As women age, they go through a process of hormonal changes. Peri-menopause is the first part of the process. During this stage, women will experience fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels. These years leading up to menopause can be a hormonal roller coaster.
Once women reach menopause, the reproductive period of their lives is coming to an end. There is no single moment when the ovaries switch off for good, but each stage leads to different hormonal changes that eventually end the cycle of female fertility.
Many women start looking for symptom relief during peri-menopause, leading them to hormone replacement therapy during this stage of life.
What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy includes either a synthetic drug or bio-identical compounded hormone that restores estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in women. Men also undergo hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of low testosterone.
For women with a history of breast cancer or other conditions, it is best to consult with your doctor before starting hormone replacement therapy to determine if it is safe for you. Your doctor will also help you determine which method of hormone replacement therapy would be the best for you.
Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopausal Women
At Mirabile M.D., we offer different hormone replacement therapy options for women. Each type offers different benefits to our patients. We will discuss which option is best for you prior to beginning any treatment at our clinic. At Mirabile M.D. we generally recommend Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) over synthetic hormone therapy options. BHRT offers many different delivery methods allowing us to customize the best option for each person’s particular preference.
Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy for women is a treatment option for those going through peri-menopause and menopause. Bio-identical hormones are compounded to match what each person’s body once produced identically.
Post-menopause is when estrogen levels have dropped significantly, and progesterone levels drop to almost nothing. Hormone replacement therapy is beneficial during this time as well. We can provide hormones in various forms depending on what hormones the patient needs and what works best for their lifestyle. These methods include creams, troches, patches, and pellet therapy.
SottoPelle Therapy: a Pellet Therapy Method
SottoPelle Therapy offers hormones in the form of pellets. SottoPelle pellets deliver a steady, low dose of hormones directly into the bloodstream as the patient needs it.
Currently, SottoPelle is the only treatment option that allows the body to control the release of hormones. Decades of research have shown that bio-identical hormone pellets are the most effective hormone delivery method available when appropriately administered. They are the only form of hormone therapy that closely mimics hormone distribution from a human ovary.
SottoPelle Therapy is the only method we use to treat men in need of hormone replacement therapy.
How Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Help Women Going Through Menopause?
The conversation about menopause has changed. While our grandmothers and mothers were often expected to just deal with the symptoms of menopause, you don’t have to live with these symptoms. Now, hormone replacement therapy is a safe, effective method of treating these symptoms.
Hormone replacement therapy offers many benefits to women. The symptoms of menopause include vaginal dryness, pain during sex, mood swings, hot flashes, and night sweats. These symptoms are caused by the fluctuation of hormones like estrogen and progesterone in the body. For this reason, hormone replacement therapy is the best way to fight these symptoms.
By evening out the hormones in the body, you can reverse hot flashes and night sweats. Additionally, balancing hormones helps with painful sex, because it helps increase moisture in the vagina. By adjusting the levels of hormones in the body, we can generally reduce or eliminate all of the symptoms that menopause causes.
Potential Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy
There are a few potential side effects associated with hormone replacement therapy, including:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Bloating
- Breast tenderness or swelling
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Mood changes
If you have these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor right away.
Women who have a uterus will need to take both estrogen and progesterone, while women who have undergone a hysterectomy can take estrogen only.
How Do I Know If Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Right for Me?
As women enter the menopausal stage, they may wish to speak to their doctors about managing the adverse symptoms. Speaking to a medical professional about your symptoms is the first step in determining whether or not hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women is right for you. Your doctor might refer you to a more specialized hormone therapy doctor or an OBGYN, depending on your symptoms and medical history.
Women experiencing moderate to severe hot flashes, other symptoms of menopause, early menopause, and estrogen deficiency can all benefit from hormone replacement therapy. In some cases, hormone replacement therapy is prescribed for women who need to prevent bone loss of fractures, such as those with osteoporosis.
If you have a history of certain cancers or other reproductive conditions, talk to your doctor to see if hormone replacement is right for you.
If you are interested in learning more about how hormone replacement therapy could help you, contact Mirabile M.D. at 913-888-7546. During your office visit, we will discuss your options based on your medical history and any menopausal symptoms.
