Why Do You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone Replacement Therapy Treatment Center

If you are experiencing unexplained depression, anxiety, or fatigue, or even hot flashes, weight gain, and bone loss, then you may be an ideal candidate for hormone replacement therapy. This specialized therapy will address these symptoms and help you start feeling like yourself.

Between the Bridges Healing Center has your best interests in mind. We will help you find relief through simple but effective methods of treating your symptoms and getting your body back to hormonal balance.

For more information or to request an appointment, call us today at 388-7488 or fill out our appointment request form online now. Hormonal imbalance doesnt have to define your lifestyle anymore!

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• Menopausal symptoms can be managed with education, lifestyle changes, support and hormone replacement therapy , also known as menopausal hormone therapy .
• In the early postmenopausal years, HRT is an effective therapy for menopausal symptoms. In most women with moderate to severe symptoms, the benefits outweigh the small increases in risk.
• The long-term use of HRT has some benefits, but also has some risks.
• The current role of HRT is for menopausal symptom relief, at the lowest effective dose and for the shortest duration required for the control of bothersome menopausal symptoms.
• The decision to use HRT, and for how long it should be used, must be based on individual assessment and needs.

Reasons To Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy

Getting older is rarely a walk in the park. While some people seem to bypass the worst effects of aging, for most, the natural declines associated with passing years create unique combinations of symptoms you likely wish you could do without.

Hormone replacement therapy has long been used by menopausal women to moderate the symptoms of reduced estrogen production. More men are learning that extreme falloff of testosterone can create its own male menopause conditions, and that HRT is an alternative treatment for some.

While there are some statistical risks of side effects, for many people the benefits of HRT lead to a better quality of life.

The HRT experts at AM Diabetes & Endocrinology Center can help you decide if this treatment is right for you. Contact Dr. Kashif Latif and his team today to arrange your personal consultation. Here are five reasons you may want to consider HRT.

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What Are Hormone Inhibitors And How Do They Work

Hormone inhibitors also target breast cancer cells with hormone receptors, but unlike hormone blockers, they work by reducing the bodys hormone production. When breast cancer cells are cut off from the food supply the tumor begins to starve and die.Generally, the benefits of using hormone therapy and chemotherapy together have a much greater combined effect than using either alone. If your breast cancer is positive for hormone receptors, your doctor may recommend both therapies.

Symptom 1 Physical Signs Of Being Unwell

Take a look at these signs that are an indication that you need hormone replacement therapy:

• Hot flashes and sweating at night even in winters
• Weight gain despite following a careful diet and exercise plan
• Appearance or worsening of acne
• Insomnia and disturbed sleep
• Appearance of signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles because of loss of elasticity in the skin
• Hair loss and thinning hair in both men and women
• Increase in distribution of fat on the bellyCravings for sweet and savory carbs, dairy products, and alcohol
• Excessive facial and body hair in womenUnexplained bloating

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How Is Menopause Diagnosed

Menopause is diagnosed starting with an assessment of a woman’s menstrual cycle history and a history of menopausal symptoms. In general, if a woman is over 45 years and presents with menopausal symptoms such as irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, sleep problems, and mood changes, she would be considered in perimenopause and no diagnostic testing is needed.

Blood tests that may be indicated include:

For women 40 to 45 years who present with menopausal symptoms, blood tests to check for other conditions may include:

• Human chorionic gonadotropin to rule out possible pregnancy
• Prolactin to rule out hyperprolactinemia
• Thyroid stimulating hormone to rule out hyperthyroidism

Hormone Replacement Therapy In Denver

The hormones used in the hormone replacement therapy options at Sculpted MD mirror the same structure as the ones found in the body. We understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to hormones and that each and every patient is different. Sculpted MD will create a customized treatment plan for each patient by performing a comprehensive evaluation of your bodys needs. We will focus on improving your sleep, immune system, sex drive, cognitive function, vitality, skin and overall appearance.

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Balance Your Hormones With Whole Health Jc

If you are experiencing negative symptoms from a hormone imbalance, look no further than Whole Health JC. Our clinic offers Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy treatment options for both men and women. Through a simple lab test, we can assess your hormone levels and create a BHRT treatment that fits your individual needs! Contact us at 573-893-5500.

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How Should This Medicine Be Used

Hormone replacement therapy comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day. To help you remember to take hormone replacement therapy, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take this medication exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without talking to your doctor.

Activella, FemHrt, and Prempro come as tablets containing estrogen and progestin. Take one tablet every day.

