Menopause happens to everyone. It’s a phase of life that doesn’t care if you are kind or rude; poor or rich; ugly or beautiful. It affects everyone once you hit the right age. Luckily, you won’t have to face all the symptoms. The severity of the symptoms can vary from person-to-person, and you may be part of the average who have minor symptoms. On the other hand, you may face more miserable symptoms.
Why Should I Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Many women consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a way to deal with their symptoms. HRT utilizes two main therapies: estrogen therapy (ET) and estrogen-progestin therapy (EPT). During the perimenopausal stage you start to experience hot flashes, insomnia and a decline in estrogen, resulting in vaginal dryness. Thankfully, companies like ours are able to counter menopausal dryness.
This treatment counters the decline of estrogen and progesterone leaving your body. It is recommended by doctors for its ability to relieve common menopausal symptoms. There are multiple dangers that can affect you when you go through HRT.
Estrogen Therapy
ET has been shown to help relieve common symptoms like menopausal dryness and mood swings, but it also increases your chances of developing various diseases and problems. For example, if you take ET alone you are at a higher risk of endometrial cancer.
Estrogen-Progestin Therapy
The other form of hormone therapy is EPT, which includes the ingredient progestin. Progestin acts as a substitute for progesterone. Both therapies have their benefits including: increasing estrogen production and a balanced mind. Studies have found EPT to be a more dangerous therapy compared to ET though.
For example, your chances of developing breast cancer increases. HRT can also make your breasts swell, which makes it harder for a doctor to find new tumors developing. Fortunately, they don’t increase your odds of developing lung cancer. The prospect of dying from lung cancer when you already have it compounds though.
EPT also increases your odds of having urinary incontinence. You may already let a couple drops of pee fall while laughing, sneezing or coughing, but EPT will boost those times. EPT will also double your chances of developing dementia if you’re 65 years old and postmenopausal.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Both therapies have their benefits. They prevent painful intercourse by ridding your dry vagina, prevent uterine cancer and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. There are some benefits to starting HRT but the negatives outweigh the positives.
HRT will make you bloat and feel nauseous. Your self-esteem is already on edge because of menopause, so why take steps that could worsen the problem? Unfortunately, if you don’t bloat or throw up you can still develop gallstones or other gallbladder problems.
Another study found that women on HRT are more likely to acquire blood clots, a stroke or even a heart attack. Once they were taken off HRT their levels returned to normal. The same can be said about the vaginal spotting or bleeding you can experience. HRT can stop the dryness you felt but you shouldn’t have to pay the price with your blood.
Dealing With Your Menopause
Going through menopause is a tough time. You have to deal with all kinds of problems: feminine dryness, mood swings and bone density loss. There are vaginal moisturizers that can help with your dry vagina, which, in turn, will help your self-esteem. HRT will help with common symptoms, but is it worth the damage to your body?
Sources:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/mht-fact-sheet#q3
https://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/hrt-effects-on-body
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