Hormone Replacement Therapy

As women age and become menopausal, they lose their ovarian function and hormone levels decline. This decrease in hormones can often lead to troublesome hot flashes, night sweats, mental fogginess, low energy, body aches, sleeplessness, sexual dysfunction, vaginal dryness, and urinary issues. Many women struggle with menopause and complain of decreased quality of life.

Hormone replacement therapy is designed to replenish the hormones our bodies naturally stop producing with age. Hormone replacement therapy can come in many different forms including patches, creams, lozenges, tablets, and hormone pellets.

Risks of hormone therapy must be weighed against the benefits to quality of life for the individual. It is important to discuss this with your medical provider. Many women feel significantly better taking supplemental hormone replacement and feel improved overall vitality, sexual desire, bone health, urinary symptoms, mental clarity and more.

The most common hormones replaced during menopause are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

• Estrogen replacement helps with hot flashes, bone health, skin and hair, sleeplessness and cognitive function. Estrogen replacement also helps with urinary dysfunction and vaginal dryness.
• Progesterone replacement balances the effects of estrogen in hormone sensitive tissues. It also has a calming effect on mood, treats hot flashes, and helps with sleep.
• Testosterone replacement improves lean muscle mass, libido, energy, and general sense of well-being in women. Some testosterone can also convert to estrogen in the body.