What Matters Most To You
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
Reasons to use ET
Reasons not to use ET
I need something to help me manage hot flashes and other menopause symptoms.
I think I can handle my menopause symptoms on my own.
I feel that the benefits of ET are worth the risks.
I’m very worried about the risks of ET.
I feel that ET offers me the best protection against thinning bones.
I think I can reduce my risk for thinning bones without ET.
The thought of using ET for many years doesn’t bother me.
I’m not sure I want to take any medicine for many years.
The Health Risks And Benefits Of Hrt
In 1991, the U.S. National Institutes of Health launched the Women’s Health Initiative , a set of studies involving healthy post-menopausal women that was carried out in 40 U.S. centres. The WHI included a clinical trial to evaluate the risks and benefits of the two types of HRT and to see how they affected the incidence of heart disease, breast cancer, colorectal cancer and fractures in post-menopausal women. The trial was divided into two arms:
- One arm involved more than 16,000 post-menopausal women aged 50 to 79 who had not had a hysterectomy. They took pills daily that were either a combination of estrogen and progestin , or a placebo .
- The second arm involved more than 10,000 women who had received a hysterectomy and who took estrogen pills alone or a placebo.
In July 2002, after an average 5.2 years of regular follow-up, the NIH prematurely ended the combined HRT arm of the WHI trial. An independent monitoring board, which regularly reviewed the findings, concluded that there were more risks than benefits among the group using combined HRT, compared with the placebo group. The study found that changes in the incidence of disease per 10,000 women on combined HRT in one year were:
- Seven more cases of coronary heart disease
- Eight more cases of strokes
- Eighteen more cases and a twofold greater rate of total blood clots in the lungs and legs
- Eight more cases of invasive breast cancer
- Six fewer cases of colorectal cancer
- Five fewer cases of hip fractures
Estrogen Risks Endometrial Cancer
Analyses of observational studies have found that the risk of endometrial cancer triples with short- or medium-term estrogen-based hormone therapy. This risk of cancer increases considerably when estrogen is used for 10 or more years. Using a small dose of the hormone progesterone together with estrogen greatly reduces the risk of this cancer developing.
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Get High Quality Care From Herkare Womens Clinics
Our team at HerKare believes women should be empowered to take care of their health. We are a womens health clinic by women for women to help you feel your best. We listen and understand to help create personalized treatment plans for your symptoms. Our treatment providers can discuss different treatment options and provide support to help you make informed decisions about your wellness. Whether youre dealing with uncomfortable menopause symptoms or need to talk about other health concerns, we are here for you. Make an appointment today!
The Four Benefits Of Estrogen: How Hormones Impact Your Health And Body Function
At Woodlands OBGYN Associates in The Woodlands, TX, women can obtain quality care from our team. One aspect of care we provide for women is hormone replacement therapy. Hormones play a vital role in our reproductive health, and when levels of hormones such as estrogen are low, it can impact an individual greatly. Estrogen replacement can provide many benefits for patients:
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Benefits Of Taking Estrogen After Menopause
- Post author Scientific review: Dr Heben’s Team
In this article, I will explain the benefits of taking estrogen after menopause. Menopause happens in middle-aged women . Menopause is a condition where menstrual cycle stops, or the end of reproductive period. This is a natural condition, and all women will experience this. But the menopause symptoms give anxiety in women, since the stopping of menstrual cycle means the stopping of reproductive hormone production, such as estrogen and progesteron.
Estrogen is a steroid hormone, produced by theca follicle cells in ovaries. Estrogen functions are: promotes secondary sexual signs in women, promotes proliferation of endometrium cells, influences electrolytes balance, and improves protein anabolism with growth hormones, as in growth of reproductive organs such as the womb and vagina.
Pre-menopause Symptoms
When a woman reach pre-menopause period, her estrogen production is much decreased. The symptoms are:
- irregular menstruation
- reduced bone density, which will lead to osteoporosis and bone fractures
- increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease
1. Prevents Dryness in Vagina
Vaginal dryness is caused by lack of estrogen. This makes difficulties and pain during sexual intercourse, which can lead to physical and psychological trauma . Taking estrogen after menopause can maintain vaginal lubrication and elasticity.
2. Increases Libido
3. Prevents Pre-menopause Syndrome
6. Prevents Atherosclerosis
How Hormone Replacement Therapy Works
Natural hormone replacement therapy includes the use of natural estrogen and testosterone in the form of small tic-tac sized pellets. These are inserted right underneath the skin to provide a slow-release and consistent level of hormones to the specific needs of the individual. As the popularity continues to increase, it is always important to work with your provider to determine if natural hormone therapy is right for you, as well as the proper dosing.
