Category Archives: Hormone Replacement Therapy

Overview of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone therapy is a treatment for women going through menopause.

The hormones estrogen and progesterone help regulate a womans menstrual cycle. They also play an important role in bone health and support other functions in a womans body.

As a woman goes through menopause, her levels of estrogen and progesterone drop. This can cause hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help ease these symptoms. The therapy uses estrogen by itself or with progestin, the synthetic version of progesterone.

HRT can also be used to treat conditions that disrupt normal production of estrogen and progesterone, such as premature ovary failure. This therapy is effective for some women. However, for others, the risks may outweigh the benefits.

Hormone replacement therapy is also known as estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). A different type of hormone therapy exists for men who have breast cancer.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) under the Womens Health Initiative conducted a major trial that tested continuous estrogen-plus-progestin HRT for post-menopausal women. The study found that the estrogen-plus-progestin supplements resulted in (NIH, 2004):

Researchers found that this therapy put post-menopausal women at risk for severe health problems. They stopped the trial to protect the womens health. However, the risk and benefits to women with other conditions affecting their hormone levels may be different. Discuss your risks with your doctor before you consider HRT.

Talking with your doctor about hormone therapy is the first step in discovering if its right for you. According to the Mayo Clinic, the benefit of HRT may outweigh the risks for healthy women if they (Mayo, 2012):

HRT is a short-term therapy for menopausal symptoms. Therapy typically lasts one to two years. It may last longer than five years for conditions such as premature ovarian failure.

HRT can be delivered via:

Talk to your doctor about which delivery option would be best for you. You should not undergo HRT if you smoke.

As you begin HRT, youll notice your menopausal symptoms decrease in severity or stop completely.

Your doctor may adjust your dosage levels in follow-up appointments. Women should only take the lowest dose of hormones to prevent problems.

Menopausal women should adopt a healthy lifestyle, including:

Contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns during your therapy.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

For many years, doctors routinely prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the treatment of menopause and menopausal symptoms, as well as to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Then in 2002, the results of a large, government-funded study called the Women's Health Initiative raised serious questions about HRT's benefits and risks, causing up to two-thirds of women who were on it to stop using it. So what is HRT, is it an appropriate menopause treatment, and if so, when, and for whom? Read on to find out answers to common questions about this popular but controversial menopausal symptom treatment and whether it might be right for you.

What is hormone replacement therapy? HRT is a treatment used to augment the body's natural hormone levels, either in the form of estrogen-alone therapy (ET), for women who have had a hysterectomy (or surgical menopause) or as estrogen with progesterone therapy (EPT), for women who experience menopause naturally at midlife.

Why replace hormones? In addition to thickening the lining of the uterus to prepare it for egg implantation, estrogen in tandem with progesterone serves many functions. It helps the body to process calcium (important for the strengthening of bone), aids in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, and keeps the vagina healthy. With the onset of menopause, however, the amount of natural estrogen and progesterone the ovaries produce drops sharply. That, in turn, can lead to such symptoms as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, mood changes, and sleep problems. It also can boost the risk of osteoporosis. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can help relieve menopause symptoms and guard against osteoporosis.

When is estrogen therapy alone appropriate? Estrogen alone is generally prescribed for women undergoing surgical menopause (the result of a hysterectomy).

When is estrogen/progesterone therapy appropriate? The combination of estrogen and progesterone is for women who still have a uterus (that is, those who have not had a hysterectomy). For women undergoing menopause naturally, taking estrogen alone can increase the risk of developing cancer of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus). That's because during the reproductive years, endometrial cells are discharged during menstruation, but when menstruation ceases and the endometrium is no longer shed, the addition of estrogen can cause an overgrowth of uterine cells, which, in turn, can lead to cancer. Adding progesterone (in the form of progestin, a synthetic version of the hormone) lessens the risk of endometrial cancer by causing the endometrium to shed each month.

Who should consider HRT? Women with moderate to severe menopausal symptoms, as well as those with a family history of osteoporosis, are candidates for hormone replacement therapy.

Who should not consider HRT? Women with breast cancer, heart disease, liver disease, or a history of blood clots, as well as women without menopausal symptoms, are not candidates for hormone replacement therapy.

