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February 25, 2022

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopause Relief: Is It Right for You?

As you age and your estrogen levels naturally decrease, the symptoms of menopause can begin to appear. Hot flashes, trouble sleeping, moodiness, and weight gain are just some of the changes you may begin to notice as your body begins to make this transition.

If you are currently experiencing these symptoms and are looking for relief, Dr. Susan Fox’s Center for Women offers hormone replacement therapy to help you feel normal once again. By balancing out your body’s hormones, you can feel relief from menopausal symptoms and live your regular life.

However, this treatment isn’t suitable for everyone. Here’s what you need to know about hormone replacement therapy and how a Well Woman Exam can determine what treatment will work for you.

What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?

As you grow older and enter menopause, your body will produce less estrogen. Hormone replacement therapy is what it sounds like—it aims to replace the estrogen that your body has lost to relieve the symptoms that come with menopause, such as hot flashes and sexual dysfunction. Even postmenopause hormone replacement therapy can help, as it has prevented bone loss and reduced fractures in postmenopausal women.

There are several different types of hormone replacement therapy, so the kind of medication, the dose, and the length of treatment all depend on your symptoms, medical history, and reaction to the treatment. Some doctors prefer to perform a more extensive and comprehensive analysis to determine the best treatment for you, including an analysis of your diet, your genetics, your blood, and more.

There are two main types of estrogen therapy, systemic hormone therapy and low-dose vaginal products. Systemic estrogen comes in pills, skin patches, rings, gels, creams, or sprays. They typically contain a higher dose of estrogen that your body directly absorbs to treat any of the common symptoms of menopause.

Woman applying hormone patch onto upper arm.

Skin patches are a common form of systemic estrogen therapy.

Low-dose vaginal products, on the other hand, come in cream, tablet, or ring form, which minimizes the amount of estrogen your body absorbs. This is why low-dose vaginal preparations are usually only for treating the vaginal and urinary symptoms that may come with menopause.

If you haven’t had your uterus removed, your doctor will likely prescribe estrogen along with progesterone or progestin. This treatment course is because estrogen alone, when not balanced by progesterone, can stimulate the growth of the uterus lining, increasing the risk of endometrial cancer. But if you’ve had a hysterectomy, you may not need to take progestin.

Just like with any medicine or medical treatment, there are risks associated with hormone replacement therapy, so it’s crucial to find a physician who will thoroughly assess your situation and your body’s needs to give you the best treatment possible. A Well Woman Exam is the first step to determine if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.

Hormone Replacement for Menopause | Dr. Susan Fox

Depending on your symptoms, our hormone replacement therapy may not be the best option for you. Still, our physicians will be more than happy to work with you to create a treatment or lifestyle plan to help relieve your symptoms. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, age, medical history, and other factors, our physicians will prescribe the best dosage for you. With decades of experience, our team has the experience and knowledge required to make your visit an informative and comfortable one.

At Dr. Susan Fox’s Center for Women, we want to put your health and wellbeing first, so we’ll be happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have about our treatment options. If you’ve been looking for a way to relieve your menopause symptoms, come visit us!

Schedule your Well Woman Exam by calling us today or make an appointment right on our site!

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