Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is still a topic of debate. It is certainly not a panacea, but in many situations it is irreplaceable in alleviating the unpleasant effects of menopause. The most important thing is that every woman can choose something for herself.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)allows many women to gently navigate through the difficult time ofmenopause . The menopausal period, when the ovaries produce less and less estrogen, begins after the age of 45 and continues until death. In Polish womenthe menopauselasts about 30 years, so it takes almost one third of life. For this reason alone, it is worth making life as comfortable as possible.
What is menopause?
The pituitary gland manages the production of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone made in the ovaries. They support nearly 400 metabolic reactions in over 300 of our tissues and organs, but in fact they focus on preparing the woman's body for procreation. In short: estrogens influence the maturation of Graaf's follicles, the release of eggs ready for fertilization (ovulation), and progesterone - prepares the uterus for the implantation of the embryo, supports the pregnancy, and stops ovulation. If the fertilized egg fails to fertilize and implant, the enlarged uterine mucosa will peel off and be expelled. This process is repeated approximately every 28 days. After more than 30 years, the so-called of reproductive activity, our body experiences severe fatigue. The pituitary gland slows down. As a result, the concentration of sex hormones decreases and the cycles of no-ovulation are becoming more frequent.
ImportantHormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, colorectal cancer
- prevents osteoporosis, urinary incontinence
- improves memory, intellectual performance
- improves physical and mental well-being
- soothes changes in the sexual organs, has a positive effect on the quality of sexual life
- improves the appearance of skin and hair
- reduces hot flashes, insomnia
- minimally increases the risk of breast cancer
- may cause severe pain during the first 3-4 months of usebreasts
- may cause temporary nausea, stomachaches and headaches
- sometimes increases blood pressure
- some versions can restore bleeding
Over time, the ovaries do not release an egg and a woman stops menstruating, she cannot get pregnant. The menopause does not happen overnight. It is a process stretched over time. The so-called premenopause (perimenopause) is called by specialists 'change before change'. It is the time - usually 5 years, but it may also be 10 years - when the signs of the beginning of the end of the woman's fertile age appear. The accident symptoms we mentioned earlier appear. It can be mitigated byHTZ . This therapy also has other advantages: it has a positive effect on the functioning of many systems, e.g. circulatory or nervous.
Who should take HRT?
Not all menopausal women needhormone replacement therapy . Women with severe symptoms, onset of osteoporosis or atrophy of the uterine mucosa should decide on therapy. In Poland, only 5-8 percent. women are taking HRT. It's 20 percent. those who should use it. Even if a woman over 45 has no symptoms, she should see a gynecologist. He will not only examine her, but also - if necessary - refer her to another specialist, e.g. a cardiologist or oncologist. It is also very important to regularly perform preventive examinations, e.g. morphology, cytology, ultrasound, mammography and discussing the results with your doctor. If a woman is very overweight, she should have her blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, and CRP levels tested. When it comes to testing the level of sex hormones before starting HRT, opinions are divided - some gynecologists think that it does not make sense, because estrogen levels drop and it is unnecessary to confirm this condition. Others believe that this is the only way to accurately determine the dose of hormones. The truth lies in the middle.
When to start HRT?
If a woman decides to take HRT, she should start the therapy before the last menstruation, when symptoms occur. If a younger woman has had surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries - immediately after the procedure. This will prevent the symptoms of premature menopause, which in this case can be very troublesome, because the ovaries' functions suddenly cease to function abruptly. It doesn't make sense to turn on your hormones a few years after your last period and can do more harm than good. If HRT is started quickly, the hormone levels will not drop significantly and menopausal symptoms will be milder. HRT is started by a minimum dose which may be increased over time. And the preparationit varies depending on the age, he alth of the patient and her well-being. It is better for an overweight woman to choose patch therapy, and for a woman with too high cholesterol - in tablets. Until a few years ago, doctors argued that HRT can be used for life. Today it is known that it is best used for 5 years when menopausal symptoms are at their strongest. After your sixty years of age, you should begin to slowly discontinue your hormones. You mustn't do it on your own or overnight.
Get tested when taking HRT
If a woman decides to take HRT, she must be under the constant supervision of a gynecologist. The first control visit should take place after a month of its use, the next one after three, the next - every six months. Every month you need to examine your breasts yourself, regularly perform ultrasound, mammography, annually cytology and transvaginal ultrasound, and in the case of osteoporosis - densitometry. Every six months it is worth measuring the level of glucose and cholesterol in the blood. See your doctor if you experience spotting.
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