Hormone Replacement Therapy Q & A
What is hormone replacement therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment for symptoms of menopause. Menopause is the time in your life when your body slowly ceases the production of female hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
In a period before menopause called perimenopause, your hormones fluctuate, causing numerous symptoms and complications. Some women don’t experience much trouble during this time, but others experience symptoms severe enough to impact their sleep, mood, and productivity.
During hormone replacement therapy, you take synthetic or bioidentical versions of estrogen and progestin, a medication that acts like the hormone progesterone. Though women already make minute amounts of testosterone, testosterone therapy is also available since menopause further reduces the hormone.
These hormones restore a balance within your system, so you don’t feel the effects of menopause quite as much.
Hormone replacement therapy is highly individualized. Cheri Monteith, WHNP-BC, who specializes in hormone therapies at Heartfelt Obstetrics & Gynecology, assesses you regularly to make sure you’re experiencing benefits from your treatment and that you don’t need a change in your dose.
Hormone replacement therapy works a little differently in women who have had a hysterectomy than in women who have not.
Which symptoms can hormone replacement therapy treat?
The hormone fluctuations and drops leading to menopause cause a long and diverse list of symptoms. The team at Heartfelt Obstetrics And Gynecology can help you weigh the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy to ease common menopause symptoms like:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Insomnia
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Vaginal dryness
- Irritability
- Tiredness
The drop in hormones also causes your bones to become weaker and can lead to osteoporosis and frequent bone fractures. Urinary tract and bladder infections also become more common as you transition from perimenopause into menopause. Hormone replacement therapy can reduce these effects.
How do I take my hormones?
Hormone replacement therapy comes in a few different forms. The team at Heartfelt Obstetrics And Gynecology talks to you about your options and offers suggestions for which might work best according to your lifestyle. You can take your hormones in the following forms:
- Pills
- Skin patches
- Pellets
- Gel
- Cream
- Spray
- Vaginal ring
Typically, the team at Heartfelt Obstetrics And Gynecology prescribes the lowest possible dose of hormones and monitors you during follow-up visits for any side effects or complications.
Hormone replacement therapy can get you through the transitional period of menopause with less discomfort and fewer mood concerns. To schedule your consultation, call Heartfelt Obstetrics And Gynecology, or request an appointment online today.