Hormone therapy contains medication that replaces female hormones that your body stops making during menopause. In this blog, we will study the benefits and risks of hormone therapy in Covington.
Table of Contents
Risks of hormone therapy
As per the results of the clinical trials, the hormone therapy containing the estrogen-progestin pill increases the risk of heart disease, blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer. But, these risks depend on the following factors.
- Age: Women who start hormone therapy before the age of 60 or within ten years of menopause are at lower risk than women who begin the treatment after 60 or after ten years of menopause.
- Type of hormone therapy: Risk depends on whether you take estrogen alone or in combination with progestin, and it also depends on the type of estrogen and its dose.
- Medical history: Your medical history, family history, and risk of stroke, heart disease, liver disease, cancer, and osteoporosis are other factors that determine the risk.
Benefits of hormone therapy
If you are a healthy individual and have the following health issues, hormone therapy can benefit you.
- Hot flashes: It is the redding of the skin, particularly over the face, neck, and chest. It can cause sweating also. Systemic estrogen proves to be very effective in treating night sweats and hot flashes.
- Vaginal symptoms: Estrogen can ease itching, dryness, and burning sensation of the vaginal. It also relieves vaginal discomfort with intercourse.
- Bone loss or fracture: Generally, doctors prescribe bisphosphonates that protect against osteoporosis( bone-thinning disease). But your doctor can recommend estrogen therapy if other treatments fail.
- Early menopause cases: If your doctor removes your ovaries surgically or your periods stopped at an early age, i.e., before 45 years, your body will get less exposure to estrogen than a typical menopause case. In these cases, estrogen therapy can reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis, mood changes, and dementia.
What if you can’t take hormone therapy
You can manage hot flashes by adopting healthy lifestyles such as limiting caffeinated beverages, keeping calm, practicing relaxed breathing, and other relaxation techniques.
If you have vaginal concerns, a vaginal moisturizer or lubricant can help you. You can also consult your doctor to get prescription medicine ospemifene for vaginal discomfort.
Key Takeaway
Though there are certain risks associated with hormone therapy, your doctor will assess the risk-benefit ratio to decide whether you should undergo hormone therapy or not. You can talk to your doctor about the symptoms, and he can advise you on the best possible treatment.