By
Deb Balzer
Hormone remedy is a therapy that makes use of medicines containing hormones like estrogen or progesterone to exchange these the physique stops producing throughout menopause. It may be a strong software for managing menopausal symptoms.
“Whereas hormone remedy can considerably enhance high quality of life and total well being for a lot of ladies, it’s not a one-size-fits-all resolution,” says Dr. Taryn Smith, a Mayo Clinic internist and girls’s well being specialist.
She emphasizes the significance of a personalised medication method to hormone remedy, permitting healthcare suppliers to think about your well being and potential dangers.
Having discussions round menopause is essential as a result of it is usually not a subject that’s overtly mentioned or acknowledged, regardless of its significance and significance, she says. Menopause is a pure organic course of, marking the time {that a} girl ends her menstrual cycle. It is identified after a girl goes 12 months with no menstrual interval.
“Many ladies don’t know methods to navigate menopause and the signs that come together with it, comparable to hot flashes and night time sweats. Hormone remedy is used to handle many of those signs,” says Dr. Smith. “But it surely’s not for everyone.”
Watch: Dr. Taryn Smith talks about hormone replacement therapy
Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites with Dr. Smith can be found within the downloads on the backside of the posts. Identify tremendous/CG: Taryn Smith, M.D./Inner Medication/Mayo Clinic
Menopause signs and hormone remedy
Hormone therapy is used to handle signs of menopause, comparable to sizzling flashes, night time sweats, hassle sleeping, and irritability.
“For the typical wholesome girl, these choices are very protected. But when there are any issues about these danger elements, it’s finest to seek the advice of your doctor or your ladies’s well being specialist,” she says.
Remedy choices
Hormone remedy is a prescribed medicine that may come in several types, together with patches, gels, sprays and oral medicines.
These choices could embody “A patch you put on on the pores and skin, virtually like a bandage within the decrease groin or over the buttocks. We now have gels you can rub into the inside thigh and sprays that may be sprayed on the forearm. We even have some oral choices. With all of the choices obtainable, sometimes, we will discover a good possibility that meets the typical girl’s wants,” says Dr. Smith.
Anticipated outcomes
After beginning hormone remedy, ladies can count on reduction from signs. In lots of instances, sizzling flashes might be fully resolved, bettering the lady’s high quality of life.
“Typically, we’re capable of fully resolve sizzling flashes. But when we can not fully resolve them, we hope to get vital reduction not less than and assist a girl restore her high quality of life,” she says.
Security issues
Whereas there are security issues related to hormone remedy, comparable to potential dangers of breast most cancers, stroke, or coronary heart illness, it’s typically protected for the typical girl who’s near the menopause transition and youthful than 60.
“For the typical wholesome girl, these choices are very protected. But when there are any issues about these danger elements, it is best to seek the advice of your doctor or your ladies’s well being specialist,” says Dr Smith.
For many who are unable to take hormone remedy or select to not, there are FDA-approved nonhormonal treatments for menopause signs. Speak together with your healthcare crew to seek out out what’s the best choice.