HRT for Women: A Guide to Hormone Replacement Therapy

What Are the Signs that You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy

If you struggle with unexplained weight gain, persistent fatigue, mood swings, and that frustrating brain fog that makes every day feel like an uphill battle, it may indicate that you could benefit from hormone replacement therapy. These are common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. 

When hormones change, many women find themselves navigating a sudden and often overwhelming shift in their bodies. Hot flashes interrupt sleep, mood swings disrupt relationships, and fatigue and mental fog seems to settle over daily life. There are many other seen and unseen changes such as wrinkling, sagging skin, achy joints, palpitations, bone loss, rise in cholesterol, hardening of the arteries and signs of mental decline struggling to find names and words. Vaginal dryness makes sex painful and women suffer from more frequent urinary tract infections. Worst of all, women lose their self-confidence and self-esteem. 

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

For decades, women have been told to simply endure these symptoms as an inevitable part of aging. But what if there’s a better way forward? 

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) offers a science-backed solution that millions of women have discovered provides remarkable relief. The North American Menopause society and many other organizations now say that the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks!1

What is HRT?

HRT,short for Hormone replacement therapy, replenishes the estrogen, progesterone, and sometimes testosterone that your body gradually stops producing during menopause. By restoring these hormones, HRT addresses the root cause of menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms rather than just masking them.

What Are the Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy?

• Relief from hot flashes and night sweats
• Improved sleep quality
• Enhanced mood stability and mental clarity
• Better maintenance of bone density
• Improved skin elasticity and moisture
• Reduced risk of heart disease
• Protection against cognitive decline
• Pain free sex and improved relationships
• Relief from many of the 35 symptoms of menopause or perimenopause

Timing Matters: The “Window of Opportunity”

Research consistently shows that women receive the greatest benefits when starting HRT before age 60 and within 10 years of menopause. During this “window of opportunity,” hormone therapy offers maximum protection for your heart, brain, and bones as well as relief of symptoms.

But here’s good news for women beyond this window: starting HRT at an older age or more years past menopause is still considered safe. 2 While you might not receive all the preventative benefits, you can still experience significant symptom relief and quality of life improvements.

Separating Fact from Fiction

For years, misinformation has caused unnecessary fear around hormone therapy. Let’s set the record straight on some common concerns:

Does estrogen cause breast cancer? No. The relationship between hormones and breast cancer is complex, but current research shows that estrogen alone does not cause breast cancer. In fact, many studies demonstrate that estrogen-only therapy in women without a uterus is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer.3

Does HRT cause blood clots? Transdermal estrogen (patches, creams, gels) does not increase the risk of blood clots, unlike oral estrogen which passes through the liver. This delivery method provides the benefits while minimizing risks.

Are all forms of progesterone equal? No. Women need progesterone with estrogen therapy to prevent symptoms of estrogen dominance such as anxiety, irritability, impatience, insomnia, tender or cystic breasts, bleeding, spotting, weight gain and fluid retention. However, synthetic progestins have been linked to higher rates of breast cancer. Natural, bioidentical progesterone offers a safer alternative with a risk profile comparable to taking no hormones at all.4

Is HRT Right for You?

The decision to start hormone therapy should be personalized to your health history, symptoms, and preferences. While HRT isn’t appropriate for everyone (such as women with certain types of breast cancer, the BRCA gene, history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism), most healthy women can safely benefit from properly administered hormone therapy.

The key is working with a healthcare provider who specializes in hormone health and stays current with evolving research. Together, you can develop a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.

Taking the Next Step – Hormone Replacement Therapy Clarity Call with Dr. Lorraine

Imagine waking up refreshed after a full night’s sleep, free from hot flashes, with mental clarity and emotional stability that helps you fully engage in your life. This is the reality for millions of women who have chosen HRT.

You don’t need to accept diminished quality of life as an inevitable part of aging. With proper guidance and the right hormone therapy approach, you can reclaim your vitality and continue thriving through menopause and beyond.

Isn’t it time you explored what HRT could do for you? Apply for a no obligation clarity call to see if we are a good fit. 

References

1. “The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position  Statement of The North American Menopause Society” Advisory  Panel. The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2022;29(7):767-794. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002028
2. Baik SH, Baye F, McDonald CJ. Use of menopausal hormone therapy beyond age 65 years and its effects on women’s health outcomes by types, routes, and doses. Menopause. Published online April 9, 2024. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002335
3. Stute P, Wildt L, Neulen J. The impact of micronized progesterone on breast cancer risk: a systematic review. Climacteric. 2018;21(2):111-122. doi:10.1080/13697137.2017.1421925
4. Hipolito Rodrigues MA, Gompel A. Micronized progesterone, progestins, and menopause hormone therapy. Women Health. 2021;61(1):3-14. doi:10.1080/03630242.2020.1824956