The type of hormone therapy that's right for you depends on a number of factors, such as whether you've had a hysterectomy, your stage of menopause, and your personal situation. The type of hormone therapy that's right for you depends on a number of factors, such as whether you've had a hysterectomy, your stage of menopause, and your personal preferences. Even after you've decided to undergo estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), decision-making isn't over. There are many types of estrogen therapy in many different forms: pills, patches, suppositories and more.
The best type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) depends on your health condition, your symptoms, your personal preferences, and what you need to complete treatment. For example, if you still have a uterus, you will be given estrogen in combination with the hormone progestin. You can take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) if you have menopausal symptoms, including during perimenopause and after your periods stop (postmenopause). The type of hormone therapy that's right for you depends on what stage of menopause you're in find.
Learn more about the types of HRT If you have menopausal symptoms that bother you, consider talking to a GP about starting HRT.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT
) is not a treatment that fits all treatments; the type and dose given will vary depending on your needs. There are many different combinations available, which can be taken in a variety of ways: oral tablets, skin patches (such as band-aids), gels or sprays. The optimal type of hormone replacement therapy is the same as that of the body: the hormones are the same as those that occur naturally in the body.There are many different types of hormone replacement therapy available. This means that the dose and type of hormone replacement therapy can be modified to fit your individual health needs and risk factors for other conditions, for example, if you have had a blood clot in the past or if you have high blood pressure. Many women want to take “natural” products for menopause, but how do you define the term “natural”? There are many plant-derived drugs available, so they are “natural”, but they are often not safe and have been shown to be harmful to the body. For example, while black cohosh has been shown to have some benefits in treating hot flashes, some types of black cohosh have been shown to be associated with liver toxicity.
The optimal estrogen in HRT is a type of estrogen called “17 beta estradiol”. It is an estrogen identical to the body and has the same molecular structure as estrogen, which decreases in the body during menopause. Estrogens are safer to administer as a patch, gel, or spray because they are absorbed directly through the skin and have fewer side effects and risks. These types of estrogens can be given safely to women with migraines and those who are at a higher risk of clot formation, since the use of these types of estrogens does not increase the risk of clot formation.
It's also natural because it's derived from a plant chemical that's extracted from yam plants. Some types of older hormone therapy contain a mix of different types of estrogen and are made from the urine of pregnant mares. This type of hormone therapy could be described as “natural”, but it is not identical to the rest of the body, since it contains many types of estrogen that the body does not need. Today, doctors rarely prescribe this type of hormone replacement therapy.
There are many different types of progestins (synthetic progesterone) available to women. If you still have a womb (uterus), it's important to be prescribed a progestogen along with estrogen for HRT. When you take estrogen, the lining of the uterus can build up, which can increase the risk of cancer. However, taking progestogen or progesterone prevents this build-up, meaning there's no increased risk of cancer when taking hormone replacement therapy.
The other hormone that many women consider to be beneficial to replace is testosterone, which is actually produced by the ovaries in larger quantities than estrogen, before menopause. Testosterone can improve mood, energy, stamina, motivation and also libido. It is usually given in the form of a gel or cream and is also identical to the body. In summary, the safest types of hormone replacement therapy are estrogens, which are applied through the skin in the form of a patch, gel, or spray with micronized progesterone identical to that of the body.
Many women also benefit from testosterone, which can help if you're forgetful or have trouble focusing at work. If you want to take hormone replacement therapy and you think it would benefit you to take it, you should ask at your first appointment to be prescribed hormone replacement therapy. Most women benefit from hormone therapy, and women can start taking it during perimenopause. In general, no woman is too old to start taking hormone replacement therapy, and even if it's been many years since menopause, you should be able to continue taking it.
Try to leave the room with as many questions answered as possible, ask your doctor if he has any brochures or information he can share with you, and see if you need a follow-up appointment. NICE guidelines recommend a review three months after your first visit, but you should request an earlier review if you have side effects or if the treatment doesn't seem to be working. If you don't start to feel better after three months or if your symptoms return, this is usually a sign that you need to adjust your dosage or even try a different type of hormone replacement therapy. It may help alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes and low mood, although some studies have suggested that it may not be as effective as combined hormone replacement therapy.
According to studies, people who used HRT tablets were 58% more likely to develop a blood clot within 90 days than those who didn't use HRT. If you have a premature menopause (before age 40) or an early menopause (before age 4), it's especially important to take HRT or the combination pill. If you need both estrogen and progestogen, your routine for taking HRT depends on several factors, such as if you're in the early stages of menopause and are still having periods (perimenopause) or if you haven't had a period for 1 year or more (postmenopause). This is because menopausal symptoms usually improve as you age, so you're less likely to need hormone therapy to relieve the symptoms.
You want to alleviate vaginal dryness and pain from sexual intercourse and not suffer from other symptoms, such as hot flashes, that will not improve with this form of hormone replacement therapy. If you want to continue taking hormone therapy or start taking it after age 60, your GP may recommend taking a low dose and using patches or gel instead of tablets to reduce your risk. You may also be able to use the gel if you have a history of heart problems, diabetes, and blood clots, as this form of hormonal hormone therapy carries fewer risks than the tablet form (you should discuss the pros and cons in these situations with your healthcare professional). One of the easiest and most common ways to take hormone therapy (combined or with estrogen alone) is in tablet form.
It's useful to remember that, in addition to improving symptoms, HRT reduces the future risk of developing diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, type II diabetes and dementia. For symptoms such as hot flashes, you'll usually need to take hormone replacement therapy for 2 to 5 years, but in some cases it can be longer. If you have symptoms such as decreased libido and increased tiredness, it may be worth consulting a health professional about trying testosterone as part of the hormone replacement therapy you're taking.
