For years women were told that once they entered menopause, hormone therapy treatment (HT), also known as natural hormone replacement therapy or HRT, was what they needed in order to alleviate symptoms, prevent heart disease and maintain strong bones. Recent studies, however, have indicated that there may be several negative effects to HT, including an increased risk of heart disease such as stroke. In light of these new findings, many women aren't sure what to believe any more and are reconsidering whether HT is really necessary.
What is hormone therapy treatment?
When women enter menopause, their bodies produce less estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen and progesterone are female hormones produced by the ovaries. As women approach menopause, their ovaries begin to shut down, causing estrogen levels in the body to fluctuate and, over a period of time, decrease significantly from those present during their childbearing years. This drop in estrogen levels is what causes menopausal symptoms. Hormone therapy treatment consists of synthetic estrogen combined with a small amount of progesterone in the form of progestin to prevent uterine cancer. It is given to women to help their bodies adjust to the change in hormone levels, replacing some of the estrogen that their ovaries are no longer producing. HT is generally used over a period of one to five years.
What are the benefits of HT?
Two of the main benefits of HT are that it alleviates severe symptoms of menopause and reduces the risk of osteoporosis in those who are unable to take other medications to help with bone loss. Severe menopause symptoms include frequent hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, disruptive sleep patterns and mood changes. Women who have premature ovarian failure or early menopause, had their ovaries surgically removed or had chemotherapy or radiation also benefit from HT.
Is there a downside to HT?
Because of the slightly increased risk for stroke, heart attack and breast and uterine cancers, HT is not recommended for women with a family history of stroke, heart disease, blood clots or breast cancer. During menopause, as estrogen levels decline, there is increased protection against breast cancer. Using HT negates this protective benefit. In addition, there is an increased risk for gall bladder disease. Some women experience irregular bleeding, bloating, headaches and irritability, symptoms they are trying to alleviate.
Recent studies regarding HT
Some of the more recent studies on women using HT indicate that it may cause an increase in breast cancer. Since the widespread scare regarding HT in 2002, in which it was suggested that HT did not protect against heart disease as previously thought, breast cancer rates in post-menopausal women appear to be dropping.
Is hormone therapy treatment right for you?
While there are both positive and negative aspects to HT, only you can decide whether HT is right for you. Some women choose to use alternative therapies such as herbal remedies or have their physician prescribe anti-depressants to help them deal with mood swings and sleeplessness. To prevent bone loss, women can supplement with calcium and Vitamin D. Whether you choose to use HT or not, the good news in any case is that eventually these menopause symptoms will subside and your body will adjust to the new you.
 | Signs and symptoms of menopause can begin as early as 35, but the average age is 51. Women aren't truly menopausal until they've had an absence of periods for 12 consecutive months. Symptoms and their severity vary from woman to woman. |
 | How long does menopause last? It is the question asked by millions of women each day. |
 | Menopause and weight gain is a combination that no woman wants to think about, but it is all too often reality. |
Did you know women in other countries experience very little menopausal symptoms? Why is that? Women in other countries tend to be more physically active than women in industrialized countries. Daily exercise can diminish hot flashes while improving bone density. |
A nutritious diet and a diligent fitness regime are all it takes to get through the discomfort of menopause. |
