Table of contents
- What is the benefit of hormone therapy in menopause?
- Who are candidates for hormone therapy in menopause?
- Types of hormone therapy for menopause
- Evaluations before hormone therapy for menopause
- Duration of hormone therapy for menopause
- Advantages of hormone therapy Menopause
Menopause is one of the natural stages of every woman's life, which is accompanied by hormonal changes. This period will bring many physical and psychological symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes and decreased bone density. Menopausal hormone therapy as one of the effective treatment methods, by replacing the reduced hormones, helps to control these symptoms and improves the quality of life of women during this period. In the continuation of this article, we have further examined this method from Dr. Stay with us.
What is the benefit of hormone therapy in menopause?
Hormonal therapy (HRT) is one of the most effective methods of reducing menopause symptoms. With the natural decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels, many women experience hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, irritability, and mood swings. By replacing these hormones, hormone therapy helps the body to restore its balance and significantly reduce the severity of these symptoms.
Many women report better sleep after starting treatment. Also, the improvement of their mood and quality of daily life has been improved after this treatment period. Another important benefit of HRT is the improvement of vaginal problems caused by decreased estrogen. Vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, burning and itching are common problems that may affect a person's sexual life and emotional health.
Hormone therapy reduces these discomforts by strengthening vaginal tissues and increasing natural moisture and helps to return to normal function. In fact, hormone therapy is a very effective method to restore hormonal balance and improve the overall quality of life during menopause.
The doctor chooses the most appropriate hormone treatment method for menopause by examining the medical history. hormone therapy for premature menopause
Premature menopause, which usually occurs before the age of 40, has more serious consequences than natural menopause. Early reduction of estrogen increases the risk of osteoporosis, bone weakness and even increases the possibility of cardiovascular diseases.
Hormonal therapy plays an important role in these conditions, because it largely compensates for the effects of estrogen deficiency. For this reason, many experts recommend hormone therapy for women with early menopause until they reach the normal age of menopause. In addition to physical consequences, early menopause may have significant psychological and emotional effects.
Women who enter this stage unexpectedly may experience more anxiety, depression, or feelings of loss of fertility. Hormone therapy helps to improve mental condition and increase quality of life by reducing physical symptoms and stabilizing hormone levels. This treatment also helps women to experience the transition to menopause more calmly.
English text:
Menopause hormone therapy is medicine with female hormones. It's taken to replace the estrogen the body stops making after menopause, which is when periods stop for good. This therapy most often is used to treat common menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal discomfort. This drug is used to replace estrogen that the body stops producing after menopause. Menopause is when periods stop forever. This treatment is often used to treat common menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal discomfort.Who are candidates for menopausal hormone therapy?
In general, the best candidates for hormone therapy (HRT) are women who are younger than 60 years old or who have been menopausal for at least 10 years. In this group, the benefits of hormone therapy usually outweigh its risks, and the possibility of heart complications or blood clots is much less.
Women who have bothersome symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness or reduced quality of life usually benefit the most from this treatment.
For which people menopause hormone therapy is not suitable?
Hormone therapy is not a safe and suitable option for all women. Women with a history of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, or other hormone-sensitive cancers should not usually receive hormone therapy. Because estrogen stimulates the growth of some of these cancers.
Also, people who have a history of blood clots, stroke, heart attack or serious liver diseases are at higher risk and hormone therapy will be harmful for them. In addition, certain conditions such as uncontrolled blood pressure, certain autoimmune diseases, or severe migraines may require extra caution.
In these cases, the doctor usually suggests alternative treatments such as non-hormonal treatments, lifestyle changes, or specific medications to control symptoms. The goal is to provide the best possible management of menopausal symptoms without increasing risks.
Types of menopause hormone therapy
Menopausal hormone therapy is prescribed in different forms and doses depending on the severity of symptoms, individual medical conditions and treatment goals. According to the needs of each woman, the doctor chooses the most suitable type of hormone therapy; to be most effective and to cause the least possible side effects. In general, these treatments are divided into two main groups, each of which has its own application and benefits.
1. Hormone therapy with only estrogen
If you have had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), your doctor will usually recommend treatment with estrogen. The reason is that it is safer to use estrogen alone in this situation because estrogen can only stimulate the growth of the uterine lining, and without progesterone, the risk of uterine cancer increases.
Therefore, it has less long-term risks than the combination of estrogen and progesterone. This method helps to reduce hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Usually, the dose and duration of use are adjusted by the doctor based on the individual's needs.
2. Combined estrogen and progesterone hormone therapy
In women who have a uterus, a combination of estrogen and progesterone is usually used. Adding progesterone to estrogen is necessary to prevent the risk of endometrial thickening and the possibility of uterine cancer. This method reduces menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. The dose and duration of its use are adjusted based on individual conditions and under the supervision of a doctor.
3. Vaginal topical estrogen
Vaginal estrogen cream is used to treat genital and urinary symptoms related to menopause such as vaginal dryness, burning and itching. This type of treatment can also significantly reduce urinary urgency and burning during urination.
best medicine for menopause hot flashes What is it?
