Hormone Therapy: A Guide for Women Navigating Menopause
Menopause is a natural stage in every woman’s life, but its symptoms—such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness—can be disruptive and uncomfortable. We understand how these changes can affect your daily life and overall well-being. Hormone Therapy (HT) is a treatment option that can help alleviate these symptoms and improve your quality of life. Here's what you need to know about HT and how it might benefit you.
What Is Hormone Therapy?
Hormone Therapy involves supplementing your body with hormones—primarily estrogen and sometimes progesterone—that decrease during menopause. These hormones help manage menopause symptoms by addressing the underlying hormonal changes.
There are two primary types of HT:
Estrogen Therapy: Typically recommended for women who have had a hysterectomy.
Combination Therapy: Estrogen and progestin (the synthetic form of progesterone) are used together to reduce the risk of uterine cancer in women who still have their uterus.
Benefits of HT
HT can significantly improve the quality of life for women experiencing moderate to severe menopause symptoms. Some key benefits include:
Relief from Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Systemic estrogen therapy (with or without progestin) has been shown to be the best treatment for hot flashes and night sweats.
Bone Health: Systemic estrogen protects against the bone loss that occurs early in menopause. This can help prevent osteoporosis.
Vaginal and Urinary Health: Both systemic and local estrogen therapy relieve vaginal dryness.
Is HT Right for You?
HT is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and its appropriateness depends on your personal health history and symptoms. Your OB-GYN will consider factors such as:
Your age and how recently menopause started
The severity of your symptoms
Your medical history, including risks of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, or blood clots
Family history of certain conditions
Types of Hormone Therapy Options
There are two types of hormone therapy, depending on whether you take one hormone or two:
Estrogen only. Estrogen is the primary hormone used in hormone therapy. Sometimes, it is called simply “estrogen therapy.”
Estrogen plus progestin. If you have never had a hysterectomy and still have a uterus, you also will need a hormone called progestin. Taking progestin helps reduce the risk of uterine cancer that can occur when estrogen is used alone. There is some evidence that adding progestin may also improve hot flashes. Estrogen plus progestin is sometimes called “combined hormone therapy.”
Your OB-GYN will help determine the best delivery method for your lifestyle and symptoms.
Understanding the Risks
While HT has many benefits, it is important to understand the potential risks, which can include:
An increased risk of blood clots, particularly with oral estrogen.
A slightly elevated risk of breast cancer with long-term use of combination HT.
Potential cardiovascular risks in some women.
Many of these risks are related to your health and family history. If you are thinking about hormone therapy, it is important to discuss your options and the risks with your OB-GYN to develop a personalized treatment plan.
Alternatives to HT
If HT isn’t the right choice for you, there are alternative treatments available, such as:
Non-hormonal medications for hot flashes and mood regulation.
Lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet, exercise, and stress management.
Natural remedies, like soy-based products or black cohosh, though these should be discussed with your doctor.
Take the First Step Toward Relief
Navigating menopause doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We’ve launched a new Midlife Wellness focus and encourage patients to reach out to schedule in-person or tele-health visits to discuss concerns, symptoms and possible treatment options.