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Personal Stories About Deciding To Use Estrogen Therapy
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
Since having my uterus and ovaries removed, I’ve been taking ET. This makes a lot of sense to me, because my ovaries would be producing estrogen until I hit menopause. When I’m the age I’d expect to be menopausal, around age 50, I expect I’ll stop or reduce the estrogen I’m taking. That’ll depend on what experts recommend by then.
Josie, age 35
I started taking ET after a radical hysterectomy and spent a number of months struggling with moodiness and feeling depressed. It was probably because of the big changes in hormones after my ovaries were removed. I worked closely with my doctor to make adjustments to my hormone replacement. She replaced the oral estrogen with a patch. Now, I’ve been doing well for more than 5 years.
Carla, age 28
I took ET for many years after having my uterus and ovaries removed in my 30s. I figured I’d take it for the rest of my life, since that is what my doctor said I should do. But I recently heard about the latest research on the risks of taking hormones, and my doctor and I decided that I really don’t need to take ET. If I had risks for osteoporosis and needed the estrogen to keep my bones strong, I’d take a low dose, but I don’t have any worries about weak bones right now.
Anna, age 64
Estella, age 58
What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from heat and moisture .
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location â one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
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Extreme Menopause And Andropause Symptoms
When we talk about hormone deficiencies as we age, most of us will instantly think of menopause. For hundreds of thousands of women around the world, extreme perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause symptoms can cause a lot of discomfort in their everyday lives.
Negative symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, and even a lower metabolism are commonly caused by the gradual changes in estrogen and progesterone levels before, during, and after menopause. This is where hormone therapy can help. By restoring the bodys hormones to optimal levels, many of the negative side effects from menopause can be eliminated.
Symptoms Of Endometriosis Recurrence
Accurate diagnosis of recurrence is difficult and only confirmed by second look laparoscopy, which poses particular risk to patients with prior surgery. Diagnosis of recurrence on the basis of symptoms or diagnostic imaging can be challenging. Pelvic pain and dyspareunia are the most common presenting symptoms of recurrent endometriosis after hysterectomy, although vaginal and rectal bleeding as well as low back and rectal pain may also occur . Painful defecation and severe dyspareunia may indicate deeply infiltrating lesions . For these patients, it can be difficult to identify the exact cause of pain, because the differential diagnosis is broad, including ovarian remnant syndrome, post-surgical adhesions, and recurrent endometriosis .
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What Are The Benefits Of Taking Estrogen
Estrogen therapy, with or without progesterone, is consistently effective in relieving menopausal symptoms. Estrogen therapy is also beneficial for preventing some estrogen deficiency symptoms.
The benefits of taking estrogen are clear in some of the conditions arising from menopause, but results are mixed in some. Following is an analysis of estrogen therapy benefits in menopause-related conditions:
Why Should Women Consider Estrogen Replacement Therapy
Estrogen is a vital hormone in the body not just for women but also for men. Some of the estrogen, in the form of estradiol, comes from the conversion of testosterone. Female or male, the human body requires an adequate supply of both of these hormones. Unfortunately for women, when menopause arrives, the ovaries cease the production of progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen. Although a small portion still comes from other areas of the body, such as the adrenal glands and peripheral tissues, understanding the benefits of estrogen replacement therapy will help you see why supplementing this hormone may be the right decision for you.
Hormonal balance is critical at any age. If your estrogen levels get too low, every function associated with that hormone can suffer. By utilizing the benefits of estrogen hormone replacement therapy, your body can maintain proper physiological functions.
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Hrt Helps To Improve Quality Of Life
A recent study from the WISDOM study has confirmed a positive result on the effect of HRT on quality of life.
Women on HRT showed relief on hot flushes, positive response and improvement on joint aches, sleeping patterns and fitness compared to dummy treatment.
Taking HRT helps to make you feel better about yourself and maintain a quality life.
HRT helps to improve the quality-of-life symptomatic menopausal women
Post Menopausal Hormon Replacement Therapy
How prevalent is heart disease among women?
Female Reproductive Organs
Cardiovascular disease is NOT just a mans disease. Cardiovascular disease is the Number 1 killer of women over age 25 in the United States, regardless of race or ethnicity. Once a woman reaches the age of 50 , the risk for heart disease increases. In young women who have undergone early or surgical menopause, the risk for heart disease is also higher, especially when combined with other risk factors such as:
- Diabetes
- Elevated LDL cholesterol
- Low HDL cholesterol, sometimes called “good” cholesterol
- Obesity
- Family history of heart disease
What is menopause?
Menopause is a normal stage in a womans life. The term menopause is commonly used to describe any of the changes a woman experiences either before or after she stops menstruating. As menopause nears, the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen , causing changes in the menstrual cycle and other physical changes. The most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, night sweats, emotional changes and changes in the vagina .
