Diamond Physicians is a primary care provider that uses a groundbreaking model to cut out the middleman. This innovative healthcare system was designed by our doctors, tailored for you – the patients. Menopause is a time of change and a lot of new information has surfaced regarding women’s hormone therapy. Patients should seek advice from a doctor rather than relying on the information they find online.
Our patient-centric approach looks to foster long, trusting relationships with your primary care physician. Thus, we’re the logical option for all your hormone therapy needs.
Women Don’t Need to Suffer Their Symptoms in Silence
The discussion about menopause has become much a more open and productive one in recent years. Women no longer feel ashamed to speak out about the symptoms and seek help. As your biological clock kicks into overdrive, life’s inescapable changes can take your body by storm. Hormone replacement therapy for women rebalances estrogen, progesterone, and progestin levels in the body to offset menopause’s niggling symptoms.
Hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances can be significantly improved with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Pills, gels, and sprays can be used to help compensate for the hormones that the body is no longer producing.
Dispelling Stigmas Regarding Hormone Therapy for Women
One of the most dangerous stigmas about HRT is that certain unregulated treatments and supplements and their contents are more “natural” qualities than what most doctors offer. However, the only natural hormones are those produced within your own body.
A growing understanding of hormone therapy’s risks is helping women to make more decisions that are beneficial for them. If you’re looking to take a natural route and avoid HRT, lifestyle changes are integral. Not smoking, avoiding trans fats, including lots of fresh fruit and vegetable in your diet, and regular exercise can help ease symptoms.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Eases Menopause Symptoms
Hormone replacement therapy for women significantly reduces many of menopause’s symptoms. However, the method with which the doctors administers the hormones, and which hormones your doctor prescribes for your specific needs have an impact on which symptoms are eased.
For example, a vaginal estrogen cream or ring can reduce vaginal dryness, UTI or vaginal infections and urinary leakage, but it won’t ease hot flashes. Systemic hormone therapy raises hormones throughout the entire body. Using estrogen with progestin comes highly recommended for being effective at treating these symptoms but carries health risks.
Every Patient Responds Differently
Remember that every individual experiences menopause differently and they require different levels of each hormone. What has worked for your friend won’t necessarily work for you. Also, unless you’ve undergone a hysterectomy, doctors usually prescribe estrogen with progesterone or progestin.
There Are Still Health Risks
There are some health risks linked with HRT, including:
- Breast cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
Factors Which Heighten These Risks
Your lifestyle and overall health have a huge impact on how much these risks may affect you. It’s important to understand that hormone therapy for women doesn’t cause these illnesses, but may put you at a greater risk of developing them. The following factors can also increase the risk:
- Whether you receive progestin with estrogen
- The dosage of estrogen
- Which the doctor administers the hormone with
- Family and personal medical history
Follow-Up Care from Diamond Physicians Can Mitigate Risks
Lastly, hormone therapy isn’t as dangerous or scary as the risk factors could lead you to believe. If you decide to go for it, thorough, periodical re-evaluations will make sure that your hormone replacement therapy is going as planned. Regular follow-up care considerably minimizes the probability of adverse effects. Working closely with a physician you trust to determine the best course of treatment is the most effective way to tackle menopause’s negative effects.
We recommend that you come and see us at Diamond Physicians to get expert medical advice about the benefits that hormone therapy could have for you.