Hormone therapy, or HT, is used to refer to the medical term “hormone replacement therapy,” or HRT. It’s the same treatment, however, time permits that people use HT instead of the outmoded nomenclature hormone replacement therapy.
- Hormone therapy is by far the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms, as confirmed by a new study. Also, estrogen therapy has been shown to be safe and successful for many women who use it for less than five years.
- Estrogen or combined estrogen/progesterone treatment is referred to as hormone therapy (HT).
- There is an increase in the risk of uterine cancer when estrogen is used without progesterone (progestin) (endometrial cancer, cancer of the lining of the uterus).
- Menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, poor sleep due to hot flashes, and vaginal dryness are alleviated or eliminated with estrogen therapy.
- Concerns regarding osteoporosis can be treated with safe and efficient non-hormonal medicines.
- There is a slightly increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke among women who use oral hormone treatment (HT) for more than five years.
- In the event that women decide to not take estrogen for medical reasons, the risk of developing uterine cancer (endometrial cancer) is equal to that of women who do not take estrogen.
What is Menopause?
The time in a woman’s life when menstruation ends and she is no longer able to give birth to children is known as menopause. A natural consequence of menopause is the production of lower levels of female hormones, estrogen, and progesterone.
Once menopause has occurred, decreasing hormone levels reduce the chance of becoming pregnant and cease monthly menstrual periods altogether. Hot flashes and sleep disturbances are common side effects of fluctuating hormone levels. In addition to that, women could have vaginal dryness and emotional disturbances.
There are different experiences during menopause, with some women experiencing minimal to no discomfort and others experiencing significant difficulty.
Menopause and Bone Loss
Older women going through menopause have reduced estrogen levels, which accelerates bone loss (particularly in the first five years after menopause). As people age, some bone loss is natural in both men and women.
Combined with the normal bone loss that comes with aging, the absence of estrogen after menopause increases the odds of developing osteoporosis. Osteoporosis occurs when there is a significant bone loss, making bones weaker and more likely to shatter.
Estrogen Therapy and Hormone Therapy Explained
The phrase estrogen treatment, or ET, is used to describe the administration of estrogen without any other agent. Progestin is added to estrogen treatment in women who have a uterus to reduce the increased risk of endometrial cancer (endometrial cancer).
In other words, estrogen and progestin therapy (also known as EPT) would be prescribed to a woman who still has a uterus. Combination hormone therapy is also known as hormone prescription using this strategy.The most effective way to help with hot flashes is to use estrogen pills, patches, or gels.
HT, in this context, refers to treatment that can either consist of estrogen therapy administered to women who have had a hysterectomy, or estrogen/progestin treatment (women with a uterus).
Hot flashes respond similarly to all FDA-approved kinds of hormone therapy, including hormone therapy used to treat hot flashes.
However, some women will suffer an early (premature) menopause, bringing on symptoms like anxiety, regardless of the source of the ovarian failure. Following the surgical removal of functional ovaries, one cause of acute symptoms is “surgical menopause.”
Many symptoms experienced during menopause might be attributed to physiological, mental, or sexual issues. However, refer all concerns to your healthcare provider. Be open and honest about what you’re feeling. Your doctor should assign the best treatment for you according to your signs and symptoms.
