The most common drug treatment for menopause symptoms is hormone replacement therapy or HRT. HRT replaces the female hormones that your ovaries use to make, thereby alleviating menopause symptoms.
Uses
Hormone replacement therapy may be used before, during and after menopause. HRT is used to treat the symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, insomnia and vaginal dryness. HRT can also be used to treat and prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis by preventing bone loss.
Risks
It was previously believed that HRT protected the heart against heart disease, however the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study in 2003 disproved this widely believed theory. The WHI study reported that the long term use of hormone replacement therapy increases risks of:
- myocardial infarction
- stroke
- invasive breast cancer
- venous thromboembolism
For this reason, HRT is no longer used to prevent cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Despite these risks, hormone replacement therapy remains a valuable treatment for the short term relief of menopause symptoms and should not be completely discounted. For some women, their menopause symptoms can only be relieved by the use of HRT. Each individual woman should discuss their treatment options with their phycisian.
Hormone Replacement Therapy forms
HRT can be prescribed in the form of:
The information provided is intended solely for general information and is NOT to replace advice from your physician or other medical professionals and should NOT be relied upon for any diagnosis, treatment or care. Always check with your doctor before starting any new drug or alternative/natural/herbal treatments and supplements.
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