Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopausal Women

Updated: Jun 26, 2020

Estrogen

Estrogen is a very important hormone in women's bodies. At an early age, it regulates the growth and maintenance the reproductive system. It is key to fertility and general well-being. For this reason, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal women is often used in instances of an estrogen deficiency in women's bodies.

HRT is a treatment for those seeking relief from a shortage of the vital hormones that keep their bodies fit and healthy. As the body ages, it loses the ability to reproduce sufficient amounts of female hormones. Hormones such as estrogen and progesterone play a key role in the growth and maintenance of women's bodies at every stage of their lives.

What Is Menopause?

Other Applications for HRT

HRT is administered for many reasons. For example, if a woman has her ovaries surgically removed than her body will suffer from a significant drop in estrogen levels. In these instances, HRT is often considered as a viable treatment option.

Menopause is categorized as a stage in women's lives when their bodies lose the ability to produce enough hormones that keep the body balanced and healthy. When women suffer from a shortage of hormones, especially estrogen, their bodies can react in unpredictable ways.

Hormonal fluctuations during menopause

The change is manifest through a variety of menopause symptoms which can range from hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia to depression, mood swings, and irritability. The number of symptoms women suffer from varies from woman to woman, but the effects can be felt on women's health and quality of life. Many women turn to HRT in order to ease menopause symptoms.

How Does HRT Work in Women?

HRT functions by introducing artificial hormones into women's bodies in order to settle the onset of a hormonal imbalance.

The Benefits of HRT for Menopausal Women

HRT has the ability to slow down the effects of osteoporosis

HRT has the ability to slow down the effect of osteoporosis. Studies have concluded that if women start hormone replacement therapy at the beginning of menopause, it can reduce the risk of fractures later in life.

Estrogen replacement therapy reduces the risk of heart disease in women. Because when estrogen level decreases, the risk can rise among menopausal women. Hormone replacement therapy can help to reduce this risk, by replacing lost estrogen hormones.

What Are the Risks of HRT

There has been a great deal of research in regards to the risks involved in HRT. Research has shown that HRT can slightly increase the chance of contracting breast cancer and may cause problems with blood clots.

What are the alternatives? Due to the side effects associated with HRT, women sometimes opt for alternatives treatments. To find out more about these alternatives, click on the following link to continue reading.

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