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Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy is sometimes used for women of a “certain age”, (usually over 40) who are heading towards the menopause. As women get older their periods stop (the menopause), it’s the natural progression of things – baby making time is over and time to get knitting for your grandchildren - but in the years leading up to it all sorts of funny things can start happening – the “is it hot in here or is it me?” hot flashes for one thing, can cause years of discomfort, then there can be problems with vaginal dryness, anxiety, depression, mood swings, headaches. Pretty soon your body shape changes and the inevitable (well, I try to tell myself it’s inevitable) menopausal muffin top appears bursting out over the top of your belt.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

The menopause is kind of puberty heading in a different direction,  and just think what happens when hormones start raging in teenagers, well, when you head towards the menopause (the change) your body starts to change in different ways, and very often, hormones which your body should (and usually does) produce naturally can become in short supply.  This is why some of these hormones may be replaced, to help to make the situation a little better.

Hormones Replaced in Hormone Replacement Therapy

• HRT Oestrogen – As women approach the menopause, levels of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone fall, and the ovaries stop producing eggs. Periods (menstruation) stop and it is no longer possible to conceive. However, these hormones are important for other things too. Oestrogen plays the role of releasing the eggs from the ovaries, but true to female form (I thought I’d get that one in) it does other things, it’s a “multi-tasking hormone”, important for bone density, skin temperature and keeping the vagina moist.  The risk of osteoporosis can increase dramatically with age.
• HRT Progesterone- this has the main job of preparing the womb lining in case of pregnancy. Once levels of progesterone start falling it doesn’t have as much of an effect as reduced levels of oestrogen, but there are problems nevertheless. It can seriously increase the risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the womb lining).

Hormone Replacement Therapy is generally a mixture of the two.

Risk involved with Hormone Replacement Therapy

HRT –  just like anything else, isn’t suitable for everybody and does come with its own set of potential problems. It may increase your risk of breast cancer, strokes and heart disease for starters, so that’s some serious set of risks I’m sure you’ll agree. The majority of experts agree that when used for a short period of time (say, less than 5 years) then the benefits can usually outweigh the risks, but when taken for prolonged periods, say up to 10 years, then the risks need to be reviewed with your medical expert every year.