BHRT can be continued safely for as long as a woman wishes to maintain the quality and vitality of her health period. Once the body stops producing sufficient levels of hormones due to aging, those hormones don't return on their own. There is no one-size-fits-all recommendation for how long you should continue with BHRT.
While some providers suggest short-term use at low doses, current research doesn't support a specific time limit for treatment.
On the contrary, the decision to continue, or eventually stop, BHRT is a very personal one and must be made in collaboration with a knowledgeable provider. Many women choose to take HRT for a much longer period of time than a few years.This is often because they feel better and have more energy when taking hormone replacement therapy; they also want to protect their future health from long-term conditions associated with low estrogen levels, such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. All women taking hormone therapy should have an annual review with their doctor or nurse. If you are still healthy and feel the benefits of taking hormone replacement therapy, there's no reason to stop taking it. Women are often surprised when menopausal symptoms return after stopping hormone therapy, even women who have taken it for many years.
As we've already mentioned, menopausal symptoms can last for more than a decade. There is some evidence that shows a slight increase in the risk of heart attack or stroke during the first year after stopping hormone therapy. As always, decisions about your health should be made by weighing all the relevant information and deciding what's best for you, and in consultation with your healthcare professional. Bioidentical hormones are used to help people manage menopausal symptoms or other hormonal imbalances.
Some bioidentical hormones are not approved by the FDA. All hormone replacement therapy has risks. Bioidentical composite hormones may pose a greater risk because their effects are not well studied. Talk to your healthcare provider about the advantages and disadvantages of hormone replacement.
And most importantly, know that you don't need to live with the unpleasant symptoms of a low hormone level. Your provider can help you manage your symptoms safely. You can choose to continue taking HRT. The doctor or nurse who prescribes HRT can talk to you about the benefits and risks so you can decide what's right for you. for you.
