Hormone Replacement Therapy What is menopause and hormone replacement therapy? Hormone replacement thereapy 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 womans life when her period stops. this is a normal part of the aging process when it comes to women. during the years pre and post menopause, a womans hormones have a tendency to go up and down, and can be bothersome to a womans lifestyle in a variety of ways (MedlinePlus.gov, 2018). When Did HRT derive? Hormone replacement therapy was available in the 1940s but became more widely used in the 1960s. This created a revolution in the maintenence of menopause in women. It was mostly prescribed to menopausal women for their relief of symptoms as well as the prevention of osteoporosis . What are some of the symptoms of menopause? Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, anxiety, moodiness, and pain during intercourse are some of the things women will experience pre and post 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 to that women can be more comfortable. It has also been said that hormone replacement therapy can help aid in protecting the body from osteoporosis (Medlineplus.gov, 2018). Who should not take hormone replacement therapy drugs? Hormone replacemtn 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, 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 womans risk is dependent on her current lifestyle and health history (Medlineplus.gov, 2018). What are the different types of hormone replacement therapy? 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 vaginal tablets (Medlineplus.gov, 2018). Other Types of Therapy 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 to 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: antidepressants- antidepressents are one of the various options available that will help with hot flashes. gabapentin, an antiseizure medication, and clonidine, a blood pressure medication, are 2 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 condatin safe ingredients or effective doses of the substance (PFS003, 2015). Vaginal Moisturizers and Lubricants vaginal moisturizers and lubricants are OTC products that cen 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 thickenss 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). 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; acupuncutre- 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! References http://www.menopause.org/publications/clinical-care-recommendations/chapter-6complementary-and-alternative-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-4disease-risk https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt-know-benefitsrisks/
