Hormone Replacement Therapy - Vital Life Wellness

1. Hormone Replacement Therapy Hormone replacement therapy also is known as hormone therapy or menopausal hormone therapy or estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), is the treatment for relieving the symptoms of menopause that include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms. HRT can also decrease the risk of developing osteoporosis. • Hormone replacement therapy for women is an actual way to relieve symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. • It can decrease the occurrence and sternness of hot flashes, and also the risk of osteoporosis. • Past research has advised a link with cancer, but this is still being probed. • It may help keep skin fresh, but it cannot converse or delay the complete effects of aging.

2. Hormone Replacement Therapy Uses of Hormone Replacement Therapy Estrogen along with progesterone aids many functions apart from thickening the lining of the uterus in order to prepare it for the egg implantation. Estrogenassists the body to use calcium, helps in maintaining good levels of cholesterol and retains the vagina healthy. When menopause starts, the natural estrogen and progesterone amount – that the ovaries produce – drops abruptly. As a result, it leads to the symptoms that include night sweats, hot flashes, painful contact, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, and mood changes. It also increases the risk of developing the condition of osteoporosis. By making the estrogen level to its normal range, HRT helps in treating the symptoms of menopause and protecting the body against osteoporosis.

3. Hormone Replacement Therapy • Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy • The common types of hormone replacement therapy include: • Estrogen Therapy • Estrogen/Progesterone/Progestin Hormone Therapy Estrogen Therapy: Generally, doctors suggest that those women who have had the hysterectomy (a surgery to remove the uterus) should take a low dose of estrogen. Estrogen is available in various forms and the most common are daily pill and patch. The other forms include gel, spray or vaginal ring.

4. Hormone Replacement Therapy Estrogen Pill: The most commonly used treatment for menopausal symptoms is estrogen pill. There are different forms of pills that are available such as conjugated estrogens. It is recommended to follow the instructions of the doctor while taking the estrogen pills while most of them are usually taken once a day without the food. Some pills have complicated schedules of dosing. There are combination pills available that contain both estrogen and progestin. Estrogen Patch: The estrogen patch is worn on the skin of the abdomen. It depends on the dose that some patches can be replaced after a few days while some need to be worn for one week. Estrogen patches are also available in a combination of estrogen and progestin.

5. Hormone Replacement Therapy Topical Estrogen This type of estrogen therapy includes gels, creams, and sprays. Likewise, patches, the estrogen in these gels, creams, and sprays are directly absorbed into the blood through the skin. It is varied as how often these creams should be applied and mostly they can be used once a day. Some of them can be applied on arms (from wrist to shoulder) while some on the legs. Vaginal Estrogen It comes in different forms such as a vaginal ring, cream or vaginal estrogen tablets. This type of therapy is recommended for those women who experience the symptoms of vaginal dryness, itchiness, and pain or burning during intercourse. The dosing schedule varies depending on the product. Usually, vaginal rings are replaced every three months

6. Hormone Replacement Therapy Estrogen/Progesterone/Progestin Hormone Therapy: This type of HRT therapy is usually called “combination therapy” because it combines the doses of estrogen and progestin. Combination therapy is recommended for those women who have their uterus. When estrogen is taken in with progesterone, it lowers the risk for endometrial cancer. Oral progestins: When it is taken in the form of a pill, progestin medicines include medroxyprogetserone acetate (Provera) and synthetic progestin pills. Most of the medical professionals are now treating the patients experiencing menopausal symptoms with the natural progesterone instead of synthetic progestins. It is due to the reason that natural progesterone has no side effect on lipids or fats and so it is the best choice for those women who have high cholesterol levels. Also, natural progesterone has many advantages as compared to medroxyprogetserone acetate.

7. Hormone Replacement Therapy Intrauterine progestin: The low-dose intrauterine devices (IUDs) that are sold under the brand tags of Kyleena, Liletta, Skyla, and Mirena is not approved to be used in the United States. If a woman had one of these IUDs while entering the perimenopause, the doctor recommends keeping it unless after the menopause is complete.

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