Menopause is a period in a woman's life when menses (or periods) are paused (or stopped,) which is how the term came about - Meno-Pause. It is diagnosed when a woman does not have a period for 12 consecutive months. The ovaries regulate menses, and as women age, the ovaries begin to shut down and no longer make hormones.

There is usually a transition phase from regular menses to menopause; that transition stage is called Peri-menopause (or Menopausal Transition.) These menopause symptoms may appear during perimenopause, meaning some women may have menopausal symptoms but continue to have regular periods. Other symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, memory fog, inability to concentrate, mood irritability, and low libido.

Once in menopause, women become infertile. The symptoms then peak at menopause and can continue up to post-menopause. Some women may start sooner, while some may start later. These symptoms can be very bothersome and affect the quality of life, so Hormone Replacement Therapy is an option for women seeking treatment. It replaces the hormones that the ovaries are no longer making. Visit our clinic to learn more about menopause hormone therapy in Homewood, IL.

What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?

When women begin to transition into menopause, the production of estrogen and progesterone from the ovaries begins to decline. Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment that helps replace these hormone levels.

These changes in your hormone levels can make you experience various symptoms, such as: feeling hot and cold, sweating a lot, inability to fall asleep, vaginal dryness, memory fog, and mood changes. However, you will need to consult our gynecologist to determine whether you are a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy.

Types of Hormone Therapy

There are various types of hormone replacement therapy and many different delivery systems. These hormones can also be combined in different forms depending on the patient. They include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These medications can be combined or given separately depending on your particular need.

Estrogen Therapy

Normally, our health care provider will provide you with a low dose of estrogen treatment if you do not have a uterus anymore. During this therapy, you only get to take estrogen. The estrogen medicine provided can be in different forms depending on the main symptom of menopause you are dealing with. For example, it may be prescribed as a pill, a cream, a gel, or a vaginal ring.

Pill

These include: Premarin and Estradiol are common prescription drugs. Most of these pills are taken once a day. The lowest effective dose is used, so this may need to be titrated up until your symptoms are better controlled.

Patch

This type of treatment is usually placed on the abdomen's skin. However, depending on the prescription given by your doctor, patches can be worn either for a week or restored after a few days. Samples of estrogen patches include Climara and Alora. Some women choose this for convenience.

Pellets

This is a bio-identical hormone in powder form that is compressed into a pellet. This can then be injected into the fat of the body to dissolve into the body slowly. This tries to mimic how the hormone is delivered into the body naturally; it bypasses the liver and reduces the side effects seen with the pills and the patches. This can be mixed and matched for the patient's exact symptoms. This route is also convenient as it is every 3 months and does not require a daily pill or a weekly application.

Vaginal Estrogen

Vaginal estrogen may be prescribed as cream and vaginal ring. These treatments are for women experiencing pain and discomfort during sexual activity. Examples of vaginal estrogen include E-string (a vaginal ring), Estrace and Premarin (creams), and Vagifem and Yuvafem (vaginal tablets.) Nearly all vaginal rings must be replaced after two to three weeks, while creams are used daily by the doctor's prescription.

Estrogen Progesterone Therapy

Your health care provider prescribes both estrogen and progesterone doses according to your medical history. This is called combination hormone therapy. This therapy is mostly recommended for women who still have their uterus to protect it from the adverse effects of estrogen, i.e. uterine cancer. This also comes in the form of a pill, patch, cream, and pellet form.

Testosterone Therapy

If the main menopausal symptom you have is loss of libido, this might be the right option for you. It does not have the side effect profile of the estrogen or the estrogen-progesterone combination. Some of the testosterone is converted to estrogen in the body, but the level is to a lesser degree than taking estrogen therapy. This also comes in the form of a pill, patch, cream, and pellet form.

What Are the Menopausal Symptoms?

When you start experiencing the following symptoms, you should seek medical attention. They include:

• Lack of sleep or disruption of your sleep
• Vaginal dryness that causes pain and discomfort during sexual activity
• Mood swings, irritability, and depression
• Frequent night sweats and hot flashes
• Decrease in your libido
• Hair loss
• Memory fog, difficulty concentrating

Menopausal hormone therapy has several benefits; for instance, estrogen helps bone health, and loss of estrogen can lead to bone loss. Bone loss can cause fractures that can affect the quality of life, i.e., hip fracture or vertebral fracture. Estrogen replacement reduces bone loss risks and fractures in women during menopause. In addition, it can help you sleep better at night, reduce the frequency of hot flashes, reduces vaginal dryness make sex more enjoyable for women, reduces the frequency of UTIs after sex, and many more.

Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy aids many women in getting through menopause. Some of the benefits of hormone therapy include both physical and mental benefits.

Physical Benefits

Hormone replacement therapy treats menopausal symptoms, but it also improves the quality of life. It reduces the risk of osteoporosis by reducing the rate of bone loss in menopause

Hormone therapy also improves your quality of life by improving your sleep patterns. This treatment also ensures a healthy weight in postmenopausal women. Systemic hormone therapy is also useful in reducing hot flashes.

Mental Benefits

Hormone replacement therapy can help reduce mood swings and improve mental health. After the treatment, you should regain your mental strength, be more alert, and have improved memory. Undergoing therapy also increases the quality of sleep and restores psychological functions.

Risks Associated With Hormone Replacement Therapy

Although hormone therapy will help you to cope with menopause, it has health risks which include:

• Increased risk of blood clots which may lead to stroke.
• Increased risk of heart attack
• According to the WHI study, it can potentially increase the risk of breast cancer.

Most of these risks were seen with combination hormone therapy.

The risks of taking testosterone therapy include increased hair growth under the chin and hormonal acne. These can be reduced with a DHT blocker to block these side effects.

Are You Looking for a Hormonal Replacement Therapy Doctor in Homewood? Visit DARDUR Gynecology Today. 

Women often go through a challenging life cycle, hence the need for comprehensive support regarding their health. During menopause, our bodies start producing fewer hormones hence the need for proper hormonal replacement therapy. We have extensive support measures to help women maintain their health.

Dr. Taiwo Durowade has years of experience and extensive knowledge in practicing hormonal therapy and enjoys educating patients about their health. Services offered in our clinic are personalized and exceptional and invested in preventive medicine that helps women lead healthy lives. Our clinic can help you seek menopause hormone therapy in Homewood; book an appointment by contacting DARDUR Gynecology.

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