Menopause results from a dramatic change in hormone output as a result of the ovaries shutting down. While for some women, changes are minimal, most develop some level of menopause symptoms.
Gynecologist John A. Whitfield, MD of Fort Worth, Texas, often recommends hormone therapy for his patients with moderate and severe menopause symptoms. Dr. Whitfield isn’t alone in his opinion, far from it. For women in their first 10 years of menopause, hormone therapy is generally considered the first line of treatment when symptoms are significant enough to disrupt aspects of their normal life.
Today, we’ll look at some of the ways that hormone therapy can help you regain balance and vitality to help make menopause a carefree, enjoyable part of your life.
Menopause is triggered by the ovaries ceasing to release eggs. Simultaneously, estrogen and progesterone production drop off, upsetting the balance of hormones in your body.
Perhaps the best-known signs of menopause are vasomotor symptoms, sudden heat events like hot flashes, flushes, or night sweats. Mild for some women, these can be seriously disruptive for others.
Other common menopausal symptoms include:
Symptoms vary widely, and this list is only partial. Discuss any unusual symptoms with Dr. Whitfield, even if you’re not sure if they’re related to menopause.
Hormone therapy supplements the dwindling postmenopausal hormones in your body with synthetic versions. Generally, the goal is to boost hormone levels to the point where your symptoms become manageable with the smallest dosage possible.
There are two primary hormone therapy strategies: systemic therapy and low-dose estrogen therapy. Let’s look at each.
Also called whole-body therapy, this form of hormone therapy provides estrogen for your entire body. There are a variety of delivery methods, including:
Systemic therapy delivers higher levels of estrogen, and it treats the widest range of menopause symptoms. The most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms, systemic therapy also protects you against other problems, such as osteoporosis (loss of bone density)
Usually delivered through creams, rings, or tablets, low-dose estrogen uses smaller concentrations of the hormone. Targeting primarily the urinary and vaginal symptoms of menopause, low-dose estrogen products are applied or inserted topically in the genital area.
For most women with moderate to severe menopause symptoms, hormone therapy is the best way to treat the associated problems. Dr. Whitfield will discuss the best options to address your particular combination of menopause symptoms.
Learn more by contacting John A. Whitfield, MD, by phone or online to schedule a personal menopause consultation today.
