Hormone Replacement Therapy
For many years, the debate on whether to use estrogen and progesterone to replace hormones lost during menopause has seemed to have finally cooled. Although many studies were conducted that said that HRT not only helped calm the effects of menopause, but would also reduce the risks a Alzheimer's disease, these studies have now been replaced with others that state the opposite.
So what does this mean for those with menopause? It means that every case is unique and you should seek a doctor who can give you an honest opinion about HRT. Many doctors today feel that in severe cases a very low doses of HRT may help relieve symptoms brought on by menopause. Doctors warn, however, that these doses should be short-term only.
HRT does not work for everyone. There are other ways to combat symptoms of menopause. Diet, exercise, reducing stress, and living your life despite that fact that you have menopause are more effective ways to reduce the effect of the symptoms.
But if you are still looking into HRT, there are a few things you should do before beginning any treatment.
- Always consult a doctor
- Talk with others who have had HRT
- Find out all the information you can
- Decide if it is better to just wait it out instead of taking any medication
Look into your family history also and see if any types of cancer are present. Some studies suggest that HRT may cause cancer. Have regular check-ups with your doctor to monitor your body's reaction to HRT.
