What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy, also commonly called HRT, is the therapeutic use of synthetic hormones, most commonly estrogen and progesterone after menopause or after a hysterectomy. These synthetic hormones are prescribed by a doctor and are used to replace natural hormones that a woman's body no longer produces. Many women are able to use HRT to ease the unpleasant side effects caused by menopause, early menopause or forced menopause due to hysterectomies.

After menopause or following a surgical hysterectomy, the body is no longer able to produce certain hormones. A doctor might choose to prescribe hormone replacements to control the undesirable symptoms of menopause. Doctors that prescribe hormone replacement therapy to a woman will carefully consider the woman's healthy history before making the choice.

When looking into HRT, it is important to understand that there are both advantages and disadvantages of using hormone replacement therapy following menopause or a hysterectomy. Many doctors and researchers believe that these replacement hormones can reduce the risk of both heart disease and osteoporosis. In addition, HRT can also help reduce the undesirable side effects of going through menopause. Hormone replacement can be used to ease the short-term symptoms that women experience during menopause. These can include restless sleeping, night sweats, hot flashes and mood swings. Women often suffer from osteoporosis and it is believed that the use of HRT can decrease the rate of bone loss. In addition, using hormone replacement therapy might be good for preventing other age-related illnesses such as colon cancer, macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease.

The disadvantages of hormone replacement therapy are that the use of these synthetic hormones might increase the risk of certain types of breast cancer in women who are high risk. Women who have a personal history of breast cancer, or who have breast cancer in the family are usually discouraged from taking hormone replacement therapy. HRT also may increase the risk of endometrial cancer, but with a combined therapy of both progestin and estrogen, this can be avoided.

In addition, the use of hormone replacement also has undesirable short-term effects. Women wishing to avoid these side effects could benefit by talking to their doctor to find the right amount of therapy needed. Many women who take replacement hormones report vaginal discharge and bleeding, swelling due to fluid retention, tender breasts, nausea and headaches. Some report weight gain while taking hormones, but research shows that this is not the case. Women who gain weight while taking hormones are not gaining weight from the drug, but because their metabolism slows down as they age.

If you are facing menopause or a hysterectomy, your doctor can advise you whether or not hormone replacement therapy is right for you. Your doctor will take all facts into consideration before making a decision about hormone replacement therapy. Some women might benefit from short-term replacement therapy, while others need a prolonged period of time on hormones. When you are undergoing HRT, your physician will also monitor you closely for any possible long-term side effects.

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