Category Archives: Hormone Replacement Therapy

Two of the biggest questions we get about hormone replacement therapy are What is it? Is it healthy? Your concerns are important to us, so heres a quick breakdown that illustrates exactly what we do:

In fact, they are actually very simple: bioidentical hormones are hormones that are chemically identical to the natural ones your body once produced in larger quantities. The chemical structure, behaviors, and interactions of bioidentical hormones are identical to those that naturally occur in your body.

Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (NHRT or HRT) is the use of bioidentical hormones like estrogens, progesterone, and/or testosterone to treat imbalances and deficiencies. While it is normal for your body to gradually decrease (or even stop) the production of these important hormones over time, it is important to remember that we are at our healthiest when our hormones are at natural optimal levels.

Hormone imbalances and deficiencies present themselves as various symptoms. NHRT works to alleviate your hormone imbalance symptoms, including a mix of:

We understand how exhausted, frustrated, and oftentimes embarrassed you currently feel. Unlike other doctors, we:

Meet Tim, who is now happier and more intimate with his wife thanks to hormone replacement therapy:

We truly believe that Hormone Replacement Therapy can be the spark to change your life around. Our goal is to empower you to overcome the dreaded symptoms of menopause and andropause. We want you to feel youthful again, whether that means adding a little romance back into your most intimate relationships, having the energy to hit the gym or play with your kids or grandkids, or even sleeping more soundly than you do now. Our program is here to serve your needs and add energy and joy back into your health, happiness, and relationships.

Research has found that low hormone levels directly impact your energy, muscle and fat mass, metabolism, libido, cholesterol level, blood pressure, and development of illness and diseases like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. This is exactly why we require comprehensive bloodwork to start our program. More often than not, we find more than just hormone issues. Luckily, by using natural hormone replacement, we are able to bring your body and health back into balance to get you off statin drugs that can have negative long-term effects on your body.

We hear it almost every day You saved my marriage. Many patients come in because as they age, they dont quite feel as healthy as they used to. In a month or two, they see a transformation in their health, energy, mood, and libido. Intimacy issues from vaginal dryness to erectile dysfunction to low desire all improve or vanish altogether. As one spouse improves, we soon see the other walk through our doors!

The easiest way to get started is to fill out a health history form. Our providers will look over your goals and health history before contacting you to get your initial bloodwork scheduled.

People with an underactive thyroid have Hypothyroidism. This metabolic imbalance has symptoms like:

PCOS is difficult to diagnose because symptoms vary from woman to woman. Many women with PCOS experience weight gain or obesity, as well as acne, hairiness, and insulin resistance. You can learn more here or take a free PCOS self-assesment.

Vitamin D and DHEA deficiencies are linked to symptoms like:

Men begin Andropause (male menopause) in their 30s and 40s, and often struggle with:

This is most often because of a decrease in testosterone, but can also be due to a lack of blood flow from aging or surgery. We have a revolutionary 3-step approach to revitalizing your intimacy read more here.

As women age, estrogen levels slowly decline. Women who have experienced menopause, a hysterectomy, or chemotherapy will see a more dramatic drop in their estrogen levels. This lack of estrogen results:

We mostly use small pellets to deliver the hormones into your body. Pellets are:

After the first pellet insertion, peak lab levels are drawn around 4 weeks. Our providers then review the results to ensure an appropriate hormone dosage is prescribed. Youll then come in every 3-6 months (depending on your medical history) for a recurring pellet insertion.

Our medical providers use a local anesthetic to make the procedure essentially painless. The whole process only takes a few minutes.

We also offer topical testosterone creams that are applied daily to the genitals. Only a small percentage of our patients are using creams, because:

Bioidentical hormones are superior to synthetic hormones, which have been altered in a lab to resemble our natural hormones. Pharmaceutical companies alter these hormones so they can obtain patent protection on the product. This allows them to obtain FDA-approval, acquire insurance coverage, and generate and protect profits. Natural hormones, on the other hand, cant be patented since they are naturally-occurring.

