Traditional treatments for menopause are things that have been under scrutiny for the past few years. Doctors are in disagreement on whether or not traditional hormone replacement therapy is safe for women or if it poses a larger risk. Many women prefer hormone replacement therapy however. While the answer is still up in the air, doctors are still prescribing several types of hormone replacement therapies to their patients. If you are concerned about the effects of these therapies, you should talk with your doctor about your worries. Take a look at some of these traditional menopause treatments to see if they are right for you. 

Estrogen
Estrogen is the name for a group of hormones your body naturally produces before menopause. During menopause, these levels drop dramatically and can be the cause for many of the bothersome symptoms associated with menopause. It is commonly prescribed to ease these symptoms and to allow your body to transition easily into menopause and post menopause. 

Progesterone
The other hormone your ovaries make is progesterone. Its main function is to support pregnancy. This hormone has been used for a long time to help women who are infertile or to stop premature ovarian failure. They are typically used in menopause to help prevent negative effects on the uterus. 

Testosterone
Men are known to have high levels of testosterone flowing through their bodies. Although some women don’t know this, women make testosterone as well. Testosterone is the hormone that helps with bone density and sexual desire. During menopause, these two things are ones to watch closely. Your doctor may prescribe these to you if you are experiencing decreased sexual desire or if you are at risk for bone density problems. 

The benefits of hormone replacement therapy are that they protect your body in many ways. They work to protect your heart, your skin, and your bones. Many women who take these drugs don’t experience hot flashes or mood swings. They live through menopause comfortably. Some studies show these hormones may even make you live longer. 

There are some risks to taking hormone replacement therapy that you should know about as well. A controversial topic right now is whether or not hormone replacement therapy can make you more at risk for breast cancer. Those with a history of breast cancer in their family should be careful regarding this. Hormone replacement therapy can also be dangerous for people who develop blood clots easily or those who have high blood pressure. Talk with your doctor about these things if you fit into one of the categories mentioned. Ultimately it is up to you whether or not you feel comfortable with hormone replacement therapy. If it seems safe for you and it makes you feel better, then go ahead and try it. If you feel overall uncomfortable about it, try something else. Be sure to listen to your doctor however and even get a second opinion if you want. Your health is important and although your doctors are well trained, they do not know how you feel about things unless you tell them yourself. 

Tags: treatments for menopause, estrogen, hrt, hormone replacement therapy