At Anti-Aging & Regenerative Associates, we offer hormone replacement therapy for women to treat menopause or perimenopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helps women manage their hormone levels, as they can experience estrogen and progesterone loss once they enter menopausal age. Without treatment, women may experience symptoms like hot flashes, bone thinning, and vaginal or urinary issues due to hormonal loss.
If you are interested in getting HRT treatment, we can give you a physical exam and conduct lab work to determine if hormone replacement therapy is a viable treatment option for you. If so, one of our physicians will discuss which HRT options we prescribe, then go over additional information about your treatment plan.
What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment that uses medication to regulate women’s hormone levels. Depending on the patient’s symptoms, a physician might prescribe an HRT medication that targets the patient’s estrogen, progesterone, or even testosterone levels.
When a woman goes through menopause, her body stops producing estrogen, which triggers negative symptoms due to hormonal loss. As such, HRT uses hormone regulators to produce appropriate hormones, like estrogen, in the patient’s body, thus “replacing” it. This can be done through various treatment methods, such as:
- Oral pills
- Transdermal skin patches
- Hormone injections
- Vaginal sprays and creams
- Dermal gels
- Vaginal rings
Mayo Clinic notes that hormone therapy products that contain low dosages of hormones may be targeted for vaginal use only to reduce specific symptoms, like as vaginal discomfort or urinary incontinence. Patients may need to use a combination of these products and other HRT medications to treat their full scope of symptoms.
How Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Help Women with Their Health?
The Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners published a report about a study that found hormone replacement therapy provided several benefits to postmenopausal women with comorbid conditions, such as:
- Type II diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Colorectal cancer
With HRT treatment, women who are menopausal or perimenopausal can boost their hormone levels to reach stable levels and relieve their symptoms, which may include:
- Hot flashes
- Bone density loss, which makes women prone to fractures
- Vaginal discomfort, including itchiness and dryness
- Hair loss or thinning
- Intense mood swings
- Fatigue
- Low libido or sex drive
Other benefits from HRT include lowering your risk of developing heart disease or osteoporosis.
Are There Different HRT Options Available for Women?
Yes. As mentioned, various types of sex hormone products are available for hormone replacement therapy for women. However, there are also different hormone-related therapies, such as:
- Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT): BHRT consists of compounded hormones made from plant estrogens, which are chemically identical to human hormones. This therapy replaces lost hormones with manmade ones to stabilize hormone levels.
- Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT): TRT is a treatment for people with low testosterone (T) levels, which can affect men and women. For example, if you are going through menopause and are suddenly losing your hair but experience mild symptoms otherwise, this might indicate you have low T levels and might benefit from TRT only.
Our physicians can review which hormone therapies we offer at Anti-Aging & Regenerative Associates, as well as which treatment will best address your symptoms and improve your overall health. In many cases, hormone replacement therapy is part of a larger treatment plan involving customized nutrition and exercise plans for total body wellness.
Does HRT Have Side Effects?
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved HRT, some women may experience side effects while undergoing this treatment. These side effects include:
- Headaches or migraines
- Breast tenderness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Bloating and fluid retention
- High blood pressure
- Allergic reaction, such as hives or rash
- Blood clotting in the eye, which can lead to vision loss
- Problems with the liver or gallbladder
- Yeast infections
It is crucial to report any symptoms you are experiencing while undergoing hormone replacement therapy because it might be a side effect of your treatment. Your physician will monitor your treatment and do the necessary physical exams if you report any abnormal side effects.
Are There Risks to Taking HRT?
For some women, risks with taking HRT include:
- Increased risk of blood clotting
- Increased risk of heart attack or stroke
- Increased risk of dementia for women aged 65 and older
- Increased risk of endometrial cancer in women who have had hysterectomies (removal of the uterus)
There have been some claims that there is an increased risk of developing breast cancer while on HRT; however, there is no sufficient evidence to support this argument. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), women who took estrogen-only medications did not have an increased risk for developing breast cancer – in fact, their risk for cancer lowered.
Regular Follow-up Visits Can Help Us Monitor Your Progress During Treatment
As with all good health practices, getting regular follow-up visits with your doctor can help prevent side effects from worsening. At Anti-Aging & Regenerative Associates, we do not focus only on your symptoms but your overall health. If you suspect HRT treatment is causing your symptoms, we can see if other underlying conditions are affecting your health.
Schedule an Appointment for HRT at Anti-Aging & Regenerative Associates
At Anti-Aging & Regenerative Associates, we offer hormone replacement therapy for women at our Port Orange facility in Florida. If you are experiencing menopausal/perimenopausal symptoms or other symptoms related to hormonal imbalances, we can do bloodwork to see whether your hormone levels are low or if other underlying conditions may be at play. Once we diagnose the issue, we may use HRT or another therapy we offer to treat it.
Call (386) 366-7418 today to schedule your first appointment with us.