This treatment option can relieve symptoms of menopause.
Understanding Hormone Replacement Therapy
During menopause, a woman’s body stops producing the hormone estrogen. This drop in estrogen levels can lead to common symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irritability, fatigue, and brain fog.
These symptoms can be uncomfortable and disrupt daily life, but thankfully, treatment is available. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an effective option for treating symptoms of menopause. It involves prescribed doses of estrogen, and often progesterone, to return hormone levels back to normal and relieve symptoms.
How It Works
There are two types of hormone replacement therapy:
Systemic hormone therapy is absorbed by the entire body. This type can be delivered with a pill, patch, ring, gel, cream, or spray and is recommended for treating hot flashes, night sweats, and other common symptoms of menopause.
Local hormone therapy involves a lower dose applied to a specific area via a cream, ring, or tablet, and is used primarily to treat vaginal dryness.
Outlook
With HRT, women can experience symptom relief and benefit from improved sleep, mood, sexual function, and overall quality of life. HRT can also prevent bone loss – a common condition during menopause. The duration of treatment is tailored to each individual, though most women take HRT for five years or less, depending on the severity of symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause, speak with your doctor to determine whether HRT is right for you.
An Expert Weighs In
Meet the Author
Rachel Studebaker, BA, English, Summa Cum Laude
Rachel Studebaker is a graduate of Lee University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in advertising. While attending Lee, Rachel served as editor-in-chief and creative director for the school’s biannual publication Vindagua and was a member of Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society. Since joining CMC Publications as editor, Rachel has assumed the role of managing editor, where she is responsible for the annual development and completion of seventeen publications involving health, wellness, and lifestyles articles that are published in print and online for HealthScope, CityScope, and Choose Chattanooga magazines – premier publications serving S.E. Tennessee and North Georgia.