Evaluations before menopause hormone therapy
In most cases, hormone therapy can be started at the same time as the onset of menopausal symptoms, and there is usually no need to do preliminary tests. However, in women who are less than 45 years old and suspected of having premature menopause, a blood test should be done to check the level of hormones. With this, menopause or premature menopause can be diagnosed more accurately.
Duration of menopause hormone therapy
Performing this procedure is considered for most women before the age of 60 or in the first 10 years after the onset of menopause; Unless there are special medical conditions. The goal is to reduce the symptoms of menopause with the least risk of side effects, and after some time the treatment is reviewed and adjusted. Every treatment plan should be individualized and under the supervision of a doctor.
The duration of menopause hormone therapy depends on the doctor's diagnosis. Advantages of menopause hormone therapy
The most important advantage of menopause hormone therapy is reducing the annoying symptoms of this period. This method can significantly reduce many common symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats, and improve the quality of life.
English text:
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replenishes women with ovarian hormones diminished during the natural menopausal transition to alleviate associated symptoms, especially hot flashes and night sweats. Traditional HRT typically combines estrogen and progesterone to replicate ovarian hormones.
Persian translation:
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) compensates for women's ovarian hormones that have decreased during the natural course of menopause to reduce related symptoms, especially hot flashes and night sweats. Traditional HRT usually combines estrogen and progesterone to reproduce the ovarian hormones.Complications and risks of menopause hormone therapy
Menopausal hormone therapy can reduce the unpleasant symptoms of menopause, but the use of estrogen is associated with some side effects. Most of these symptoms are mild and often resolve on their own within a few weeks. Following a healthy lifestyle and simple care can help reduce these complications. Common side effects of hormone therapy include:
- Headache
- Breast pain or tenderness Unexpected vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Feeling nauseous
- Mood changes, including low mood or depression
- Cramps in leg muscles
- mild rash or itching
Benefits of hormone therapy (HRT) in menopause Complications, risks and limitations of hormone therapy Significant reduction in hot flashes Headache Reduction in night sweats Pain or sensitivity Breast Improved sleep disturbance Unexpected vaginal bleeding or spotting Reduced irritability and mood swings Feeling nauseous Improved mood Mood changes including low mood or depression Elevated Quality of daily life Leg cramps Improvement of vaginal dryness Boils or mild itching Reduction of pain during sex Diarrhea Reduction of vaginal burning and itching Hair loss Increase of natural moisture Vagina usually the side effects are mild and transient Strengthening of vaginal tissues need to review medical records before starting restoring hormonal balance not suitable for all women reducing symptoms caused by decreased estrogen and Progesterone Contraindicated in history of breast cancer Improving emotional health related to vaginal problems Contraindicated in history of endometrial cancer Help reduce common symptoms of menopause Caution in porphyria Replacement of reduced hormones Ovary Caution in severe active liver disease — Caution in hypertriglyceridemia — Risk in thromboembolic disorders — Contraindication in vaginal bleeding Undiagnosed — Precaution in endometriosis In this table, the benefits and side effects of hormone therapy in menopause are compared. Contraindications and precautions for menopause hormone therapy
Hormonal therapy is not suitable for all women and is dangerous in some situations. Before starting hormone therapy, the doctor checks the medical records to ensure the safety of the treatment. Contraindications and precautions include:
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History of breast cancer
- History of endometrial cancer
- porphyry
- severe active liver disease
- Hypertriglyceridemia (high blood fat)
- Thromboembolic disorders (risk of blood clots) Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding Endometriosis
Conclusion
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is the most effective option for managing symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and genitourinary syndrome, and the benefits usually outweigh the risks in women younger than 60 or less than 10 years postmenopausal. The first key point is early initiation of treatment with the lowest effective dose and transdermal route to reduce the risk of thromboembolism and stroke. Second, hormone therapy prevents osteoporosis and improves quality of life. Third, breast cancer risk is low with short-term use and may decrease with estrogen only. For the next step, consult with a gynecologist or endocrinologist to develop a personalized plan based on your age, medical history, and symptoms. This cautious approach ensures long-term health.
Your doctor takes care of your health!
Frequently Asked Questions
Starting hormone therapy at age 60 or older or more than 10 years after menopause increases the risk of some complications. gives But if the treatment is started before the age of 60 or in the first 10 years after the onset of menopause, the benefits usually outweigh the possible risks.
Little scientific evidence shows that stopping hormone therapy causes weight loss. In fact, recent research studies have shown that hormone therapy does not usually cause a significant change in body weight during or after menopause.
Yes, in early menopause (before age 40) or premature menopause (Before the age of 45), it is very important to do hormone therapy or take combined pills. This treatment increases the level of estrogen and prevents osteoporosis and some other problems.
No, there is no specific and fixed duration for hormone therapy. Continuing or stopping the treatment is a completely individual decision that should be determined by evaluating the health status and the doctor's opinion. Even if a few years have passed since menopause, you can still decide to start or stop hormone therapy.
If you have trouble swallowing the pill or are likely to forget to take it, the skin patch option is It is more suitable. Patches can reduce the possibility of some side effects such as indigestion, and unlike pills, they do not increase the risk of blood clots.