As an example, the structures below represent the differences between natural progesterone and Provera (a synthetic progesterone from Pfizer). Unfortunately, since Provera has been altered, there are a lot of risks because our bodies cant completely break down the synthetic hormone, leaving a free radical structure. This ultimately increases the chances of cancer and other comorbidities. To reiterate, these risks are NOT found in bioidentical progesterone or other NHRT hormones.

Another example: Testosterone

We understand that the majority of doctors are unaware of the differences between hormone replacement therapy vs. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy and unfortunately often associate the risks of the first with the second.

We also understand that providers cannot specialize in every facet of medicine, specifically in this case, hormone therapy. At Your Wellness Center, we do not specialize in OB/GYN and therefore would not offer specific medical advice when it comes to that field. We would suggest that you go see a specialist. In terms of Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, we are that specialist.

We are up-to-date on the latest evidence-based research and studies. Every provider at YWC attends numerous conferences a year specifically geared towards BHRT and the evolution of the practice. We can provide you with the most current medical literature regarding the use of HRT to promote health and wellness.

Ultimately, the patient should understand that they are in charge of their health and should educate themselves on any treatments they undertake.

Yes, we are normally able to help you feel better because our providers interpret lab results differently than traditional methods. We want to treat you and the symptoms you have, so we dont base our medical decisions on whether your blood draw number falls within the normal range on a piece of paper. We see men and women every day who come in with normal lab results but theyre still experiencing a myriad of symptoms that are associated with a low level! This tells our providers that you are not part of this normal population, and therefore shouldnt be treated as such.

Our experienced providers will work with you to improve your quality of life, bring your lab levels to the best optimal range possible, and ensure that you are being treated as an individual, not just a number on a piece of paper.

Of course! We strive to be on the forefront of hormone optimization research, and believe that using bioidentical hormones are the best step to helping our clients improve their quality of life. To this end, we are proud to be a part of a select group of physician practices with an advanced-level training in the newly established Advanced Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (ABHRT) Certification Program. This allows us to use specialized pharmacies called Compounding Pharmacies to prescribe natural progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol for clients.

Our typical client comes to us between the ages of 30-65. They are usually experiencing symptoms associated with menopause and andropause (male menopause). Each patient experiences a unique mixture of symptoms. Some hormonal changes happen overnight, while others can be a gradual change over multiple years or even a decade.

But there is one universal truth: no one knows your body like you do. If you think something is wrong or missing, trust what your body is telling you.

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Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy | Your Wellness ...

What is hormone replacement therapy?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is also known as Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) or Menopausal Replacement Therapy (MRT). It's a therapy that relieves some symptoms of menopause, which is a normal part of aging for women. Certain forms of hormone replacement therapy carry higher risks of side effects such as breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Hormone replacement therapy normally occurs in the form of a medication with hormones that replace what is lost during menopause (Medical News Today).

Hormone replacement therapy may be administered in several ways. There is a form called system hormone therapy which uses pills, skin patches, gels, creams and/or sprays to relief severe symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats. Estrogen administered via hormone replacement therapy may also ease symptoms such as vaginal dryness, itching, burning, and discomfort during intercourse (WebMD).

Hormone replacement is still approved for treating osteoporosis, or the thinning of the bones, but there are other more effective treatments that a doctor is likely to prescribe (eMedicineHealth).

Hormone replacement therapy isn't recommended as often anymore for long-term prevention of postmenopausal symptoms, in part due to side effects and increased risk of heart disease. Other side effects include difficulty detecting breast cancer via mammogram due to breast tissue which grows denser, and an increased risk of breast cancer when HRT is used for long periods of time (several years).

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Hormone Replacement Therapy: FSA Eligibility

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the dinner party equivalent of politics and religion: a subject with strong and divided opinions certain to evoke spirited debate. Conflicting clinical data and discrepancies among studies have left the medical community with little to agree on. With a bevy of misinformation on the internet adding to the confusion, women, particularly those who have had a female cancer, may have no idea whether its safe to consider HRT to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, fatigue, bone loss, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and difficulty sleeping.

Women considering HRT should carefully consider the pros and cons unique to their personal health history, experts say. Its a trade-off of risks versus benefits. In addition to cancer, there are other issues, such as blood clots, that can occur. But there are circumstances when HRT may help control menopausal symptoms and improve a womans quality of life. In addition to reducing symptoms of menopause, HRT has other health benefits, such as a decreased risk of colon cancer and osteoporosis, saysJustin Chura, MD, Chief of Surgery & Director of Gynecologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery at our Philadelphia hospital.

But for women who have had estrogen-positive breast cancer, HRT is not advised, he says. And for those with a history of ovarian or endometrial cancer, Dr. Chura says he would only consider prescribing HRT for very short-term use by young women with very bad menopausal symptoms. That advice is consistent with recommendations issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which advises women who have or have had certain cancers such as breast cancer or uterine cancer not to use HRT and cautions those who opt for the therapy to take the lowest dose necessary to relieve symptoms for the shortest period of time needed.

HRT typically involves estrogen-only or combination therapy, which contains both estrogen and progestin. Though the treatment has been around for decades, its popularity has waxed and waned as new information has surfaced. Between 1960 and 1975, HRT soared in popularity, until two 1975 studies found an increased risk of endometrial cancer, the New England Journal of Medicine reported in 2007. More concern followed in 2002, with the results of a large, long-term Womens Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trial that studied 27,347 U.S. women ages 50-79 between 1993 and 1998 and found an increased risk of breast cancer. In 2013, an update to the Womens Health Initiative Hormone Trials was published, this time with 13 years of data for researchers to study, and the investigators concluded that HRT may remain a reasonable option for the short-term management of menopausal symptoms for younger women.

Breast cancer organization Susan G. Komen credits the WHI study for showing that taking estrogen plus progestin for more than5 years did more harm than good, noting that combination HRT raises the risk of both breast cancer and breast cancer death.

When women take these hormones, their risk of having an abnormal mammogram increases within the first year of use, the Komen website states. And, their risk of breast cancer increases within the first5 years of use. The risk of breast cancer goes up slightly with each year a woman takes estrogen plus progestin. Small yearly increases in risk can add up over time. Some large studies havefound women who use estrogen plus progestin for5 or more years (and are still taking it) about double their breast cancer risk.

Komen points tomultiple studiesthat suggest a 30 percent increase in breast cancer risk for women using estrogen-only HRT. A 2011 National Cancer Institute summary of the WHI study found that, in addition to an increased risk of endometrial cancer in women with an intact uterus who take estrogen-only HRT, women on combination HRT were more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and the breast cancers in these women were larger and more likely to have spread to the lymph nodes by the time they were diagnosed.

Other evidence-based risks associated with HRT, according to the National Cancer Institute summary of the WHI results, include urinary incontinence, dementia, blood clots, stroke and heart attacks. The studies also found mammography exams to be less effective in detecting breast cancer early in women who used either combination or estrogen-only therapies.

No matter her situation or eventual decision, each woman should talk to her doctor about whether its safe and appropriate for her to consider using HRT, Dr. Chura says. Even if she does opt to take it, HRT remains a short-term solution. Its probably not a good idea to take it for more than three to five years, Dr. Chura says, noting other options are available for women to consider cycling through before resorting to HRT, such as vaginal moisturizers, lubricants and certain antidepressants and anti-seizure medications that may help with hot flashes and mood swings. He encourages women to speak to their doctor about hormone therapies with lower rates of absorption (patches, sprays and vaginal rings, for example) that may be safer than systemic, oral therapy.

It comes down to why a woman is taking HRT medication, says Dr. Chura. For women whose symptoms are making her quality of life miserable, short-duration hormone therapy may be very appropriate. For others, it may not be an option. Talk to your doctor.

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Consider risks before using hormone replacement therapy ...

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment used to relieve symptoms of the menopause. It replaces female hormones that are at a lower level as you approach the menopause.

Themenopause, sometimes referred toas the "change of life",is when a woman's ovaries stop producing an egg every 4 weeks. This means shewill no longer have monthly periods or be able to have children naturally.

The menopause usually occurs when a woman is in her 50s (the average age is 51 in the UK), but some women experience the menopause in their 30s or 40s.

Read more about the menopause.

Oestrogen and progesterone (see below) arefemale hormones that playimportant roles in a womans body. Falling levels cause arange of physical and emotional symptoms, including hot flushes, mood swings and vaginal dryness.

The aim of HRTis to restore femalehormone levels, which can bring relief to many women.

Oestrogen helps to release eggs from the ovaries. It also regulates a womans periods and helps her to conceive.

Oestrogen also plays a part in controlling other functions, including bone density, skin temperature and keeping the vagina moist.It is areduction in oestrogen that causes most symptoms associated with the menopause, including:

Most symptoms will pass within 2 to 5 years, although vaginal dryness is likely to get worse if not treated. Stress incontinence may also persist and the risk of osteoporosis will increase with age.

The main roleof progesterone is to prepare the womb for pregnancy. It also helps toprotect the lining of the womb, known as the endometrium.

A decrease in thelevel of progesterone does not affect your body in the same way as falling levels of oestrogen. However, taking oestrogen as HRT on its own when you have a womb increases the risk of womb (uterus) cancer, sometimes called endometrial cancer.

A synthetic form of progesterone, called progestogen,isusually used in combination with oestrogen in HRT.

However, if youhave had ahysterectomy (an operation to remove your womb), youdo not need progesterone and can take oestrogen-only HRT.

Read more about the different types ofHRT.

Tablets, patches or implants are only needed if you have menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, and have weighed up the benefits and risks of treatment.

There are many different combinations of HRT, so deciding which type to use can be difficult. Your GP will be able to advise you.

There are several ways HRT can be taken, including:

If you are only experiencing vaginal dryness, you will probably be recommendedoestrogen preparations that can be applied directly to your vagina.

As the dose of oestrogen is so low, you do not require the protective effect of the progestogen. Local oestrogens do not carry the same risks associated with systemic combined HRT.

Local oestrogens can be in the form of:

Most women are able to stop taking HRT after their menopausal symptoms finish, which is usually two to five years after they start.

Gradually decreasing your HRT dose is usually recommended, rather than stopping suddenly. You may have a relapse of menopausal symptoms after you stop HRT, but these should pass within a few months.

If you have symptoms that persist for several months after you stop HRT, or if you have particularly severe symptoms, contact your GP because treatment may need to be restarted, usually at a lower dose.

After you have stopped HRT, you may need additional treatment for vaginal dryness and to prevent osteoporosis (brittle bones). Read aboutthe best ways to prevent osteoporosis.

Creams and lubricants are available for vaginal dryness, as are local oestrogen preparations (see above).

You can start HRT as soon asyou begin to experience menopausal symptoms. However, HRT may not be suitable if youare pregnant or have:

If you have irregularperiods, this will also need to be diagnosed before HRT is used.

Read more about who can use HRT.

If you are unable to have HRT, different medication may be prescribed to help control your menopausal symptoms.

Read more about alternatives to HRT.

Hormones used in HRT can have associated side effects, including:

Read more about possible side effects of HRT and how to ease them.

Over the years, many studies examining the benefits and risks of HRT have been carried out.

The main benefit is that it is a very effective method of controlling menopausal symptoms, and it can make a significant difference to a womans quality of life and wellbeing.

HRT can also reduce a womans risk of developing osteoporosis and cancer of the colon and rectum. However, long-term use is rarely recommended, and bone density will decrease rapidly after HRT is stopped.

Combined HRT slightly increases the risk of developing breast cancer, womb cancer, ovarian cancer and stroke. Systemic HRT also increases your risks ofdeep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism(blockage in the pulmonary artery).Other medicines are available to treat osteoporosis that do notcarry the same level of associated risk.

