapy requirements differ from one person to another. The team of hormone replacement therapists at Liv natural provide and prescribe the right and suitable therapy to patients to ensure overall health and optimal living. Hormone therapy solutions are offered to make life better and easier accompanied by other treatments such as vitamin shots and PRP injections to improve facials and hair growth.