What is the Safest Hormone Replacement Therapy?
What is the Safest Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement can come with a lot of benefits, but also may have some health risks. For those interested in hormone therapy, you want to know which one is the safest and how to mitigate any possible side effects.
The risks vary from person to person, depending on your age, type of hormone therapy, and how long you've been replacing hormones. The safest hormone therapy is based on individual needs and reevaluated consistently to minimize any risks and boost the benefits.
What is hormone replacement therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy is a kind of medicine that typically uses female hormones to replace hormones your body has stopped producing. The most common hormone therapy uses estrogen with progesterone to ease menopausal symptoms. (1)
Estrogen Hormone Therapy (ERT)
ERT was commonly prescribed to menopausal women in the past. Then the landmark Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) therapy trials showed that ERT increased the risk of breast cancer, blood clots, and other health concerns for women.
However, these trials came under significant scrutiny later because ERT helps women suffering from menopause. Taking away this treatment may not have been as crucial for all women considering ERT. Later, in further analysis of the WHI findings, researchers showed the higher risks applied only to women 10 years past menopause.
As the North American Menopause Society states healthy women who've recently started experiencing menopause can safely use hormone therapy for relief. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Endocrine Society supports this position as well. (2)
ERT May Reduce Menopausal Symptoms
ERT relieves the following symptoms associated with menopause, including:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal atrophy (extreme dryness)
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weight gain
- Moodiness
- Depression and anxiety
- Dry skin
- Poor memory
- Cognitive function
ERT can help ease these symptoms but may come with risks, such as blood clots in the legs and strokes. However, these risks are rare for women aged 50-59 and can depend on health history. The risks may also be relevant to how long the person has used therapy and whether she has a uterus. Speak to your healthcare professional for advice.
Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone therapy has two main categories: systemic hormone therapy and low-dose vaginal products. (3) Choosing the right one depends on your bodily needs.
Systemic hormone therapy: This is a type of treatment that affects the entire bodily systems. It can be used to treat menopause or other symptoms related to low hormones. It comes in topical creams, tablets, transdermal patches, and capsules.
Low-dose vaginal products: This type of treatment helps urinary and vaginal symptoms of menopause or other conditions affecting the vagina connected with low hormones. Women insert the hormones into their vaginal cavity for treatment.
The safest hormone therapy is the one right for you, based on your health. While the controversy around hormone therapy has eased in the last few years, there are always some risks involved. If you decide to try hormone therapy, topical creams provide a safe choice.
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372
- https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/the-experts-do-agree-about-hormone-therapy
- https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/effective-treatments-for-sexual-problems/hormone-therapy