Most experts agree that if HRT is used on a short-term basis (no more than five years), the benefits outweigh the risks.

If HRTis taken for longer, particularly for more than 10 years, you should discuss your individual risks with your GP and review them on an annualbasis.

Read more about therisks of HRT.

Read this article:
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - NHS inform

Diagnosis of USMI is typically based on signalment (breed, age, sex), history, and lack of other causes of incontinence found during physical examination. Most commonly USMI is seen in spayed dogs of medium to large size. Certain breeds are predisposed to this condition including Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, English Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, Irish Setters, Old English Sheepdogs, Rottweilers, and Weimaraners. Other factors that predispose to this condition include docked tail and obesity.

The gold standard diagnostic test is a urethral pressure profile. For this test a urinary catheter is placed in an awake or lightly sedated dog and removed at a constant rate while warm sterile water is infused. The pressure generated in the urethra is then measured. This is a 15-30 minute procedure that requires no anesthesia.

Once a diagnosis is made, your veterinarian will prescribe your dog the necessary medicines to treat USMI: Estrogen (DES) and/or Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), an alpha-1 adrenergic agonist. DES is prescribed as a daily pill and then slowly tapered to a low dose maintenance schedule. PPA may be used in addition to DES and will also be tapered to a maintenance schedule from a three time per day dose.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy in Dogs - WagWalking

The decision to start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a big step for many women. Some wonder about the benefits of HRT, while others worry about possible effects from the treatment. Almost every woman who considers hormone replacement therapy appreciates information on the pros and cons of the therapy.

Approximately 80 percent of women who go through menopause experience symptoms and about one-fourth of these women experience severe symptoms of menopause. The symptoms of menopause can be more severe than many women anticipate, and symptoms can last longer than expected too. Night sweats and hot flashes can last for more than seven years in more than half of all women!

Doctors often prescribe hormone replacement therapy to treat moderate to severe menopause symptoms. Despite the benefits of HRT, only a small percentage of women in menopause use hormone replacement therapy.

Menopause is a time that marks the end of menstrual cycles. It means that a woman can no longer bear children because her ovaries, which produce eggs, no longer produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and a woman stops ovulating.

Menopause generally begins when a woman is in her late 40s or early 50s. The average age of menopause is 51 in the United States.

Symptoms of menopause can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. These symptoms can often interfere with a womans daily life. Menopause symptoms primarily include hot flashes, sleep problems due to night sweats, and vaginal changes, primarily dryness. Symptoms vary according to the levels of estrogen and progesterone, which tend to fluctuate as the ovaries stop functioning.

Hormone replacement therapy provides a number of benefits for women, especially for women suffering from symptoms of menopause. First, hormone replacement therapy helps women feel better. HRT also protects against bone loss and many other health conditions.

Hormonal fluctuations during peri-menopause cause uncomfortable symptoms HRT can alleviate those symptoms to help women feel more comfortable. Hormone replacement therapy is exceptionally good at relieving hot flashes, particularly at night.

HRT can improve vaginal health. Decreased moisture production can cause vaginal dryness. Loss of elasticity, coupled with vaginal dryness, can cause pain and even slight bleeding during intercourse. Reduced sensation may affect libido as well. Hormone therapy can help relieve dryness and increase moisture and sensation, making sex more pleasurable. Loss of tissue elasticity can affect the vagina and urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside world. Loss of elasticity here can cause sudden, frequent and strong urges to urinate. It can even cause urinary incontinence, which is the leaking of urine from the bladder. Women in menopause may even have urinary tract infections (UTIs) more frequently. Hormones help maintain elasticity and muscle tone in the bladder and urethra, helping resolve embarrassing symptoms.

HRT protects bones. Estrogen, produced by the ovaries, helps keep bones strong. Estrogen decreases sharply when a woman reaches menopause and this leaves her vulnerable to osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weak bones. Osteoporosis increases the risk of bone fractures of the hip and spine. In fact, one in every two women over the age of 50 will suffer a bone fracture due to osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Hormone replacement therapy restores estrogen to levels high enough to protect bones from osteoporosis and fractures. Maintaining estrogen levels after menopause essentially stops bone loss.

