Things you Need to Know About Hormone Therapy in Fort Myers, Fl

Information may not be reliable

Things to Know About Hormone Therapy | Myerlee Pharmacy

Menopausal hormone therapy is the solution for many conditions aging women face. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a female hormone medication taken to replace estrogen the body stops making during menopause. Menopause is a stage in a woman’s life when certain hormone levels decrease and the menstrual period stops. HRT treats common menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, anxiety, fatigue, and vaginal discomfort.

• Including hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, mood swings, anxiety, decreased sexual desire, fatigue, and headaches. 

• For menopause and hormone-related conditions, most women take estrogen or progesterone.
• Hormone therapies can be taken systemically or locally in several ways.
  1. Systemic Hormone Therapy: Systemic estrogen, which comes in pill, skin patch, ring, gel, cream, or spray form, typically contains a higher dose of estrogen that is absorbed throughout the body. 
     • Treats any common symptoms of menopause.
  2. Low-dose Vaginal Products: Low-dose vaginal preparations of estrogen, which come in cream, tablet, or ring form, minimize the amount of estrogen absorbed by the body. 
     • Low-dose vaginal preparations are usually only used to treat the vaginal and urinary symptoms of menopause.

• HRT is beneficial when taken soon after menopause symptoms begin. 
• Women with menopause from surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation start HRT right away. 
• Women with early menopause, before age 40, should consult their doctors as soon as possible in order to benefit from HRT right away. 

• Reduction of menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, and headaches.
• Health benefits including reducing the risk of osteoporosis and colon cancer. 
• Reduction in estrogen deficiency. 

• Increased risk of endometrial cancer (only if a woman still has her uterus and is not taking a progestin along with estrogen).
• Increased risk of blood clots and strokes.
• Increased risk of gallbladder/gallstone issues.
• Increased risk of heart attacks and disease.
• Increased risk of developing breast cancer.

• Age: Women who begin hormone therapy at age 60+ or more than 10 years from the onset of menopause are at greater risk of the above conditions. 
• Type of hormone therapy: The risks of hormone therapy vary depending on whether estrogen is given alone. 
• Health history

1. Discover the best product and delivery methods.

• Take estrogen in pill, patch, gel, vaginal cream, or slow-releasing suppository or ring form.

• Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time to treat symptoms. 
•  Younger than age 45, enough estrogen to provide protection against the long-term health effects of estrogen deficiency is needed.
•  For lasting menopausal symptoms that significantly impair quality of life, your doctor may recommend longer-term treatment.

• See your doctor regularly to ensure that the benefits of hormone therapy continue to outweigh the risks and for screenings including mammograms and pelvic exams.

• Include physical activity and exercise daily.
• Enjoy a healthy diet and maintain a fit weight. 
• Do not smoke and limit alcohol.
• Manage stress and chronic health conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.