Is HRT Right For Me?

Menopause is a natural part of getting older, but that doesn’t mean it’s something to stay quiet about or ignore. This major life transition can come with a whole bunch of symptoms, like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, irritability–oh, and never getting your period ever again. So, yeah, menopause is kind of a big deal! And, have you ever wondered what causes these big deal menopausal changes? Answer: hormones, hormones, hormones.

In the lead-up to menopause, your hormones–most notably estrogen–start to fluctuate and decline. That’s why treatment options for frustrating menopausal symptoms often deal with hormones! Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a first-line treatment for menopause. But, what is HRT exactly, how does it work, and what are HRT side effects and benefits? Let’s get into it! Read on to find answers to your HRT questions and learn if HRT treatment is right for you.

What is HRT?

The hormones estrogen and progesterone play a major role in regulating your menstrual cycle during your reproductive years. But, your ovaries gradually start producing less and less of these hormones as you get closer to menopause–which officially happens when you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment that can help relieve menopausal symptoms. Basically, with HRT you take medication to replenish the hormones your body naturally stops producing during perimenopause and menopause.

Lower estrogen levels are to blame for many of the symptoms and changes you might experience during menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and recurrent UTIs. So, HRT for women helps combat these symptoms by adding estrogen, progesterone, or a combination of the two back into your system.

HRT treatment can come in a few different forms, including pills, patches, and creams–consulting with a Wisp provider can help you figure out which option is best for you!

Kinds of hormone replacement therapy for women

Besides coming in a few different delivery methods like pills, patches, creams, injections, or sprays, several kinds of HRT for women exist. Talking to a doctor can help you discover which option best suits your health needs and preferences.

The two main kinds of hormone replacement therapy are:

• Estrogen-only HRT: Estrogen-only therapy is for those who’ve had a hysterectomy (the surgical removal of the uterus). Estrogen-only HRT can help get rid of frustrating menopausal symptoms and is available in a few forms such as an estrogen patch, pill, cream, or vaginal ring.
• Combination HRT: Combination HRT gives you a dose of the hormones estrogen and progesterone and is best if you still have a uterus. Estrogen helps ease your symptoms, while progesterone keeps your uterine lining from building up and becoming a cancer risk.

Alright, so we have various delivery methods and kinds of HRT. You can also take HRT treatment in a few different ways, including:

• Local HRT: If vaginal dryness and urinary issues are your most noticeable symptoms, then local HRT might be right for you! This just means you use a hormonal cream, like Estradiol Vaginal Cream, or a vaginal ring to deliver hormone replacement therapy straight to your vaginal tissue.
• Systemic HRT: If you’re dealing with more widespread symptoms like hot flashes, dryness, and more, then a more full-body approach might provide you with better relief. Systemic HRT is often given as an estrogen patch plus progesterone pills, a combination pill, or even an intrauterine device.

Each of these types of HRT treatment has its own pros and cons and might need some initial adjustments to get your dosage just right. Talking with a doctor is the first step to identifying which option works best for you and your situation!

Synthetic vs. bioidentical hormone replacement

Now that you understand all the different kinds of HRT for women, you might be wondering where these replacement hormones come from! Well, HRT can come from synthetic or bioidentical hormones. Let’s discuss.

Synthetic hormones: Synthetic HRT uses hormones that are similar but not totally identical to the estrogen and progesterone your body naturally produces. Even so, synthetic hormones can provide relief from symptoms and are safe and effective. But, some prefer not to use synthetic hormones because they’re often made from animal sources and might come with more side effects.

Bioidentical hormones: Bioidentical hormone replacement treatment uses hormones that are structurally and chemically identical to the ones your body produces. These hormones come from plants and are safe and effective. There are several FDA-approved bioidentical hormone replacement options, which are often preferred because they’re generally thought to have fewer side effects (1).

What are the benefits of hormone replacement therapy?

Even though we all go through it, menopause is a very personal experience! Your symptoms might be mild enough that you don’t need any treatment. But, if menopause is making you miserable and impacting your daily life, you should quickly notice the benefits of HRT.

Benefits of hormone replacement include:

• Relieves hot flashes and night sweats: Taking a low dose of estrogen HRT is the most proven and effective treatment for reducing the frequency and intensity of hot flashes and night sweats (2).
• Improves vaginal and bladder health: Whether you use a patch or a cream, estrogen improves vaginal dryness and discomfort. Plus, HRT helps keep recurrent UTIs at bay and reduces the frequent urgency to pee (3).
• Improves bone health: Did you know that estrogen helps keep your bones healthy and dense? HRT can help you fight against osteoporosis and reduce your risk of bone fractures (4). Combine it with vitamin D (and a few other important vitamins) and you’ll be all the better!
• Boosts mood and mental clarity: The hormonal changes experienced before and during menopause can lead to depression, anxiety, and brain fog. HRT for women can help with depression and mood due to these hormonal changes (5).
• Protects muscle mass and strength: While losing muscle mass and strength is a natural part of getting older, hormone replacement therapy–especially when combined with exercise and NAD+ or a similar supplement–can help preserve strength and fight against this loss (6, 7)!
• Protects against heart disease: If you start HRT during the first 10 years of menopause, it can help reduce your risk of heart disease, as estrogen is considered to protect the heart (8).

What are HRT side effects?

As with any medication, there are some potential HRT side effects you should know about! Possible HRT side effects include:

• Headaches
• Breast pain or tenderness
• Changes in menstrual cycle
• Nausea
• Mood changes
• Diarrhea

These side effects are typically mild and improve as your body adjusts to your individual HRT treatment. And if your HRT side effects don’t get better, reach out to a healthcare provider for help.

For some, there may be more serious risks associated with HRT. Some studies suggest there is a small risk of developing breast cancer, while other studies disagree. HRT risks depend on your medical history, when you begin taking HRT, and how long you take HRT. As always, a healthcare provider is the best person to help you weigh the potential risks and benefits.

Is HRT right for me?

Hormone replacement therapy is an effective and powerful option for dealing with menopause symptoms, from hot flashes and night sweats to vaginal dryness and bone health. But, it’s important to remember that every woman’s journey through menopause is different! Talking with a healthcare professional is the best way to assess your symptoms and decide on the best path forward.

Here at Wisp, we couldn’t be more glad to offer a menopause consult so you can develop a personalized treatment plan for perimenopause and menopause. And with three months of follow-up care included, you can adjust your treatment and dosage as needed! Your HRT treatment will be as unique as you are–so you can keep feeling like your best and favorite self.