HRT and Menopause Treatments

Women approaching menopause are faced with the difficult task of deciding on the best course of action in terms of taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and/or alternative supplements and treatments. In order to gain a full understanding of the benefits and risks associated with HRT or hormone therapy, basic knowledge regarding the process of menopause must be examined. 

Prior to the onset of menopause, women generally go through perimenopause. During this stage, subtle changes occur within the body’s reproductive system. Certain hormone levels begin to periodically fluctuate, causing the menstrual cycle to become irregular. This stage may occur as early as ten years prior to menopause.

Menopause is the cessation of the menstrual period in women which occurs during mid-life, typically around the age of 45-55. Each woman enters menopause in a highly individual manner. No longer able to bear children, women who enter menopause experience a drastic drop in the levels of specific hormones that were once necessary for the reproductive system to operate effectively. This occurs as a result of the ovaries inability to continue producing the estrone sulphate hormone that is responsible for fertilization. Fertility is no longer possible once menopause has reached its height.

Due to the hormonal changes that occur during this stage in life, women often experience unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms. The diminishing levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone interfere with the normal chemical processes in the body, creating negative effects such as anxiety, depression, and mood changes. The physical symptoms associated with menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, skin flushes, and possibly vaginal dryness. Fatigue and breast tenderness have also been reported. 

There exist more serious conditions that are linked to menopause. Osteoporosis and breast cancer are two diseases which have very drastic consequences to a woman’s health. An increase in the risk for heart disease and high blood pressure are also connected to menopause.

The decision to employ HRT during the onset of menopause is often difficult due to the potential of health problems associated with this treatment. A greater risk of developing uterine cancer is possible with the use of HRT. 
For many women, HRT benefits to their overall physical and emotional well-being outweighs the potential side effects. Improved mood, alertness, and the lessening of hot flashes are common among women on HRT. 

Luteinizing hormone blood tests are administered to women at the beginning of HRT treatment to measure hormone levels to ensure the proper dosage of hormones. Physicians prescribe several types of replacement hormones such as conjugated equine estrogens and progesterone. Alternative hormone treatments may include the use of the herb black cohosh, as well as other phytoestrogens that often come in topical creams. 

A myth known as “grandmother hypothesis”, offers an explanation that females of the human species survive long past childbearing years due to the importance of the older generation of females to care for their grandchildren. Regardless of the accuracy of this myth, postmenopausal women are vital to the health of our society.