Understanding Hormone Replacement Therapy and When You Need It

Hormone replacement can help women to stop struggling through menopause. With the right treatment plan, many women can feel better and get back to living.

Hormone replacement therapy, commonly known as HT is one that many women need as they age and go through perimenopause and menopause. In general, this process uses one or more of the female hormones to treat the symptoms women face. The most common treatments include the use of progestin, estrogen and sometimes testosterone. Could it help you?

Symptoms You May Have

Doctors often prescribe hormone replacement as a way of supplementing a woman's lack of production of these hormones. Some women never need this type of treatment. Others require a great deal of help. If you have any of the symptoms that come with menopause that are severe or bothersome, you may wish to consider this treatment option. The most common symptoms related to menopause include vaginal dryness, sleep problems, hot flashes, decreased sexual interest and mood swings. If you suffer from these, speak to a doctor about your condition.

The Benefits of Treatment

Using hormone replacement therapy is beneficial to many women. While not all will benefit, many will see improvement in their overall health and well-being. Most women will see the following benefits from this type of treatment.

- A reduction in the intensity and/or number of hot flashes

- A reduction in the number of night sweats

- Improvement in feelings of anxiety and mood swings

- The ability to sleep more consistently each night

- Improved vaginal comfort

Many women will need to use this type of treatment for several months to several years. However, it is not a permanent solution for most women. After a few years, these symptoms will begin to taper off on their own, especially as the treatment plan begins reducing.

Why You Need It

As you age, your body changes. Moving from the childbearing years to those of later in life requires the changing of hormones in your body. For some women, the reduction in certain types of hormones becomes too drastic. You may suffer symptoms that can be debilitating. With hormone replacement, you can ease through menopause without as many problems and, often times, with more control over the way you feel.

Hormone replacement is not right for everyone. In many situations, the treatment plan can work very effectively for the duration of menopause and even at the start of perimenopause (the months leading up to the onset of menopause.) However, women need to work with a trusted doctor to find out if they require this type of therapy. Your doctor can also help to determine the proper type of therapy based on your symptoms, health and needs. If you are struggling to manage the way you feel, this type of treatment can help you to find a true solution that lasts.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR