Hormone Replacement Therapy: An Effective Treatment For Menopausal Symptoms
Hormone replacement therapy, better known as postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy or menopause hormone replacement therapy, is a medical form of therapy used to address symptoms associated with women approaching menopause. It has been found that hormone replacement therapy can reduce the severity of many symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, vaginal dryness and night sweats. In addition to reducing these symptoms, hormone replacement therapy can also help to extend life expectancy, increase bone density and improve quality of life. The treatment of hormone deficiencies can be performed by using supplements and other alternative methods such as dietary supplements, hormone injections, and topical creams and lotions.
While hormone therapy can provide relief from symptoms of menopause, it cannot prevent a recurrence of menopause or prevent the development of a secondary menopause, which occurs when hormone deficiencies occur again. In addition, while hormone replacement therapy can help to relieve the symptoms associated with hot flashes and vaginal dryness, you may still need hormone replacement therapy to offset the negative effects of a secondary menopause. If you regularly use HRT and develop osteoporosis or high blood pressure, these symptoms may need to be treated separately. For example, if you experience severe headaches due to hypertension, you may need to use HRT to offset the effect of hypertension on your eyes.
Women approaching menopause often experience several symptoms that occur simultaneously. They include vaginal dryness, night sweats, hot flashes and weight gain. In order to determine the need for hormone replacement therapy to address these symptoms, a physician needs to examine your symptoms. A health care professional familiar with andropause symptoms will most likely do an exam called a gynecologic exam. During this exam, which may last for two to four hours, your doctor will collect samples of vaginal fluid, uterine blood, saliva and other vaginal secretions.
The fat reduction doctor will also review your medical history and conduct a series of tests to determine your hormone replacements, if you are receiving them. These tests will typically include blood tests, urinalysis, urine tests and a few ultrasound treatments. Some doctors may also request additional blood tests during the course of menopausal treatment to confirm hormone replacement therapy is recommended.
As part of the process of determining whether hormone replacement therapy is appropriate, your physician will also perform an endometrial biopsy. This examination uses a laparoscope to collect cells from within the uterus to study the effects of estrogen and progesterone on the female reproductive system. Many women experience an abnormal growth of tissue known as a tumor at this stage of menopause; this is the reason why you will undergo an endometrial biopsy. Once the doctor has found out if you are experiencing tumors, they will be able to determine if you are a suitable candidate for taking hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone replacement therapy is usually used to treat some of the most common symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats. It can be very effective in treating other symptoms such as vaginal dryness and night sweats. However, some women choose not to take this form of treatment because they are afraid that it will reduce the quality of their sexual life. In addition, some women are concerned with the possible side effects that could occur when taking human growth hormones. Visit this website at http://edition.cnn.com/health for more info about health.
