Questions You Want Answered About Hrt
For women the menopause has been there as long as they have, yet surprisingly there are still many women out there who go through the menopause not knowing anything about it, and just accepting the consequences of their sex and age.
However some women have questions about the menopause they want answering, some want to know what it is, and why these changes are happening to their body, others want to know what HRT is and whether they can take it or not, Hopefully this article will answer some of those questions.
The menopause can be a stressful time for many women; it is often the realization they are not the young women of child bearing age they once were. Many women face their own mortality with the realization they are finally descending into middle age.
When the menopause strikes, many women respond in different ways. Some women sail through with no problems, yet others suffer chronic fatigue or anxiety. They often suffer from hot flashes which can make their life a misery, with night sweats also causing problems for some.
HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy can be offered to most of these women to ensure these symptoms are kept to a minimum.
HRT is a medication which is prescribed for women going through the menopause to assist in reducing the side effects they are suffering. Many women don't need to take HRT, others don't believe in "tampering with nature" but for some it can mean the difference between utter misery and just getting on with their lives.
HRT can be given in several different ways. And most women usually have their preferred method of taking it.
These methods include
* Skin patches
* Pills
* Injections
* Vaginal gels
Benefits of taking HRT include a reduced chance of developing illnesses such as osteoporosis due to lack of estrogen. There are also some reports which suggest that women taking HRT also have a decreased chance of developing Alzheimer's disease and other problems associated with older age.
Many women swear by the effects of HRT, usually reporting dramatic increases in well being in weeks.
However it should be remembered that there can be side effects associated with HRT, some women report headaches, queasiness, or extreme vaginal discharge. Fluid retention can often be a problem. Researchers are still not sure about the long term effects of taking HRT, though an increased risk of developing breast cancer is thought to be highly likely.
At the end of the day, the decision as to whether to take HRT for menopausal problems is a choice only each individual woman can make. However it must be a choice made on informed decisions, and a choice also made in conjunction with their health care provider.