Hormone Replacement Therapy

Your doctor or midwife may recommend Hormone Replacement Therapy to help relieve the symptoms of menopause. Choosing whether or not to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be a difficult decision to make. There has been much made of HRT, both pro and con, in the popular press. Your decision should be based on a number of factors including:

1. The severity of your menopausal symptoms and how they are affecting your life.
2. Your individual risk for osteoporosis and heart disease.
3. Your individual risk for cancers of the breast and reproductive system.

Hormone replacement therapy consists of two hormones - estrogen and progesterone. If you have had your uterus surgically removed, then you will only need to take estrogen. Progesterone is added for those with a uterus to cut the risk of uterine cancer that exists with unopposed estrogen (estrogen without progesterone).

Benefits

• Helps to prevent osteoporosis, and can even reverse bone loss that has already occurred.
• May help protect against heart disease - HDL (high-density lipids, the so-called "good" cholesterol) levels increase, LDL (low density lipids, the "bad" cholesterol) levels decrease.
• Relief from menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness and atrophy.

Risks
Unopposed estrogen (taking estrogen without progesterone if you have a uterus) increases the risk of endometrial cancer.

There is the possibility of a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer with prolonged use of estrogen. Many studies have shown no increase in risk. For long-term use, the incidence of breast cancer may rise from 10 per 10,000 women a year to 13 per 10,000 women a year.

Finally...
Menopause is a naturally occurring event in the lives of all women. One third of your life will probably happen after menopause. The symptoms and physical changes that occur with menopause should not prevent you from enjoying this time of your life. Discuss any problems or concerns you have with your doctor or midwife so we can help you stay healthy and happy!

[ return to top ]

meet our physicians  ::   our locations  ::   obstetric topics  ::   gynecologic topics
contact us  ::   make an appointment  ::   hospitals  ::   insurance and billing
our mission statement  ::   what's new  ::   homepage

design by matschca design, inc.
© Mt. Auburn Obstetrics and Gynecologic Associates, Inc.