For women, getting older means more than just wrinkles and gray hair. It also means developing low estrogen levels. This hormonal imbalance causes many undesirable symptoms, but it can also lead to some potentially serious problems such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and colon cancer. The same is true for women who have has a hysterectomy to remove the uterus. One of the most common methods of treatment is the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). There are several benefits of HRT that make it such a common choice.
Control of Symptoms
The loss of estrogen production essentially causes the body to react in a variety of ways. Symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, excessive body hair growth, night sweats, and mood swings. Women may also experience loss of muscle tone in the urethra and bladder, skin and hair changes, and difficulty sleeping. HRT helps replace missing hormones to create a balance that relieves these symptoms.
Reducing Osteoporosis Risks
One harmful effect of low hormone levels is the increased risk of developing osteoporosis. This condition caused bone loss. Estrogen helps the bones absorb calcium, and during normal production the hormone works to regulate the osteoclasts that are responsible for eating old bone as well as the osteoblasts that create new bone. With low hormone production, osteoclasts continue destroying bone and osteoblasts cannot keep up. HRT helps reduce the number of osteoclasts, thereby reducing the amount of bone that is destroyed. Standard estrogen replacement does not, however, affect osteoblasts and new bone growth. Studies have shown that a combination of progesterone and estrogen may help because progesterone can increase osteoblast activity.
Combating Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is a serious concern for menopausal women. This is due in large part to the change in the ratio of good and bad cholesterol that coincides with estrogen loss. Hormone therapy, including the bio identical versions offered by institutions like Genemedics Health Institute, directly affect lipid metabolism and how liver proteins are handled.
Multiple Options
There are a variety of options for HRT administration. Hormones can be in pill, nasal spray, and cream or gel forms. Therapy can also be provided with a skin patch or vaginal ring. A doctor will recommend the best options based on the prescription level and lifestyle of each woman. Doctors will also consider the severity of symptoms experienced.
Hormone replacement therapy is designed to improve a woman’s quality of life during and following menopause. The dangers a woman faces do not end when menopausal symptoms stop. HRT helps to combat these dangers so that women may continue their lives and maintain their active lifestyles for as long as possible.
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