Hormonal Replacement Therapy or Hormone Replacement Therapy is a type of treatment that allows you to relieve the typical symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, excessive tiredness, vaginal dryness or hair loss, for example.
To do this, this type of therapy uses drugs that help to restore the levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are decreased in menopause, since the ovaries stop producing them when the woman enters climacteric and menopause by the age of 50 .
Hormone replacement can be done in the form of tablets or skin patch and the duration of treatment can range from 2 to 5 years depending on woman to woman. Learn to correctly identify the symptoms of menopause.
Main medicines used
There are two main types of therapies that can be indicated by the obstetrician to make the hormones replacement:
- Estrogen therapy: Estrogens containing estrogens such as estradiol, estrone or mestranol, for example, are used in this therapy and are especially suitable for women who have removed the uterus.
- Therapy with estrogen and progesterone : in this case are used medicines containing natural progesterone or a synthetic form of progesterone combined with an estrogen. This therapy is especially suitable for women with uterus.
The total treatment time should not exceed 5 years, since this treatment is related to the increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
When to avoid therapy
Hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated in some situations, including:
- Breast cancer;
- Endometrial cancer;
- Porphyria;
- Systemic lupus erythematosus;
- Have had a heart attack or stroke - stroke;
- Deep vein thrombosis;
- Blood clotting disorders;
- Genital bleeding of unknown cause.
This therapy should always be indicated and accompanied by the gynecologist, as there is a need for regular monitoring and doses should be adjusted over time.
In addition, hormone replacement can also increase the risks of heart disease, and should be done only when needed, in low doses and for a short period of time.
How to do Natural Hormone Replacement
During this stage of life it is possible to make a natural hormonal replacement by using foods with phytoestrogens, which are natural substances similar to estrogen, and which are present in foods such as soy, flaxseed, yam or blackberry, for example.
Menopause blackberry tea
Blackberry is a great home remedy to reduce the symptoms of menopause as it helps regulate hormone levels naturally. In addition, this tea also has calcium and therefore can help prevent the common osteoporosis of menopause.
Ingredients
- 500 ml of boiling water
- 5 minced blackberry leaves
Method of preparation
Place the leaves inside the boiling water, cover and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Then strain and drink 2 to 3 times a day.
In addition, the use of some medicinal plants such as St. Kitts, Chastity Tree, Dandelion or Salvia also help combat the symptoms of menopause and may be indicated by the doctor to complement the treatment. Learn more on How to Do Natural Hormonal Replenishment in Menopause.
For more tips than you can do to alleviate the discomfort of menopause naturally watch the video:
Hormone Replacement Therapy Fattening?
The hormone replacement does not increase because synthetic or natural hormones are used, similar to those that the woman's body produces.
However, during the natural aging of the body, with the advancing age it is normal to have a greater tendency to gain weight, just as there may also be an increase of fat in the abdominal region.
