Hormone therapy is a form of treatment used for the management of menopause and women suffering from endometriosis or fibroids. The use of hormones can be used alone or in conjunction with surgery to treat many of the symptoms associated with menopause. Hormone therapy helps to relieve many of the symptoms of menopause. Hormone therapy also helps prevent future symptoms from occurring. It can be administered by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner.
Hormone therapy is effective for many menopausal women. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is recommended to reduce hot flashes, relieve depression, and help maintain consistent sleep patterns. Women who are on hormone replacement therapy often find that they experience less fatigue and headaches during the course of their HRT regimen. Many women also report less occurrence of mood swings and acne during the course of their HRT regimen. Other symptoms which may be treated with Hormone Replacement Therapy include hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
Hormone therapy is sometimes recommended to relieve the symptoms of menopause in women who have mild menopause. The idea behind using hormone therapy is that many of the symptoms of menopause are caused by low levels of estrogen. Hormone replacement therapy can be used to increase the level of estrogen throughout the body. Hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women can be used as an adjunct to alternative methods of menopause treatment such as hot flashes, acupuncture, and bioidentical hormones.
Hormone therapy is sometimes used to treat symptoms of fibroids. Fibroids are the growths of tissue that occur in the uterus, ovaries, and other areas. These tumors are rarely cancerous; however, they can obstruct the passage of estrogen and cause painful menstrual cycles and cramping. Many women with endometriosis choose HRT as an effective way to manage the symptoms of endometriosis. Other symptoms of endometriosis include abdominal swelling and tenderness, blood clots, heavy menstrual bleeding, infertility, and increased incidence of hysterectomy surgery.
Hormone therapy is also sometimes used to relieve symptoms associated with menopause in men. Some of these symptoms include hot flashes, anxiety and depression, and decreased libido. Women may also choose HRT if they feel that depression, lack of energy, dizziness, hot flashes, or thinning hair are a common part of their menopause experience. Hormone replacement therapy is usually recommended to women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and an increased risk of stroke.
Hormone therapy is also often prescribed to treat chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis can be caused by drugs or alcohol use, and it commonly occurs in people who use HRT. When HRT is prescribed, doctors generally prescribe it in addition to another form of treatment, such as an anti-inflammatory medication. To prevent liver damage, doctors also prescribe low dose oral contraceptives or a progestin. Hormone replacement therapy is usually effective for people with mild to moderate chronic hepatitis. However, if a person already has an elevated liver function test (Liver Response Index), then HRT may not be needed.
Hormone therapy may also be used to treat symptoms associated with menopause. Some of these include vaginal dryness, night sweats, and itchy skin. Hormone therapy may also be used to treat hot flashes. When hot flashes occur regularly, it is called hyperhidrosis. Hormone therapy has also been recommended to help treat persistent insomnia in people who are affected by it.
Hormone replacement therapy treatments are typically used to treat problems that are not related to symptoms of the disease, such as breast cancer. There is some evidence that HRT can help reduce the risk of stroke and breast cancer. However, more studies are needed to determine whether HRT is an appropriate treatment for menopausal women. Many women choose to postpone hormone replacement therapy until they have reached the menopausal age because studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy can increase the risk of stroke in postmenopausal women. Hormone replacement therapy is not appropriate for everyone, so talk to your doctor if you think you might be a good candidate for HRT.