Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a medical treatment used to alleviate menopausal symptoms and treat osteoporosis and prevent breast cancer.

Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats and weight gain. HRT (hormonal replacement therapy) can help alleviate these discomforts and enhance your quality of life.

Different forms of hormone replacement therapy exist:

Systemic estrogen, available in pill, skin patch, ring, gel, cream or spray form, has proven to be highly effective at relieving hot flashes and night sweats; however it comes with some potential side effects.

Estrogen plus progestin – This treatment combines doses of estrogen with a synthetic hormone called progestin that replicates progesterone’s effects.

Liletta, Kyleena, Mirena and Skyla are low-dose intrauterine devices containing levonorgestrel that have been approved to prevent pregnancy and control bleeding during perimenopause.

If you have a uterus, the type of hormone therapy you take matters. Eating estrogen without progesterone increases your risk for cancer of the endometrium – the lining of your womb – by up to 40 percent.

Your doctor will discuss the potential risks and advantages of HRT with you, including any increased risks for heart disease, blood clots or breast cancer. If you decide to take HRT, both of you must reevaluate it periodically in order to make sure that its advantages outweigh its potential drawbacks.