Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a medication that contains female hormones to replace the estrogen your body stops producing during menopause. It is commonly used to treat common menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal discomfort. However, it is important to consider the risks associated with hormone therapy before deciding if it is the right option for you. For best results, hormone therapy should be tailored to each person and reevaluated from time to time to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks.
As researchers learn more about hormone therapy and other treatments for menopause, recommendations may change. These contraindications do not apply to transvaginal estrogen therapy, since the serum estrogen concentration of this route is extremely low. Hormone therapy has also been shown to prevent bone loss and reduce fractures in postmenopausal women. The duration of treatment for these hormones should not exceed a few years and close monitoring is required.
These risks depend on the type of hormone therapy, the dose, the duration of the medication, and the individual health risks. These hormones are correlated with a variety of adverse effects, including an increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, heart disease, and deep vein thrombosis. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) supplements women with hormones that are lost during the menopausal transition. To alleviate symptoms associated with menopause, conventional HRT includes an estrogen and progesterone component to mimic the hormones created by the human ovary.
To determine if hormone therapy is a good treatment option for you, talk to your doctor about your individual symptoms and health risks. This activity describes the indications for hormone replacement therapy and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in the treatment of patients with postmenopausal symptoms. This was a multifaceted trial, which included two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials on postmenopausal hormone therapy. If a woman has mild menopausal symptoms, it is important to weigh the benefits and harms of these hormones before making a decision.
