It can take up to 3 months for menopausal symptoms to go away when you start hormone therapy, although they usually get better faster than this. Some changes may be subtle, and you may not realize that your symptoms are going away until you look back in time. Usually, noticeable changes start to appear after a few weeks and up to 3 months to feel their full effects. It's important to recognize that the effects may be gradual and continue for several years. Our medical specialists formulate the hormones you take based on your specific needs to optimize the outcome of your treatment.
Some people begin to notice the benefits of hormone therapy within days of starting treatment. However, it may take two weeks or more before they notice the full benefits of the therapy. As your hormones level out, your energy levels and libido should increase. You should also notice more mental clarity, less frequent mood changes, and less night sweats and hot flashes. If you don't see a significant difference in your symptoms within two weeks, our providers can adjust the dose of hormones you're taking.
It usually takes about eight weeks to begin to feel the full effects of BHRT. This is the average time for most hormonal imbalances, whether you're a woman going through menopause, a man who's on testosterone replacement therapy, or someone seeking treatment for any other type of hormonal problem. There's no single answer to this question, but our own research has shown that, after four weeks of hormone therapy, women reported a 58% reduction in the severity of their symptoms. Symptoms may start to improve almost immediately: some people feel relief within a few days and most notice improvement within two weeks.
If you start hormone therapy and don't feel any relief after two to four weeks, your healthcare provider will want to know if this could mean you need a different dose or a little longer. Often, treatment leads to a progressive decrease in the severity of symptoms during the first few months. In general, most people take hormone replacement therapy for five years or less. However, there's no set duration and it can vary depending on the severity of your symptoms, the type of hormone replacement therapy you're taking, and your preferences. Health professionals use hormone therapy to medically treat people who have hormone-related conditions or symptoms.
Once you've decided to try menopausal hormone therapy, it's likely that you feel nervous and excited. The initial prescription is usually a starting point, as health professionals monitor hormone levels using blood tests. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) patches are sticky, medicated patches that contain hormones such as estrogen. Health care providers also call it hormone therapy (HT), especially when you receive treatment after age 50.
Call the nearest walk-in primary care clinic office to schedule a hormone therapy consultation or schedule an appointment online. Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment option for hormonal imbalances that develop with age or due to existing health problems, such as a thyroid disorder. Because early estrogen loss increases the risk of many conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, people who lose estrogen before age 40 are at risk of heart disease if they don't use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We do in-office blood tests to identify a hormonal imbalance and customize your hormone therapy plan to help you find quick and lasting relief from your symptoms.
This is because you should not overdo the dosage your provider wants to prescribe to give you the lowest dose of hormone therapy to provide effective symptom relief. It's important to make the decision to take hormone therapy after talking with your healthcare provider. Compound hormones aren't well studied, and healthcare providers aren't sure about their long-term effects.