Hormone replacement therapy can protect women from other health problems too. Estrogen is important to heart health, for example, so when estrogen drops because of menopause, the risk of heart problems increases. HRT can even reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Hormone replacement therapy can even present unexpected benefits that everyone can love. These HRT benefits include boosted collagen production, increased skin thickness, and decreased wrinkles that defy the signs of aging. Hormone replacement therapy even lowers the percentage of body fat and decreases fat around hips and thighs.

As with all medications, hormone replacement therapy does present a risk of side effects. The main concern for women is an increased cancer risk. This is where the type of hormones used is key. Synthetic progesterone, marketed under the brand name Provera, for instance, increases breast cancer risk.

However, bio-identical progesterone actually decreases breast cancer risk as well as an endometrial cancer risk. The use of estrogen therapy may cause the uterus to grow, which increases the risk of uterine cancer; but this is only if a woman does not take progesterone to counter the effects of estrogen on the uterus.

Because of the potential for side effects, the choice to undergo hormone replacement therapy should be done only with a physician trained in bioidentical hormones. Not synthetic hormones, which can be risky. Working with a professional who can provide a personal assessment of healthcare wants and needs is helpful. A doctor can prescribe a personalized hormone replacement therapy to fit a patients needs, reduce their symptoms, improve their quality of life, and decrease their risk for virtually every degenerative disease of aging.

Want to find out if youre at risk for hormone decline? First, take our scientifically based hormone decline risk assessment completely free (takes no more than 5 minutes).

After completing it, you will find out your risk level for hormone decline and, most importantly, how to proceed with beating your symptoms.Click hereto take the male version, andclick hereto take the female version.

Then, if youre interested in learning more about our comprehensive Age Management & Hormone Optimization program,contact us through this formto schedule your free consultation, or call us at323-874-9355.

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The Pros & Cons of Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) typically refers to the replacement of sex hormones in menopausal women. Women use HRT to help control the symptoms of menopause. Menopause is the stage in a womans life when sex hormone levels fall and her menstrual period stops.

Symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, mood swings, anxiety, decreased sexual desire, fatigue, and headaches. Menopause can also cause thinning bones (osteoporosis).

The two main sex hormones that a womans body makes are estrogen and progesterone. Progesterone is primarily produced by the ovaries and, in pregnant women, the placenta. The ovaries also produce estrogen. Estrogen is responsible for the female sexual characteristics. It is also important for many body processes, such as maintaining a healthy heart and bones.

A woman who has had her uterus removed by hysterectomy may receive estrogen alone for HRT. A woman who still has her uterus must receive progesterone in addition to estrogen for HRT. Progesterone signals the uterus to shed its liningsimilar to a menstrual period. This decreases the risk of uterine cancer.

HRT is only one method of controlling the symptoms of menopause. HRT involves some health risks. You may have other treatment options that involve less risk. Discuss all the treatment options with your doctor or healthcare provider to understand which options are right for you.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy | Types of HRT & Alternative ...

Many women do not need treatment for their menopause symptoms. You may find that your symptoms go away by themselves. Or you may not find the symptoms uncomfortable. If you are bothered by your symptoms, talk to your doctor or nurse about ways to relieve them. You can work together to find a treatment that is right for you. Some women find that changing their eating habits and getting more physical activity can help. Others may need medicine to help relieve their symptoms.

If your menopause symptoms bother you, talk to your doctor or nurse. Your doctor or nurse can suggest medicines to help with your symptoms. All medicines have risks, and your doctor can help you figure out which medicines are best for you.

Menopausal hormone therapy is prescription medicine to help relieve your menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, if they are severe enough to disrupt your daily life. Menopausal hormone therapy is sometimes called hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy.

