We know that menopause can be scary, but the situation is never hopeless. There are multiple therapies that you can consider which reduce menopause-associated symptoms and health risks!
What Treatment Options Are Available To Me?
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)
Menopausal Hormone Therapy
Antidepressants
Epilepsy Medications
Medications for High Blood Pressure
Currently there are no treatments that kickstart your ovaries and cancel menopause. However, there are treatments that supplement for ovarian sex hormones called hormone replacement therapies, or menopausal hormone therapy for managing symptoms of menopause.
Menopause symptoms and health risks
Once menopause hits, you’ll stop getting periods. (Read more about menopause here.) During this period, you'll experience some uncomfortable symptoms, including:
Irregular periods.
Vaginal dryness.
Hot flashes.
Difficulty sleeping.
Mood swings.
Weight gain. (3)
You'll also experience some heightened health risks for the following diseases:
Heart disease.
Osteoporosis.
Arthritis.
Dementia. (4)
When Will I Start Menopause?
For most women, Menopause begins between the ages of 45-55, but can begin earlier or later. You are considered menopausal when you have not experienced a menstrual period for 12 months.
The period leading up to menopause is called perimenopause, where you can experience irregular periods and symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, etc.
Own Your Menopause!
Visit our website at Timeless and join our waitlist for a time-to-menopause predictor.
We are developing an end-to-end menopause care platform centered around our innovative time-to-menopause predictor to help you start your hormone replacement therapy treatments on time for a smooth menopausal transition.
What are HRTs?
Hormone Replacement Therapies are highly recommended drugs that supplement estrogen and sometimes, progesterone in the body. Most menopause symptoms and health risks are due to a critical drop in estrogen levels, which is why they can be addressed with this estrogen boost!
HRT Is It Safe? Do The Benefits Outweigh The Risks?
It depends! Women are recommended to go on HRTs during menopause but stop taking HRTs after a few years.
There is no real limit to how long you can take hormone replacements, but there have been recent studies that demonstrated an increased risk of cancer and heart disease in postmenopausal women who started taking HRTs a decade after menopause. (6)
Studies done on younger women agree that the benefits of hormone replacement therapies exceed the risks of hormone replacement therapy, especially for those who experience early menopause. (7)
How Can I Prevent The Risks That Come With HRTs?
There are ways you can reduce the risks that come with HRTs, including:
Preventing osteoporosis by increasing levels of estrogen
Lifestyle Changes
Engage in regular physical activity
Maintaining a healthy weight
Managing other chronic conditions you may suffer from
Why You Should Consult a Healthcare Professional; Menopause HRT
For best results, it is important that hormone therapy is tailored to each individual and reevaluated periodically.
The most common type of HRT is taking a combination of estrogen and progesterone, but it is important to work with your healthcare provider to find the best type of HRT for you that minimizes your individual risk factors.
What Are The Different Kinds of HRTs?
With or without progesterone? There are two main types of hormone therapy (HT):
Estrogen Therapy: Here estrogen is taken alone. Doctors usually prescribe a low dose of estrogen to be taken as a pill or patch every day.
Estrogen Progesterone/Progestin Hormone Therapy (EPT): Also called combination therapy, this form of HT combines doses of estrogen and progesterone. (8)
Progesterone is an important hormone in the female body, used to mainly regulate the condition of the inner lining (endometrium) of the uterus.
Menopausal women with a uterus are always prescribed estrogen with progesterone to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. (9)
What are HRT Bioidentical Hormones?
HRT bioidentical hormones are synthetic hormones that are chemically identical to the hormones naturally produced by the human body.
These hormones are derived from plant sources and are designed to mimic the molecular structure of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Why Choose Bioidentical HRT?
Many people opt for hrt bioidentical hormones as they believe they may offer a more natural and individualized approach to hormone therapy compared to traditional synthetic hormones.
It is important to consult with your healthcare provider to discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with using bio-identical hormones as part of your hormone replacement therapy regimen.
What Are The Benefits of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?
HRT Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy offers various benefits, including a potentially more natural and individualized approach compared to traditional synthetic hormones.
There could potentially be less side effects and have an increased function.
What Hormones Are Produced?
These synthetic hormones replicate the molecular structure of naturally produced hormones such as:
estrogen
progesterone
testosterone
Many individuals choose HRT bioidentical hormones to reduce risks associated with hormone replacement therapy and manage chronic conditions effectively.
When considering hormone therapy, it is crucial to consult with your healthcare provider to evaluate the advantages and potential risks of incorporating HRT bioidentical hormones into your treatment regimen.
The Pros and Cons of HRT Hormone Replacement:
Every important decision must be made with a pros and cons list! This treatment is not risk-free. You reduce your risk for several diseases, but you can also increase your risk for others. Here are the main pros and cons of HRT.
The Pros:
Reduced symptoms of hot flashes and night sweats.
Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
Reduced risk of dementia.
Reduced risk of osteoporosis.
The Cons:
Those with health conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, or a history of strokes, ovarian cancer, blood clots, etc. are often not medically permitted to take HRT. This is due to some of the increased health risks and side effects associated with HRTs, such as.
Increased risk of breast/ovarian cancer.
Increased risk of heart disease.
Increased risk of blood clots in the lungs.
Increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Headache, nausea, vaginal bleeding side effects. (3)
The Professional Opinion
Although there is some controversy surrounding HRTs, they are the medical recommendation for menopausal women.
When considering hormone therapy, it is crucial to consult with your healthcare provider to evaluate the advantages and potential risks of incorporating bioidentical hormones into your treatment regimen while taking into account your personal medical history.
Regular monitoring is crucial for women on HRT to evaluate its effectiveness and adjust treatment as needed. This includes follow-up appointments to discuss any changes in symptoms, potential
The Main Benefits of HRT For Menopause
The relief of uncomfortable Menopause Symptoms
Reduce bone loss
Decreased risk of blood clots
Decreased risk of heart disease
Decreased risk of stroke
Decreased risk of breast cancer
The main benefits of HRT for menopause lead to a better quality of life and allow women to get back to activities they enjoy.
Procedures and Frequency of HRT:
For women considering hormone replacement therapy (HRT), it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional who can assess individual risks and benefits.
The frequency of HRT administration and dosage will vary depending on factors such as age, menopausal stage, and overall health. Typically, HRT is started at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration necessary to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
What Dosage Should I Start With?
It is important for women to begin HRT with the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time consistent with their individual goals, as this has been shown to have a favorable benefit-risk ratio for women who initiate estrogen replacement therapy close to menopause. (10)
Key Takeaways
HRTs are recommended to treat menopausal symptoms and associated health risks.
There is no limit to how long you can take HRTs, but it's usually recommended up to a few years after menopause onset.
HRT can be provided through estrogen therapy or Estrogen Progesterone/Progestin Hormone Therapy (EPT).
A dosage of estrogen in combination with progesterone could reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.
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