Ortho-Prefest comes in a blister card containing 30 tablets. Take one pink tablet once daily for 3 days, then take one white tablet once daily for 3 days. Repeat this process until you finish all the tablets on the card. Begin a new blister card the day after you finish the last one.

Premphase comes in a dispenser containing 28 tablets. Take one maroon tablet once daily on days 1 to 14, and take one light-blue tablet once daily on days 15 to 28. Begin a new dispenser the day after you finish the last one.

Before taking hormone replacement therapy, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully.

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Should You Use Hormone Therapy During Menopause

When a woman begins having menopause symptoms like hot flashes, irregular periods or mood changes, she will probably wonder at some point whether she should take some type of menopause hormone therapy . Sometimes called hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, it usually refers to a combination of the female hormones estrogen and/or progesterone.

Research is beginning to show what the risks and benefits of menopause hormone therapy are, but there is still a lot to learn about the effects of estrogen and progesterone on our bodies and our health. While it is a very effective treatment for many menopause symptoms, hormone therapy can increase the chances of other conditions, and the decision to use it is a balancing act of determining whether the pros outweigh the cons.

The Womens Health Initiative study is the largest study done on menopausal women and focused on heart disease, bone fractures, and breast and colorectal cancers. One of the preventive strategies studied was the effect of hormone therapy on these conditions.

The current recommendation for menopause hormone therapy suggests if hormone therapy is used to treat menopausal symptoms, it should be used in the smallest doses that are effective, for the shortest time necessary.

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Ht Indications Contraindications And Adverse Effects/risks

Indications

Indications for hormone therapy can be symptomatic or preventive. However, the application of HT to prevent sequelae of menopause is controversial, although some consensus has been reached regarding the use of HT to relieve symptoms.

The following are common clinical indications for prescribing HT:

• To relieve vasomotor symptoms

• To improve urogenital symptoms

• To prevent osteoporosis

Contraindications

No absolute contraindications of HT have been established. However, relative contraindications exist in certain clinical situations, such as patients with the following findings:

• A history of breast cancer*

• A history of endometrial cancer*

• Porphyria

• Endometriosis

• Fibroids

* Note that many clinicians do not prescribe HT for women with a previous history of breast or endometrial cancer.

Adverse effects and risks

Possible transient adverse effects are as follows:

• Nausea

• Bloating, weight gain , fluid retention

• Mood swings

• Breakthrough bleeding

• Breast tenderness

Potential risks of HT in postmenopausal women include the following:

A Higher Risk Of Certain Cancers

A 2020 study found that past use of HRT was linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. This elevated risk was associated with both estrogen-only and combined therapies.

There is some debate about the risk of ovarian cancer. Some studies suggest that both estrogen-only and combined therapies raise your risk of ovarian cancer. Other say ovarian cancer is only a risk with estrogen-only therapy, but not with combination therapies.

Estrogen-only HRT may also increase the risk of endometrial cancer . A of 28 studies concluded that the following HRT regimens may all increase the risk of endometrial cancer:

• estrogen-only, sequential combination therapy
• tibolone
• micronized progesterone

Because of the risk, these therapies are generally recommended for women who no longer have a uterus.

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What Are The Side Effects Of Mrt

MRT can cause side effects such as breast tenderness, fluid retention, mood changes, menstrual spotting and bleeding. If you get any of these side effects, talk to your doctor as you may need a change of dose. MRT does not cause weight gain. Contact your doctor immediately if you get any of the following symptoms while taking MRT:

• sudden severe chest pain
• sudden breathlessness
• unexplained swelling or severe pain in the calf of one leg
• severe stomach pain or yellowing of your skin
• serious neurological effects, including the following:
• unusual severe, prolonged headache, especially if it is the first time or getting progressively worse
• sudden partial or complete loss of vision
• sudden disturbance of hearing or other perceptual disorders
• difficulty with your speech
• bad fainting attack or collapse
• first unexplained epileptic seizure
• leg or arm weakness or a droopy face
• very marked numbness suddenly affecting one side or one part of your body.

If you are taking MRT and have recently had surgery or a leg injury and you are unable to walk around, contact your doctor for advice.

If you are taking MRT and decide to stop, ask your doctor how to stop safely. You may need to stop slowly over several weeks.

When Are Hormone Blockers Used

Hormone inhibitors and blocker options may depend on a persons stage of life.

