Hormone Replacement Therapy and Menopause - Adverse Effects
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a common form of hormone replacement therapy used to treat symptoms resulting from the natural decrease in hormone production that occurs during the aging process. Low levels of estrogen, a substance essential for maintaining the female reproductive system, are thought to play a role in many symptoms of menopause; including irregular menstrual periods, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and fatigue. Some doctors also believe that women who take synthetic hormone replacement therapy have an increased risk of breast cancer. In recent years, there have been a growing number of concerns about the possible negative health effects of hormone replacement therapy.
In menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, researchers have noted an increasing incidence of breast cancer among postmenopausal women. In fact, breast cancer now ranks second in the list of leading causes of death for women of all ages. Although the link between hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer remains unclear, studies have shown that postmenopausal women who regularly take HRT experience higher risks of hormone-related breast cancer. Hormone replacement therapy is also associated with other serious health problems such as osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other conditions. It is important for women to become informed about these side effects to ensure they are guided about which treatments are most suitable for their individual symptoms.
Other symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes, can be relieved by prescription topical estrogen creams. But as HRT poses a greater health risk than do the topical estrogen creams, it is often considered safer to try dietary alternatives first. Replacing estrogen in the body with diet can help reduce the uncomfortable side effects of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. One way to accomplish this goal is to add foods rich in phytoestrogens to your diet. Phytoestrogens, found in certain plants, help estrogen function normally.
A number of factors contribute to the increased risks of hormone replacement therapy and other forms of medical menopause treatment. For example, taking estrogen alone can increase the risk of breast cancer, while HRT is known to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Some research suggests that long-term use of HRT may be linked to the development of several cancers. As most women will know, menopause is a natural part of aging. If you wish to minimize the risks of side effects from medical menopause treatments, it is advised that you start thinking about proper menopausal health initiatives after age 50. Click here to read about bioidentical testosterone replacement for men.
Research indicates that medical menopause does not lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, but when HRT is used on a regular basis, the risk may go up. A recent study showed that women who took estrogen alone for five years or more did not experience any increase in risk of breast cancer. However, women who chose to use HRT during this period of time faced an elevated risk of developing breast cancer. Medical studies have also shown that women who choose to use progesterone in addition to their estrogen were at no increased risk.
The use of medical HRT comes with a number of different risk factors. Women who are obese or who have low levels of estrogen may be at an increased risk of developing menopausal symptoms. This is because HRT contains certain hormones that are absorbed by the fat tissues. In addition, using prescription hormone replacement therapy products may lead to some adverse effects. These include headaches, vaginal dryness, hot flashes and heartburn. Find out more details in relation to this topic here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone_therapy.
