Hormone replacement therapy is generally safe and effective for long-term use, especially when started at a younger age and taken with the lowest effective dose. However, it's important to talk to a healthcare professional at an HRT Clinic in Edina MN about the risks and benefits of hormonal hormone therapy before starting treatment. When should you start taking HRT? Is it ever too late to start? If you've been taking it for years, when should you consider stopping hormone therapy? These are frequently asked questions by women who went through menopause some time ago. Some women take hormone therapy for a few years to help improve the worst symptoms of menopause. Some women find that when they stop taking hormone replacement therapy after a few years, they no longer have symptoms.
Other women have symptoms returning when they stop taking HRT. There is no set time period for which you should take hormone replacement therapy; it's an individual decision between you and your doctor or nurse. This fact sheet includes information to help you decide if now is the right time to start or stop taking hormone therapy, even if menopause occurred several years ago. years.
It's particularly important to take hormone replacement therapy to help prevent osteoporosis if your periods stop before age 45 (early menopause). This is often because they feel better and have more energy when taking hormone replacement therapy; they also want to protect their future health from long-term conditions associated with low estrogen levels, such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. In theory, people can take hormone replacement therapy for the rest of their lives, but the risks involved may increase with age. Abrupt discontinuation of estrogen replacement therapy can sometimes cause some menopausal symptoms of the “withdrawal syndrome” type of temporary form.
If you've weighed the information in this fact sheet and decide that leaving HRT is the right decision for you, it's generally recommended that you decrease your estrogen dose gradually, every few days, for a few weeks. Often, even a small amount of replacement estrogen can effectively alleviate symptoms and provide you with the bone and heart protection you need. Hormone replacement therapy with estrogen alone increases the risk of breast cancer little or no, because it can be done if you had a hysterectomy to remove your uterus. If your regular doctor isn't willing to consider hormone replacement therapy for you, you may want to find a doctor or nurse who has a special interest in menopause.
For example, if a person takes a combination of estrogen and progestin for more than 5 years, the risk of breast cancer may increase even after stopping hormone therapy.