During menopause, your ovaries make very low levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Menopausal hormone therapy replaces some of the hormones no longer made by your ovaries with artificial estrogen and progesterone.

Topical (TOP-ih-kuhl) hormone therapy is usually a low-dose estrogen cream applied directly to the vagina. It relieves vaginal dryness but does not help with other symptoms, such as hot flashes. It also is available as a vaginal ring, insert, and gel. The risks of topical hormone therapy are different from the risks of menopausal or hormone replacement therapy.

Menopausal hormone therapy, sometimes called hormone replacement therapy, is safe for some women, but it also has risks. That is why the FDA advises women who want to try menopausal hormone therapy to use the lowest dose that works for the shortest time needed.

Research shows that:1

Menopausal hormone therapy may not be safe for some women. You should discuss your risks with your doctor if you have:2

The FDA recommends that women take estrogen-only or estrogen plus progesterone menopausal hormone therapy at the lowest dose that works for the shortest time needed.

Talk to your doctor to weigh the risk and benefits of menopausal hormone therapy based on your symptoms, age, and risk factors.

Companies that make bioidentical hormone therapy use the term bioidentical to suggest that their products are exactly the same as natural hormones. Many of these companies also claim that their products are safer than menopausal hormone therapy. However, the FDA does not recognize this term or regulate these products. No studies have been done to evaluate how safe or effective these products are.

Talk to your doctor or nurse before trying any bioidentical hormone therapy.

Some women report relief for hot flashes and other menopause symptoms with complementary or alternative therapies. Talk to your doctor or nurse before taking any herbal or vitamin supplement. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements in the same way they regulate medicines. Many supplements can interfere with medicines and make them work incorrectly or not at all.

Some research studies show relief from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms with these herbal supplements, but other studies do not. Many herbal supplements should not be used with other medicines. Some herbal supplements women use for menopause symptoms are:3

Research continues on these and other alternative ways of relieving menopause. Talk to your doctor or nurse before trying natural remedies.

This content is provided by the Office on Women's Health.

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Menopause treatment | womenshealth.gov

A molecular breast imaging slide shows breast cancer, indicated by the arrow. The Mayo Clinic hide caption

There's another round of bad news today for hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Women taking a popular drug to alleviate post-menopausal symptoms increase their risk of dying from breast cancer, according to new results from a major government study.

On top of news in recent years that HRT doesn't protect against heart disease and that it increases the risk of breast and lung cancer, more women and their doctors will be taking a long hard look at this today.

It's been eight years since the big study called the Women's Health Initiative knocked the props out from under one of the biggest drug pitches of all time that HRT could allow women undergoing menopause to hold onto their youth, and prevent ills such as heart disease.

The first results from the WHI, back in 2002, showed hormone replacement doesn't prevent heart disease. And it does raise the risk of breast cancer.

But only now can the WHI answer one of the big questions about hormone replacement therapy: Does it cause more women to die from breast cancer? And that answer is yes.

The latest study out of the WHI says women who took a popular combination of estrogen and progestin called PremPro may have twice the risk of dying from breast cancer as women who took a placebo. The report appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The new study an 11-year followup of about 13,000 WHI participants confirms that hormone replacement raises the risk of breast cancer.

Many experts had hoped that the kind of breast cancers caused by hormone replacement would be less aggressive and more curable.

Hugh Taylor, chief of reproductive endocrinology at Yale University, told the Washington Post:

"This really is a paradigm shift. There was a whole group of people, including myself, who had been thinking hormone use was associated with an increased detection of breast cancer but not necessarily an increase risk of death from breast cancer. But this really nails it," he said.

According to the report, the breast cancers diagnosed among those on hormone replacement were more likely to be advanced at the time of diagnosis than those among women on a placebo. This partly because estrogen supplements make breast tumors harder to diagnose.

A note of caution, though: The increased risk of death from breast cancer is small. For every 10,000 women, about three die of breast cancer among hormone replacement recipients versus about two among those who didn't take the supplements, the study shows.