• Hormone inhibitors are only used in postmenopausal women. They can be given to premenopausal women if steps are taken by the treatment team to put the ovaries to sleep by blocking the ovaries from producing estrogen or progesterone.
• Hormonal therapy may also be called anti-hormone treatment. Think of it as the opposite of hormone replacement therapy . If pathology tests show that the tumor in your breast has hormone receptors , then hormonal therapy may be recommended for you after the completion of your acute treatment .
• Hormonal therapy keeps breast cancer cells from receiving or using the natural female hormones in your body which they need to grow. Hormonal therapy also blocks the ability of health breast cells to receive hormones that could stimulate breast cancer cells to regrow again in the form of recurrence of the breast cancer within the breast or elsewhere in the body.

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How Long Should I Take Hormone Therapy

In general, there is no time limit to how long you can take hormone therapy. You should take the lowest dose of hormone therapy that works for you, and continue routine monitoring with your healthcare provider to reevaluate your treatment plan each year. If you develop a new medical condition while taking HT, see your provider to discuss if its still safe to continue taking HT.

When Mht Is Not An Option

For some women, the risks in using hormone therapy are definitely very high. MHT would not be recommended for women who:

• Are pregnant or think they might be pregnant
• Have irregular or unexplained vaginal bleeding
• Have breast cancer or uterine cancer
• Have a history of heart attack or stroke
• Have a history of getting blood clots
• Have liver disease

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Contraception Pregnancy And Hrt

Oestrogen used in HRT is different from oestrogen used in the contraceptive pill, and is not as powerful.

This means it’s possible to become pregnant if you are taking HRT to control menopausal symptoms. In some cases, a woman can be fertile for up to 2 years after her last period if she is under 50, or for a year if she is over 50.

If you don’t want to get pregnant, you can use a non-hormonal method of contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm.

An alternative is the IUS , which is also licensed for heavy periods and as the progestogen part of HRT. You will need to add oestrogen as either a tablet, gel or patch.

For Use In Certain Men

Some men with unnaturally low levels of testosterone can benefit from hormone therapy. For example, the condition hypogonadism can cause unnaturally low levels of testosterone. Its a dysfunction of the testicles that prevents the body from producing the right amount of testosterone.

Whats less certain is whether testosterone therapy can benefit healthy men whose testosterone decline is simply caused by aging. This has been a difficult question for researchers to answer. Not many studies have observed the effects of testosterone therapy in men with healthy levels of the hormone. The studies that have were smaller and had unclear results.

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What Are Hormones

Unlike vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that are the cofactors, we need to turn our food into energy and building blocks hormones are the chemical messengers that our body needs to tell our cells what to do. Think of the difference like your state Department of Transportation road workers. Your vitamins are the actual guys out there slinging the shovels and filling the potholes. Your hormones are the guys telling the workers which holes to fill. Without your hormones you just have a bunch of guys standing around leaning on their shovels.

Hormones also come in a variety of shapes and sizes! Your thyroid hormones, which Dr. Ron has talked about, manage your metabolic rate. Your appetite command and control hormones, which Dr. K has talked about, manage when you feel hungry and when you feel full. There are still other hormones that let you know when it is OK to sleep and when to wake up, when to be fearful and when to be happy, when to build bone and when to release calcium from bone, you get the idea. The one thing all these hormones have in common is that they all pretty much work until you die. Not so for the hormones most involved in the aging process: estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Unfortunately they take a permanent vacation when women enter menopause and men begin andropause. But just because they leave doesnt mean you dont need them anymore!

Who Can Take Hrt

Most women can have HRT if they’re having symptoms associated with the menopause.

But HRT may not be suitable if you:

• are pregnant it’s still possible to get pregnant while taking HRT, so you should use contraception until 2 years after your last period if you’re under 50, or for 1 year after the age of 50

In these circumstances, alternatives to HRT may be recommended instead.

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Stroke And Heart Attacks

The latest analysis from Women’s Health Concern regarding the risk of heart disease and stroke for women taking HRT states that:

• the risk of stroke is increased in women who smoke and are overweight
• women starting HRT and aged below 60 are not at an increased risk of stroke
• HRT is not recommended for women with a history of stroke or deep vein thrombosis

Speak to your GP if you are taking HRT and are worried about the risk of stroke or heart disease.

Added Benefits Of Hrt

HRT reduces the risk of various chronic conditions that can affect postmenopausal women, including:

• diabetes taking HRT around the time of menopause reduces a womans risk of developing diabetes
• osteoporosis HRT prevents further bone density loss, preserving bone integrity and reducing the risk of fractures, but it is not usually recommended as the first choice of treatment for osteoporosis, except in younger postmenopausal women
• bowel cancer HRT slightly reduces the risk of colorectal cancer
• cardiovascular disease HRT has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease markers when used around the time of menopause.

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