The dreaded hot flashes. The weight gain. The night sweats. Menopause may sound like a horror story, but with the right hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatment from Evia Medical Center, it doesn’t have to be.
During menopause, your estrogen levels plummet. Some women experience symptoms like vaginal dryness and night sweats. Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for these symptoms.
HRT can help alleviate menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and sweating. It’s designed to supplement your natural hormone levels, either in the form of estrogen therapy alone or a combination of estrogen and progesterone therapy.
What you need to know about menopause
Menopause marks the end of your menstruation years. It happens when you stop ovulating and your ovaries experience a natural depletion of estrogen, a female sex hormone. Some women experience uncomfortable menopausal symptoms, such as:
- Sleep disturbances
- Vaginal dryness
- Night sweats
You can manage these symptoms, along with physical changes that can occur in menopause, in numerous ways, including increased exercise, lifestyle changes, and healthier eating. Hormone replacement therapy is also an option for many women.
HRT and menopausal relief
HRT works to balance out your body and can help relieve a number of menopausal symptoms, including vaginal dryness, night sweats, and hot flashes. Other symptoms of menopause that HRT can relieve include:
- Mild urinary incontinence
- The thinning of the vaginal walls
- Aches and pains
- Abnormal hair growth
If you have trouble sleeping, HRT may be able to help, too.
The extra benefits of hormone replacement therapy for menopause
HRT further reduces the risk of a number of chronic conditions that sometimes affect postmenopausal women, such as:
- Osteoporosis: HRT can help prevent further loss of bone density, preserving the integrity of your bones and reducing the likelihood of fractures.
- Diabetes: Undergoing HRT at the time of menopause can reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
- Cardiovascular disease: HRT can reduce cardiovascular disease markers when taken around the time of menopause.
- Bowel cancer: HRT may slightly reduce the likelihood of bowel cancer.
Risks to know about
As with many treatments, hormone replacement therapy is not without risks. For some women, HRT can increase the risk of blood clots, cancer, and stroke. It’s important to weigh the risks versus the benefits by talking to one of our doctors at Evia Medical Center.
Taking hormone replacement therapy
At Evia Medical Center, we use bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Bioidentical hormones are derived from natural sources rather than synthesized in a lab, and they have the same molecular structure as the hormones your body produces.
There are different ways of delivering HRT, such as:
- Tablets
- Injections
- Skin patches
- Lotions and creams
Typically, we prescribe the lowest possible dose to treat your menopause-related symptoms. It can involve making adjustments to your therapy initially. A family or personal history of stroke, cancer, blood clots or other health risks, can affect your decision regarding HRT, and it’s best to discuss your options with us.
Follow-up appointments
Once you receive treatment, you may need to return to us for a follow-up review every couple of months, depending on your situation.
During your review, we ensure your symptoms are under control and discuss any bleeding patterns and side effects. We’ll check your blood pressure and weight and review your hormone replacement therapy treatment and make any changes that may be necessary. We also discuss when you may be able to stop treatment and how to do so.
If you’re suffering from menopausal symptoms and are looking for relief, book a consultation at Evia Medical Center in Smithtown, New York, today and learn about our bioidentical hormone replacement therapy options.