How to Understand Hormone Replacement Therapy

During menopause, your production of estrogen and progesterone becomes erratic before slowing down. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a doctor-prescribed program to treat hormonal imbalances associated with menopause.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Estrogen
• Testosterone

1. Understand that HRT can involve estrogen alone or a combination of estrogen, natural progesterone, progestins and testosterone. HRT can alleviate symptoms such as mood swings, hot flashes, memory loss and vaginal dryness.

2. Keep in mind that HRT can also reduce long-term effects of menopause such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

3. Learn about hormones. Some medications are derived from animals. Premarin, for instance, is made from the urine of pregnant mares. Synthetics, which are plant derived, are called phytoestrogens.

4. Consider that when a small amount of testosterone is added to HRT, a woman's sense of well-being is increased.

5. Understand that your HRT schedule can be cyclic or continuous. On a cyclic schedule, you'll take estrogen for 25 days out of the month, adding progesterone on day 12. This schedule allows you to have a period. A continuous schedule means that you'll take HRT every day.

6. Think about whether you'd prefer to receive HRT via pills, creams or patches.

Tips & Warnings

• Before menopause, estrogen is produced by the ovaries. After menopause, the adrenal glands continue to manufacture a small amount of estrogen.
• Progesterone is another hormone that is manufactured by your ovaries. Before menopause, progesterone tells your uterus to shed its lining, resulting in your monthly period.
• On continuous HRT, you will not have monthly periods, although 30 to 40 percent of women report breakthrough bleeding during the first year. Some women go on a schedule of continuous estrogen but cyclic progesterone.
• Hormone replacement therapy can increase your risks of developing some cancers, although the most recent research suggests that with a combination of hormones and a careful HRT schedule, the link with cancer may be minimal.
• Unopposed estrogen, such as that found in herbs such as ginseng and phytoestrogen-rich foods such as yams, can increase your risk of developing some cancers. For example, your risk of developing endometrial cancer quadruples after taking unopposed estrogen for as little as six months. Consult your doctor before adding herbs and phytoestrogen-rich foods to your diet in moderate to large quantities.
• If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health-care professional before engaging in any activity related to health or diet. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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