Hormone replacement therapy or HRT can be used to help the effects caused by the menopause in women. Normally HRT is, in basic terms, a combination of oestrogen and progesterone taken before and/or after menopause begins. As the name suggests, it ‘puts back’ some of the hormones lost during menopause.
The menopause usually occurs in Western women around the age of fifty, but there is a wide array of normal menopausal periods ranging from ages thirty to sixty. During this period, a woman’s ovaries stop responding to the controlling hormones released from the pituitary gland in the brain. Accordingly, the ovaries no longer release eggs nor produce the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. It is this drop in hormone levels that is the reason behind symptoms of the menopause.
HRT can be taken in the form of patches, pills, gels and implants and its dose is specific to each particular woman. The efficiency and helpfulness of HRT in easing menopausal symptoms is well-demonstrated; however it has been the source of much debate and controversy in regards to its side-effects.
So what is the good and the bad of HRT? Evidence illustrates that HRT is very successful relief for menopause sufferers of hot flushes, sweats and joint pain, major symptoms of the menopause. These symptoms are often serious complaints from women who feel debilitated and exhausted. Women also often report an improved general well-being improved sexual appetite when taking HRT. Other positive side effects are a reduction in hip fractures. Osteoporosis among HRT users aged fifty to fifty-nine is less reported in comparison to non-users. Similarly, HRT reduces the risk of colon cancer. In women aged fifty to fifty-nine, one in every thousand HRT users were diagnosed with colon cancer in comparison to the three in one thousand non-HRT users.
However like most medication, HRT comes with some negative side-effects, with some women affected more than others. Common side-effects reported include breast tenderness, sickness, cramps, irregular bleeding, weight gain and some bloating. Women are normally advised to persist with HRT for six to eight weeks for such problems to subside.
HRT is also associated with breast cancer and ovarian cancer. It is believed that HRT gives a small rise in risk of breast cancer which increases according to the length of use. However no substantial proof has been made for a strong relation between HRT and ovarian cancer. Venous thromboembolism has also been coupled with HRT but the total risk remains low. With non-HRT users with a risk of one in ten thousand chance compared with the three in ten thousand users of HRT of contracting Venous thromboembolism, the threat is still small.
Despite the proven benefits of HRT, it is not for everyone. Some menopausal sufferers can still be dubious of such associated risks and the possible long–term gamble of using HRT. For the wary and the unsure, natural alternatives are also available. Many women find homeopathic remedies a helpful substitute. However with the vast array of differing homeopathic cures for menopause symptoms on the market, it can often be both confusing and time consuming to discover a remedy suitable for your individual needs. For the best advice on treatment it would be advisable to consult a qualified homeopath in order to obtain the best individual remedy. Royal London Homeopathic Hospital states that seventy per cent of female patients reported an improvement in their symptoms when by means of homeopathic remedies.
Herbal remedies can be beneficial for some women dependently on individual needs. Although studies have been small concerning these benefits, a number of women report a decrease in their menopausal symptoms. For example, Black cohosh appears the most hopeful for providing relief from hot flushes, but the long-term side effects are unspecified for the moment.
More simply, a few changes to a woman’s lifestyle can improve menopausal well-being for women. Light exercise, a cooler bedroom or wearing light clothing can all aid relief from hot flushes. Similarly, avoiding alcohol, tobacco and caffeine can help prevent triggering flushes.
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