Technically, menopause is the end of a womans reproductive cycle, when the ovaries no longer produce eggs and she has her last menstrual cycle. The diagnosis of menopause is not confirmed until a woman has not had her period for six to twelve consecutive months.
How is heart disease associated with menopause?
What can be done to reduce the risk of heart disease for menopausal women?
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Estrogen And Cardiovascular Disease
Results from observational studies done in the 1980s and 1990s suggested that estrogen-based hormone therapy could help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, note that observational studies can have their conclusions skewed by factors that were not accounted for in analyses. Indeed, robust clinical trials have found that women with pre-existing CVD did not significantly benefit from reduced risk for stroke and heart attack with estrogen supplements. In one trial of estrogen-progestin, a 50% increased risk of heart attack and stroke occurred in the first five years of the study. Other well-designed trials have also found an elevated risk for these complications with estrogen-progestin, a 24% increased risk for coronary heart disease and a 31% increased risk for stroke compared to placebo.
Some researchers think that women who have minimal pre-existing risk for CVD may benefit from hormone therapy early in menopause. However, data are needed to support this.
Reanalyses of several hormone therapy clinical trials suggest that part of the reason for the increased risk for CVD may have been the relatively older age of the women and that they had pre-existing risk factors for CVD. Among women aged 50 to 59, estrogen seemed to reduce the risk for coronary artery disease. However, differences in risk between age groups were generally not statistically significant.
How To Decide If Estrogen Replacement Therapy Is Right For You
Some women have fears about taking estrogen replacement because of the side effects. If you are trying to decide if the benefits of taking estrogen replacement therapy outweigh the negatives, here is what to know:
- Estrogen may increase the risk of blood clots
- The risks of developing certain cancers increase
- Should not be used by women with a history or family history of breast cancer
- Women with a history of uterine cancer should only use estrogen supplements if they have undergone a hysterectomy
- Should not be used by women with a history of or active deep vein thrombosis or blood clotting disorder
- Do not use estrogen with chronic liver disease or liver dysfunction
The above risks do not apply to transvaginal estrogen treatments.
For women concerned about these risks, there are possible other treatments that may help with menopausal symptoms, including natural progesterone, testosterone, and human growth hormone.
For additional information about the benefits of estrogen replacement therapy, or to speak with a medical advisor about safe options for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, please contact National HRT for a free, confidential consultation by phone.
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Benefits Of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Most patients want to know the benefits of natural hormone therapy as well as what the clinical studies show over decades of treatment. For women, natural estrogen therapy continues to be the most effective treatment when it comes to difficulties with menopausal symptoms. These can include hot flashes, night sweats, lack of sleep, and weight gain. Along with general well-being, natural estrogen can alleviate sexual symptoms associated with menopause, such as vaginal dryness and irritation during intercourse.
Natural estrogen therapy also provides a window and effective treatment into preventative medicine. Clinical studies continue to show that estrogen therapy helps to protect against osteoporosis and bone loss. Theyve also demonstrated that natural estrogen therapy can help to decrease general health conditions such as: heart disease, stroke, dementia, and mood swings.
One of the most important factors when it comes to natural hormone therapy is the ability to help women entering menopause at an early age. This can be due to a partial or full hysterectomy. With the loss of one or both ovaries, the body will have less estrogen flowing through it. This can continually lead to complications associated with low estrogen.
Top 10 Hormone Therapy Benefits for Women
For women, natural hormone therapy can help with:
Hrt: Benefits And Risks
Although there have been concerns raised about HRT and the potential risks to various aspects of womens health, more recently published findings show that although not entirely risk free, it remains the most effective solution for the relief of menopausal symptoms and is also effective for the prevention of osteoporosis. It may in certain age groups provide protection against heart disease.
This leaflet sets out the known facts about HRT. It summarises the results of studies regarding its safety and addresses the controversy that still surrounds it, together with current thinking about its suitability. It is written specifically for women wishing to know about HRT. Our medical advisory panel strongly recommends that you should discuss with your doctor both the benefits and the risks of HRT on an individual basis. The types of HRT available are listed below.
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Benefits Of Hrt For Skin
Maintaining the skin may not be the biggest strength of HRT but Hormone replacement therapy has shown significant improvement in epidermal hydration.
It has also been shown to increase skin elasticity, thickness and reduce wrinkles on the skin.
In addition to improving epidermal hydration, HRT has also been shown to increase the quality of collagen and enhance vascularization.
Furthermore, estrogen and progesterone are both found in HRT, these hormones help to slow down the ageing process by keeping the skin firm and elastic.
This process makes your skin look younger than it should, so, HRT is great for your skin.