What You Need To Know About Hormone Replacement Therapy

With the advances in medical science, many of the conditions that were impossible to be treated earlier are now treated with ease. One such breakthrough treatment is the hormone replacement therapy for women. Hormone replacement therapy is routinely prescribed by doctors to help treat menopausal symptoms and also to reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.

What is hormone replacement therapy?

It is a treatment that augments the body's natural hormone levels in the form of either estrogen-alone therapy or as estrogen with progesterone therapy. Hormones are the special chemicals that a human body makes and performs the job of controlling how different parts of the body work. The two main female hormones produced by the ovaries are estrogen and progesterone. When a woman enters menopause, the amount of natural estrogen and progesterone the ovaries produce drop sharply. This leads to symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and sleep problems. In many women it also increases their risk of developing osteoporosis later on in life.

Following are some of the reasons why a woman's body may not produce enough estrogen.

Menopause: This is one of the most common reasons for low estrogen being produced in women's bodies. This is the time when the woman's menstrual cycle slows down and eventually comes to a complete standstill. During this stage, the ovaries slowly stop making these hormones.

Removal of ovaries: If a woman has her ovaries removed, the estrogen levels drop. Menopausal symptoms start as soon as the ovaries are removed as there is no more production of estrogen.

Other reasons: In some cases, putting a lot of strain on the body by means of strenuous exercise can cause the estrogen levels to drop. For some women a drastic loss in weight can cause a sharp drop in the estrogen levels.

How does hormone replacement therapy help?

The hormone replacement therapy helps the body to process calcium which is important for strengthening of the bones, helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, and keeps a woman's body functioning in a healthy manner.

There are different ways to take hormone replacement therapy. The most common way is through a pill. However, in some cases it is also given as a skin patch, cream, or ointment. In some cases, a pellet that contains estrogen is put beneath the skin and fatty layer of the abdomen or buttocks. The pellet then releases estrogen into the body for 4 to 8 months. The amount of hormone replacement needed to reduce the symptoms varies from woman to woman.

Hormone replacement therapy is best done under the supervision of your doctor. After assessing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor can give you the ideal solution to help deal with your menopausal problems.

Healthy Habits offers hormone replacement therapy under the able care of their qualified medical practitioners.