5 Signs a Woman Needs Hormone Replacement Therapy

Some women need hormone replacement therapy, and some don’t.

HRT treats menopause symptoms by regularly providing female hormones the body has stopped producing — such as testosterone, progesterone and estrogen — to stabilize and raise hormone levels, according to WebMD. Various options are available, including patches, pills, creams and vaginal rings, that website said.

Here are five signs it may be time to for a woman to try HRT:

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1. You feel depressed. “Doctors may prescribe hormone therapy, antidepressants, and psychotherapy to women with severe symptoms,” said PsychGuides.com. “Women with less severe depression symptoms might only use hormone therapy or antidepressants in conjunction with psychotherapy. Women who have fully transitioned into menopause may respond better to antidepressants than to hormone therapy.”

2. You’re experiencing severe hot flashes and night sweats. Systemic estrogen continues to be the most effective treatment for those, according to the Mayo Clinic.

3. You’re suffering from serious vaginal symptoms of menopause such as burning, itching, dryness and discomfort with sexual intercourse. Estrogen can ease those, the Mayo Clinic said.

4. You have a family history of osteoporosis. HRT can reduce your chance of broken bones and help prevent osteoporosis by replacing hormones the body produces at a decreasing rate with age and the onset of menopause, said Everyday Health.

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5. You’ve undergone a hysterectomy, leaving your body unable to produce hormones it needs. BodyLogicMD said that because the ovaries of a woman in that position are no longer present to produce estrogen, "Her estrogen levels drop immediately post hysterectomy and her system is thrown into complete disarray, with possible effects including: fatigue, joint pains, decreased short-term memory, dwindling libido, hot flashes, night sweats, depression, decreased resistance and weight gain. These symptoms associated with hysterectomy induced menopause are identical to those experienced by women who undergo perimenopause and menopause, except instead of developing gradually, they can have a profound and sudden effect. Bioidentical hormone therapy is an important adjunct when hormone function is compromised — naturally or surgically.”

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