When should a woman begin HRT treatment, and how long will treatment last? Although the average age of menopause onset is 51 and, in many women, the most severe symptoms often last for two to three years, there are no hard and fast rules about when a woman reaches menopause or about the duration of her symptoms. Doctors say that taking a low-dose treatment the most effective way to get HRT's benefits while limiting the possible increased risks of heart disease and breast cancer identified by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) for up to five years is reasonable. "We would say if you have moderate to severe symptoms that are sufficient to interfere with your life, then by all means take hormone replacement therapy but not for more than four or five years" at most, says Jacques Rossouw, MD, director of the WHI. "And in most cases, it's not even necessary to take it that long."

How is HRT given? Both ET and EPT are available as a pill, a gel, a patch, and as a vaginal cream or ring (the latter two are most often recommended only for isolated vaginal symptoms). Some doctors say there is reason to believe that a low-dose transdermal patch is the best delivery method because it sends the hormones directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the liver and therefore reducing potential metabolic risk factors.

The bottom line on HRT Hormone replacement therapy is not the cure-all it was once thought to be, but for more severe cases, it remains the best bet for treating menopause's unpleasant symptoms and improving quality of life. "That's something I don't think anybody would dispute," says Dr. Rogerio Lobo, MD, an OB/GYN on staff at New York City's New York Presbyterian Hospital. "Just remember to go with the lowest possible effective dose, for the shortest possible period of time."

Learn more in the Everyday Health Menopause Center.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy: What Women Need to Know ...

Menopause Symptoms

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stppler, MD Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Some of the symptoms of menopause can actually begin years before menstrual periods stop occurring. Doctors generally use the term "perimenopause" to refer to the time period beginning prior to the menopause (when some of the signs and symptoms of menopause begin to occur) up through the first year following menopause. Menopause itself is defined as having had 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.

Menopause symptoms begin gradually while the ovaries are still functioning and a woman is still having menstrual periods. These symptoms can begin as early as the 4th decade of life (when a woman is in her 30s) and may persist for years until menopause has occurred. The symptoms occur early because the levels of hormones produced by the ovaries (estrogen and progesterone) decline slowly over time, explaining why pregnancy is still possible, but less likely to occur, as a woman reaches her forties. The severity and duration of symptoms vary widely among individuals - some women may experience only minimal symptoms for a year or two, while others may experience at least some of the symptoms for several years.

While most women will experience a gradual transition to menopause with a slow onset of symptoms, some women will experience an early (premature) menopause that may bring on immediate symptoms, depending on the cause of the ovarian failure. One common cause of immediate symptoms is a "surgical menopause" following the surgical removal of functioning ovaries.

Menopause symptoms can be perceived as physical problems, emotional disturbances, or problems associated with sexual functioning.

Excerpt from:
hormone replacement therapy - MedicineNet

To Optimize Your Hormones, You Should Consult with the Most Highly Trained physicians

All medicine requires extensive training, balancing hormones especially, and this isnt something traditionally taught in medical school. The physicians of BodyLogicMD are all required to undergo extensive training as well as complete the Fellowship in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine focused solely on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. There is no other team that all meets the standard of BodyLogicMD physicians Join over 16,000 patients who are experiencing the difference that BHRT can make.

Almost all of us over the age of 40 (and in many cases over 30) begin to experience hormone imbalance. Over our lifetime, we are exposed to environmental and dietary toxins, which contribute to the natural decline of hormones as we age. In order to balance your hormones for optimal health and wellness, it is critical to be evaluated by a highly trained physician - including comprehensive lab testing and in depth initial questionnaires - prior to creating a personalized treatment plan.

Many factors can contribute to conditions and diseases that can occur at any stage in life, resulting from an imbalance of hormones:

As a result of hormone imbalance related to these conditions, you may be experiencing one or a combination of what have become known as the classic symptoms of aging:

If symptoms like these have begun to affect your quality of life, you could be a candidate forbioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

There is a reason the physicians in the BodyLogicMD franchise are the most sought-after in the industry. Our network of experienced physicians is routinely inundated with the latest technology, cutting-edge research and superior education available. Every bioidentical hormone doctor that joins the BodyLogicMD network completes over 200 hours of advanced training with the American Academy of Anti- Aging and Regenerative Medicine to join and maintain their status within the network. When you become a patient, you receive the dedicated attention of your doctor. Your appointments, consultations and questions about your bioidentical hormone replacement therapy are never passed off to a nurse or practitioner you receive all the attention and information firsthand from your knowledgeable physician for as long as you are a patient.

