Hormone Replacement Therapy

The facts about Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, is designed to replace the female sex hormones such as oestrogen or progesterone that decline in the body during menopause, causing various symptoms. Hormone Replacement Therapy can be used to treat symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and sleep problems, as well as vaginal dryness.

Until around 2002, Hormone Replacement Therapy was routinely prescribed to menopausal women in the US. However, since 2002, studies have shown there are many health risks associated with Hormone Replacement Therapy that have made it a less popular treatment.

What you can expect when you are having Hormone Replacement Therapy

Depending on your situation you may be prescribed combined oestrogen and progesterone treatment. The progesterone protects against cancer of the uterus. If you are being prescribed HRT after a hysterectomy you may be offered oestrogen only treatment, and if the only symptoms you are having relate to vaginal dryness, you might be prescribed a oestrogen only cream to use in this area.

Along with a decline in menopause symptoms, you may find that Hormone Replacement Therapy means you continue to have vaginal bleeding that resembles a period, and other menstrual cycle related symptoms such as PMS. Hormone Replacement Therapy can also cause headaches, nausea and depression, so it is important to be sure the benefits outweigh the risks.

What are the benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy?

In simple terms, Hormone Replacement Therapy can treat most menopause symptoms, and some post-menopause health issues, because it restores the oestrogen and progesterone lost during menopause. The following symptoms can be reduced using HRT:

Hot flushes

Night sweats

Vaginal dryness

Discomfort during intercourse

Common post-menopause diseases that can be prevented or treated using Hormone Replacement Therapy include:

Osteoporosis

Colorectal cancer

What are the risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy?

A number of risks have been found for women taking combined Hormone Replacement Therapy. It increases the risk of the following health issues:

Heart disease

Breast cancer

Stroke

Blood clots

Dementia

Women taking oestrogen only Hormone Replacement Therapy are not at a higher risk of breast cancer or heart disease, but they may require frequent mammograms as their breast tissue will increase due to the oestrogen therapy. They also have an increased risk of having a stroke.

Should I begin or continue with Hormone Replacement Therapy?

While there are many risks associated with Hormone Replacement Therapy, these may be greatly reduced if HRT is only used for a short period in the early stages of menopause, in the fifties, and not continued into the sixties. For women who experience moderate to severe hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms the benefits of short-term therapy often outweigh the potential risks.

All women on HRT should take the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time needed to treat their symptoms. Make sure your doctor reviews your treatment regularly, and considers alternatives such as an oestrogen cream, patch or ring rather than a pill.

Dr. Sharonne Hayes M.D., Cardiologist and Director of the Women’s Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic, Minn, suggests that you;

“Consider the reason you started hormone replacement therapy and whether the reason remains relevant. If you started hormone therapy for hot flashes several years ago, you may no longer have hot flashes and could stop taking the drug.”

The only women who should definitely not consider Hormone Replacement Therapy are those with breast cancer or a history of blood clots.

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