Hormone therapy helps treat the annoying symptoms of menopause, but it's not for everyone. See if hormone therapy might work for you. Your doctor can provide you with more information about these techniques and other treatment options. The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, a type of antidepressant) has become more common in women who are not good candidates for hormone therapy or who prefer not to use hormones.
Paroxetine (Brisdelle) is the only non-hormonal therapy specifically approved by the FDA for hot flashes, but some relief has been found with gabapentin (Neurontin). Estrogen from hormone therapy can greatly alleviate menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Hormone therapy is most commonly used to treat common menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal discomfort. Duke Health's certified menopause specialists are obstetricians and gynecologists who can prescribe hormonal hormone therapy, but your primary care provider or obstetrician gynecologist can also prescribe hormone therapy.
There are several factors that can make a person a poor candidate for any type of hormone replacement therapy (not just hormone pill therapy). With granular hormone therapy, your doctor can provide you with the replacement hormone you need, which is enough to alleviate symptoms, with hormones made from substances found in nature. Hormone therapy helps women whose menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood changes, vaginal dryness) are severe and affect their quality of life.
These are the most common considerations that may make a person not a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy.
It's also important to note that hormone replacement therapy can have potential risks and side effects, and people considering this treatment should discuss all potential benefits and risks with a healthcare provider before starting therapy. As researchers learn more about hormone therapy and other treatments for menopause, recommendations may change.Here, Dr. Jennifer Howell, an obstetrician, gynecologist and certified menopause specialist, answers the most frequently asked questions about hormone therapy. If hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms make you feel sick, hormone replacement therapy (HRT)) can help. It's important to understand that hormone replacement therapy isn't right for everyone, and your doctor should consider the effects of hormone replacement on your overall health.
