Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has numerous health benefits and is able to improve the quality of life of those suffering from the symptoms of menopause. However, as any other therapy, HRT, too, has risks, and these are as important to know as benefits before you decide to use it. We have collected the most important things you should know about using hormone replacement therapy, all based on scientific research results.
First of all, you should make peace with the fact that with advancing age the risk of numerous diseases increases. It is important in every stage of life to aim for a generally good physical and mental state, which can be achieved by eating a balanced diet rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals, exercising regularly, minimizing your alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and reducing stress.
Striving for a healthy lifestyle is of course not enough in itself, as your state of health is largely determined by what you inherited from your family. Perhaps you don’t realize it, but it is important to know about the diseases present in your family, since these can signal a predisposition to or risk factor for certain types of diseases.
Prevention is key
One of the best preventive measures is regular age-appropriate screening. The results always reflect the current state of your body, and this can help decide whether the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the right choice for you based on the results and your family history.
Benefits
The greatest advantage of HRT is that it helps alleviate the most common symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness and decreased libido.
According to a study “menopause predisposes women to osteoporosis due to declining estrogen levels. This results in a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and an increase in fractures. Osteoporotic fractures lead to substantial morbidity and mortality, and are considered one of the largest public health priorities by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is therefore essential for menopausal women to receive appropriate guidance for the prevention and management of osteoporosis. The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) randomized controlled trial first proved hormonal therapy (HT) reduces the incidence of all osteoporosis-related fractures in postmenopausal women.“
Hormone replacement therapy significantly reduces the overall mortality rate, but for the best effects, it is important to start the therapy in time. The optimal window of opportunity or the time when women can benefit the most from HRT is – based on numerous studies – between 50 and 59 years of age.
Risks
There are contraindications of course, just as in the case of any therapy. HRT is no exception. Using estrogen and progestin therapy for menopause is not recommended if you have been diagnosed with or are suspected to have breast or any estrogen-dependent cancer, acute arterial thromboembolism in the presence or condition of venous thromboembolism, untreated endometrial hyperplasia, unconverted hypertension in severe liver disease or late porphyria.
The number one disease women fear is breast cancer, and the public opinion often holds that hormones are to blame, with other risk factors largely neglected. According to the International Menopause Society “the possible increased risk of breast cancer associated with MHT is small. It is similar or lower than the increased risks associated with common lifestyle factors such as reduced physical activity, obesity and alcohol consumption. In reality, the main risk factors are smoking, drinking alcohol, and being overweight. The good news is you can influence all of these factors yourself - a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, sufficient exercise, a smoke-free life, and regular mammography screening improve your chances significantly. Findings are inconsistent as to whether MHT (Menopausal Hormone Therapy) improves or has no effect on depressive symptoms in younger postmenopausal women without depression.”
Trust your doctor
Aside from these, if you are healthy and under 60 years of age, you should not worry about taking HRT medications – under the close supervision of your doctor, of course. Menopause and its symptoms take their toll on a woman’s well-being and performance at work, in the family, and in every other area of life. Taking the right medication in the right dosage can significantly improve your life if you are affected.