Hormone replacement therapy is often the first thing out of your doctor’s mouth when you talk with him or her about menopause. Many doctors strongly believe in hormone replacement therapy. Others are a little more leery of the idea however. Millions of women do opt for this type of traditional menopause treatment however. Those who are just beginning often what they should expect. You may have heard rumors about hormone replacement therapy or you may just need information about it. If you are considering trying hormone replacement therapy, here is some information for you to think about before making your final decision.

Having Periods With Hormone Replacement Therapy

If you have heard that hormone replacement therapy may cause you to have periods again, you may be right. Estrogen is one form of hormone replacement that can cause vaginal bleeding in women. The entire thing usually depends on the hormone you are receiving and your dosage. Some women simply respond differently to hormones than others. If you are experiencing bleeding, you can always talk to your doctor about changing your medication or dosage to try to stop it.

The process of taking estrogen works to thicken your uterine lining. When you go through menopause, the lining thins and that is why your periods stop. As the lining thickens, it may be shed. This typically happens with women on a cyclic regime where estrogen is only taken for around 21-25 days a month. The statistics are fairly high with approximately 2 out of 3 women having a period. Those who take estrogen every day, plus progestin some days will still likely have a period.

PMS During Menopause

Just because you are on hormone replacement therapy does not mean you are free from PMS yet. Many women on estrogen or other forms of hormone replacement drugs still experience tender breasts, bloating, nausea, and moodiness. Most of the time women going through menopause experience these things anyway however. Sometimes the symptoms of PMS and of menopause are so similar they tend to blur the lines. Reduce the amount of sodium you have each day, exercise regularly, and avoid caffeine in order to reduce these symptoms. If your symptoms become drastically bothersome, talk with your doctor about them. Your doctor will be able to offer suggestions.

As you can see, there are several things you may want to know before opting to use hormone replacement therapy. Some women should certainly use hormone replacement therapy during menopause because they are at high risk for things like heart disease, bone density problems, or depression. Others however may want to talk with their doctor about other alternative options for women going through menopause. You may want to consider herbal remedies, vitamin supplements, diet changes, and other natural options. You should run all of these by your doctor to make sure you are making the best medical decision for yourself. However, ultimately it is up to you whether or not you want to use hormones to get through menopause. 

Tags: estrogen replacement during menopause, menopause, pms during menopause