The good news, for both men and women, is that hormone loss and imbalance is easily correctible. Through state-of-the-art diagnostichormone testing, using saliva, urine and/or blood analysis, we can determine your hormone levels and your unique bioidentical hormone needs.

Initial consultations with a physician near you range from $395-$595. Get started today by clicking the Contact a Physician button below.

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Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy & Bioidentical ...

By Dr. Mercola

The US Preventive Services Task Force recently published its draft recommendations on hormone replacement therapyi.

While the task force has previously sparked controversy with its recommendations for breast cancer and PSA prostate cancer screening, their recommendations for hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women taking hormones to prevent chronic disease has been met with little resistance.

The group is changing its recommendations for menopausal women who use hormone therapy, either estrogen alone, or in combination with progestin to prevent heart disease, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline.

They are accepting public comments on the draft until June 26, at which point the group will decide whether to make the draft recommendations final. According to a recent report by CNNii:

"... The task force recommendations "are aimed at older women, who are generally healthy asking, 'If I take a pill a day, will I prevent a heart attack?" [Dr. Carolyn] Crandall [professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA] said.

... In the face of pretty good evidence, the balance of potential benefits and potential harms leads us not to recommend the use of these therapies," said Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, a task force member.

The proposed recommendations do not apply to women younger than 50 who have undergone surgical menopause or who are taking hormone therapy to manage menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, according to the panel.

... "The balance of benefits or harms may be different with young women, so you can't say this absolutely applies to younger women making hormone therapy decisions," Crandall said."

The task force based their new recommendation on a recent review of the results from nine clinical trials published over the past decadeiii. The main question the group sought to answer was whether or not hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should be used by otherwise healthy menopausal women "to prevent a hypothetical future health event such as heart disease or cognitive decline." Alas, according to the task force, "There is no evidence that the therapies would prevent those conditionsiv.

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Hormone Therapy No Longer Recommended - Mercola.com

Sue Decotiis, MD

As we age, even as early as age 30, our internal production of hormones can start to decline. Initially the effects are subtle and vary between individuals. But as we head toward middle age most of us experience adverse symptoms.

Symptoms of low hormones vary with the actual hormone that is low. But many deficiencies overlap, for example weight gain can occur from hypoactive thyroid as well as in menopause and andropause. Men with low testosterone and women with low estrogen may also have low DHEA and need treatment for both.

Common Symptoms of Hormone Deficiency :

We used to accept any or all of the above as normal part of getting older. But if we treat the deficiencies that lead to all of the symptoms touched on above a person can feel their best. He or she can maintain a healthy body weight and have the energy and desire to lead an active life. Plus look great doing it.

Hormone Replacement Doctor is an evidence-based medical practice. In our practice we only prescribe Bioidentical Hormone Therapy.

Why Are Hormones Important to You? Hormones are intrinsic substances that provide a continuum of specific information to nurture and direct specific cells in target organs. Without optimal hormone levels your body function is off balance and you know it. Even after seeing your physician and being told you are okay, something just isnt right. Hormone replacement therapy can make such a difference for these individuals. Most of us are or will become these individuals.

Individual body organs and their systems heart; cardiovascular system, brain; neurological system are not isolated systems. They need communicating hormones to stay vital. Looking back, life expectancy in 1900 was late 40s; so many died before reaching menopause or andropause. Now that we expect to live so many decades more than our grandparents we will have to deal with the effects of low hormone levels.With modern medicine extending life in to the ninth and tenth decade we need to think about the quality of life that hormone replacement treatment produces. Prescription medications and sophisticated treatments are not enough by themselves to produce the level of health and well being that we deserve today.

If you have any questions for the NYC Doctor in regards to Hormone Replacement Therapyor to make a consultation with Sue Decotiis, MD please contact the Doctors NYC office.

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Hormone Replacement Therapy in NYC | NYC Hormone ...