But when you multiply this among the millions of women who once took hormone replacements six million at the peak the impact is sobering.

After the first results of the Women's Health Initiative came out in 2002, about half of the women being followed stopped taking hormone replacement therapy and the nation's breast cancer rate fell sharply.

Some experts think deaths from breast cancer will decline in the next few years as a result of these women abandoning hormone replacement.

But millions of women still take hormones for the bothersome hot flashes and sleepless nights of menopause. Sales of Prempro still total $1 billion a year.

Pfizer, which makes the drug, says the company stands behind Prempro's current labeling, which advises the lowest effective dose for the shortest period of time. Regarding the risk, the statement reads, in part:

... hormone therapy is among the most thoroughly studied medicines and the increased risk of breast cancer compared to placebo has been included in Prempros label since its introduction in 1995. This analysis does not alter that risk, nor does it dispute hormone therapys effectiveness. FDA describes hormone therapy as the most effective FDA approved medicine for relief of hot flashes [and] night sweats."

But in the wake of the new HRT report, some experts wonder if there's any way to tell what a safe course of hormone replacement is.

One of the authors of the new study, Dr. JoAnn E. Manson, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Womens Hospital, said women should not take the hormones unless they really need them.

The data suggest it is cumulative long-term use, Dr. Manson said. Women should avoid long-term use. I think thats the bottom line, she told The New York Times.

But Dr. Peter Bach of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center says there are no studies to support the safety of short-course hormone replacement. In a JAMA editorial, Bach says it's all well and good to tell women to talk it over with their doctors.

"But the reality is that informed decisions are not valid," Bach writes, "when the information underlying the decision is itself speculative."

Meanwhile, more than 9,000 lawsuits have been filed against the company by women who claim the drugs caused breast cancer. Recently, the Supreme Court declined to take up an appeal by the company, leaving the matter up to state courts.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy Raises Risk Of Death From Breast ...

The hormonal changes that come with age can have a significant impact on both men and womens moods, energy levels, and overall health. Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy offers people a safe and easy way to feel like their old selves again.

The Aesthetic Medicine & Anti-Aging Clinics of Louisiana are dedicated to providing the highest quality of hormone replacement therapy to patients in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas. Our practices lead physician, Dr. Howell, has 11 years of experience delivering high-quality hormone therapies to his patients. If youd like to learn more about his practice or are interested in scheduling a consultation appointment, contact us today.

Over time, the levels of many essential hormones can begin to deplete. While these changes are a natural part of the aging process, they can cause men and women to look, feel, and act differently than they normally would.

Hormonal imbalances can cause a wide range of adverse side effects, including:

Fortunately, many or all of these side effects are eliminated when a patient begins hormone replacement therapy. This revolutionary new treatment allows both men and women to restore their hormone levels to normal and lead healthy, active lives at any age.

Hormone replacement therapy begins with a blood analysis. This gives our practices lead physician, Dr. Howell, a more precise idea of exactly what hormones each patient is lacking and need to be supplemented through hormone replacement therapy. Our practice offers two primary methods of hormone replacement therapy: testosterone replacement and HGH therapy.

Testosterone plays a vital role in both men and womens overall health and well-being. It plays an important part in maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and sex drive. While testosterone is present in larger amounts in men, women also need it for a wide variety of physical and mental functions. If its found that a patient has low levels of testosterone, testosterone replacement can drastically improve that patients overall health and happiness.

Human growth hormone, or HGH, is vital for regulating body composition, fluids, as well as muscle and bone growth in both men and women. Without it, it can be difficult for patients to sleep or maintain proper immune system functions. Deficiencies in HGH are often caused by complications during surgical or radiation-based procedures.

HGH therapy can help restore a persons HGH levels to normal, restoring proper body functions.

When experience counts, choose Dr. Howell to administer your hormone replacement therapy. Contact the Aesthetic Medicine & Anti-Aging Clinics of Louisiana today to schedule a consultation appointment. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Hormone Replacement Therapy - Baton Rouge, Lafayette