The lower levels of hormones that occur during
menopause often lead to symptoms such as
hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and thin bones (
osteoporosis). For some women, many of these changes will go away over time without treatment. Other women choose to take HRT -- medications that contain estrogen or estrogen with progestin (another hormone). This therapy works by replacing the natural estrogen your body loses during menopause.
Like all medicines, HRT has risks and benefits. If you are considering it for treatment of your
menopause symptoms, talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about this therapy after reading this article. If you decide to use HRT, use it at the lowest dose that relieves your symptoms. Also, use it for the shortest time necessary to achieve results.
How Does HRT Help With Menopause?
HRT can help alleviate the symptoms of menopause in the following ways:
- Reduce hot flashes
- Treat vaginal dryness
- Slow down bone loss.
Who Should Not Take HRT for Menopause?
Hormone replacement therapy is not appropriate for every woman dealing with the
signs of menopause. Women who should not use HRT include those who:
- Think they are pregnant
- Have problems with vaginal bleeding
- Have had certain kinds of cancers
- Have had a stroke or heart attack in the past year
- Have had blood clots
- Have liver disease.
What Are the Benefits of HRT?
HRT is the most effective medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for relieving
hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
Hormone replacement therapy may also reduce your chances of getting thin, weak bones (
osteoporosis) that break easily.
What Are the Risks of HRT?
For some women, hormone replacement therapy may increase their chances of getting blood clots,
heart attacks,
strokes,
breast cancer, and gallbladder disease. For a woman who still has her uterus, estrogen increases her chance of getting endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining). Adding progestin to the HRT lowers this risk.
Common Questions Regarding HRT
Common questions and answers related to HRT include the following:
- Should I use estrogen just to prevent thin bones?
You can, but there are other medicines and things you can do to help your bones.
- Should I use HRT to protect the heart or prevent strokes?
No, do not use hormone replacement therapy to prevent heart attacks or strokes.
- Should I use HRT to prevent memory loss or Alzheimer's disease?
- Do hormones protect against aging and wrinkles or increase my sex drive?
Studies have not shown that HRT prevents aging and wrinkles or increases sex drive.
- How long should I use HRT for menopause?
You should talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for specific advice. These hormones should be used at the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time necessary. (For example, every three to six months, it's a good idea to check if you still need HRT.)
- Does it make a difference what form of hormones I use for menopause?
The risks and benefits may be the same for all HRT products for
menopause, such as pills, patches, vaginal creams, gels, and rings.
- Are herbs and other "natural" hormone replacement therapy products useful in treating symptoms of menopause?
At this time, we do not know if herbs or other "natural" HRT products are helpful or safe. Studies are being done to learn about the potential benefits and risks of these alternative treatments.
