Top 10 Signs You Should Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) became a popular treatment for women who were going through menopause beginning in the 1950s. The therapy uses synthetic hormones to replace natural hormones lost in menopause.

HRT was believed to reduce menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, heart disease, memory loss and osteoporosis. A 2002 study announced that HRT contributed to health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer. Although the study was later found to have flaws, the use of HRT was severely curtailed.

Today, the use of HRT is recognized as an important therapeutic response to a number of health conditions. The decision to use the hormone therapy is based on a woman's symptoms and risk factors, and made after discussion between her and her doctor.

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Here are 10 signs you should consider hormone replacement therapy:

1. If you had a hysterectomy before you went through menopause or your ovaries do not function as they should, resulting in an inability to produce hormones the body needs.

2. You suffer from severe menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, which cause significant health problems, including insomnia, tiredness and depression.

3. If you have a family history of osteoporosis, HRT increases bone density and has been approved by the FDA to treat women, especially over age 60, according to the Mayo Clinic.

4. Symptoms such as vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and a lack of libido may benefit from HRT. The therapy uses a combination of estrogen for physical symptoms and testosterone for increased libido for effective treatment.

5. Menopause causes loss of collagen, a protein the builds connective tissues. The loss can lead to fractures in the discs between the vertebrae. This results in the appearance of bending or a hump on the back. HRT prevents the loss of collagen and the increased risk of fractures.

6. HRT reduces heart attacks in women as a positive side effect, though it is not considered as a preventive medication.

7. Women who experience post-natal depression or premenstrual depression may find help through HRT, which has been found to greatly reduce signs of depression.

8. The ability of HRT to increase collagen causes skin and hair to look more youthful. Menopause may result in the loss of skin elasticity because of the loss in collagen levels.

9. HRT has been found to improve overall general health, mood and increased sexual function because of a reduction in symptoms of menopause.

10. Risk factors for breast cancer associated with HRT have been reevaluated. The Mayo Clinic says the hormone therapy poses no greater risk than the risk factors of being overweight, drinking wine or having no children, amounting to about a one-percent greater risk than for women who do not use HRT.

This article is for information only and is not intended as medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your specific health and medical needs.

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