Hormone Replacement Therapy
What is menopause and hormone replacement therapy?
According to Medline Plus (2018), hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is also known as ERT
(estrogen replacement therapy). Hormone replacement uses estrogen, progestin, or both. It is
something that comes into play for women who are currently and/or around the age of menopause.
Menopause is the point in a woman's life when her period stops. This is a normal part of the aging
process when it comes to women. During the years of pre and post menopause, a woman's hormones
have a tendency to go up and down, and this can be bothersome to a woman's lifestyle in a variety of
ways (MedlinePlus.gov, 2018).
When Did HRT derive?
Hormone replacement therapy was available in the 1940s but it actually became more widely used in
the 1960s. This created a revolution in the maintenance of menopause in women. Hormone
replacement therapy actually has quite a few benefits. It was mostly prescribed to menopausal women
for their relief of symptoms, but it has also been said that hormone replacement therapy can help aid in
protecting the body from the development and prevention of osteoporosis (MedlinePlus.gov, 2018) .
What are some of the symptoms of menopause?
According to Medline Plus (2018), hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, anxiety,
moodiness, and pain during intercourse are some of the things women will experience before and after
their menopausal age. For some women, these symptoms can be mild and can even go away on their
own, but for others, this is where hormone replacement therapy comes into play. Hormone
replacement therapy is here to help aid and relieve some of these symptoms so that women can be
more comfortable in their everyday lives (Medlineplus.gov, 2018).
Who should not take hormone replacement therapy drugs?
Hormone replacement therapy drugs are not for everyone. The following women should not take these
drugs: women who think they may be pregnant, women who have problems with vaginal bleeding,
women who have certain types of cancers, women who have had a stroke or heart attack, women who
have had blood clots, and women who have liver disease (Medlineplus.gov, 2018).
For some women, taking hormone replacement therapy may increase their chances of getting
gallbladder disease, stroke, heart attack, breast cancer, and even blood clots. Certain types of
hormone replacement therapy drugs have a higher risk, and each woman's risk is dependent on her
current lifestyle and health history (Medlineplus.gov, 2018).
Various Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy
According to Medline Plus (2018), hormone replacement comes in various forms and many women
may need to try out different ones before they find the one that works for them. Most women who take
estrogen and who still have their uterus also need to take progestin. When estrogen is used, it can
come in are nasal spray, pills or tablets that are taken by mouth, skin gel, skin patches, vaginal ring,
vaginal creams, and even vaginal tablets (Medlineplus.gov, 2018).
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There are some instances where women want to try other forms of therapy that they are interested in
that can help with their menopause before going straight towards hormone replacement therapy. There
may be other alternatives to aid in decreasing the symptoms that menopause has a tendency to bring
about. Some of them are as follows: antidepressants- antidepressants are one of the various options
available that will help with hot flashes. Gabapentin, an anti-seizure medication, and clonidine, a blood
pressure medication, are two prescriptions that can be described to help decrease
hot flashes and ease sleep issues associated with menopause (PFS003, 2015).
.
Plant-Based Alternatives: some of the plants and herbs that have been used to help with menopause
are black cohosh, Chinese herbal remedies, and soy. The only downside to these plant based
alternatives is that they have not all been studies for safety and effectiveness. Also, the way these
products are made is not regulated by the FDA, and there is no guarantee that these remedies contain
safe ingredients or effective doses of the substance (PFS003, 2015).
Vaginal Moisturizers and Lubricants
Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants are over-the-counter (OTC) products that can be used to help
women who experience vaginal dryness and painful sexual intercourse. However, they do not contain
hormones, so they do not have an effect on the vagina's thickness or elasticity. Vaginal moisturizers
replace moisture and restore the natural acidity of the vagina. You can use a moisturizer every 2–3
days as needed (PFS003, 2015).
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According to The North American Menopause Society (2018), some other forms of integrative
medicine that women experiencing menopause can use are as follows: increasing soy (legumes, soy,
tofu), isoflavone products, and other forms of phytoestrogens help reduce menopause symptoms;
Acupuncture- helps reduce hot flashes and improve sleep patterns in postmenopausal women;
regular consumption of soy isoflavones in the diet may offer breast cancer protection if exposure
occures during breast development (The North American Menopause Society, 2018).
Cardiovascular Health
According to The North American Menopause Society (2018), cardiovascualr disease is the leading
cause of death in women
worldwide. Hormonal changes associated with menopause can result in an accelerated increase in
low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol in the year following menopause. This is why it is important for women, especially those
experiencing menopause,
are encouraged to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease by engaging in things like a healthy diet,
regular exercise,
no smoking, and striving to maintain an ideal body weight as much as possible (The North American
Menopause Society, 2018).
Sexual Hope After Menopause
According to the National Womens Health Network (2009), there are a lot of myths that surround
menopause that would make women
believe that once they go through menopause, their sex life has come to a standstill, but that actually is
not the case.
There are certain things that have had women believing that since they they have gone through
menopause that their sex lives
have simply gone down the drain due to the symptoms their bodies are/have experienced (The
National Womens Health Network, 2009).
Vaginal Dryness: since this is the most common symptom of menopause, due to the loss of lubrication
as a result of a decrease in estrogen
and progesteron, women experience vaginal dryness. Solution: having regular sex often,
masturbation, or a combination of the two prior to having sexual intercourse
can help aid the vagina by increasing lubrication through stimulation. National Womens Health
Network (2009)
Loss of Sexual Desire
Many older women have also reported that they seem to have a slower response to mental or physical
sexual stimulation, a
longer time to become arouse, or even in some severe cases, a lack of interest in or revulsion to sex.
Solution: it is
wise to ask your doctor to first review all your current medications that you take since certain
medications can cause a
decrease in sexual desire. Communicate with your partner about the problem and see if there are
certain activities that
the two of you can do to help eachothers sex lives increase and/or better.National Womens Health
Network (2009)
Conclusion
Dealing with sex issues can be a daunting proposition, and many of us might prefer to
sweep them under the carpet and read a book, finish a report, or paint the bathroom — anything
that doesn’t cause such anxiety and frustration. But, as I’ve indicated, many solutions are
available — so be pro-active! Sexuality and sexual expression are among life’s greatest gifts,
and are ours to explore, tweak, enhance, and enjoy, on any level that is possible and comfortable.
Whether you are alone or with a partner, good sex — by your personal definition — can enhance
health
and self-esteem. It’s not just the province of the young and agile!
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References
http://www.menopause.org/publications/clinical-care-recommendations/chapter-6-complementary-andalternative-medicine
https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Hormone-Therapy#Types
https://www.nwhn.org/strategies-for-staying-sexual-after-menopause/
https://medlineplus.gov/hormonereplacementtherapy.html
http://www.menopause.org/publications/clinical-care-recommendations/chapter-4-disease-risk
https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt-know-benefits-risks/