Do I Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Every woman must answer this question some time in her life: Do I Need Hormone Replacement Therapy? Because, for every woman, there are two phases in her life in regards to her physically. She is in her child-bearing years, or she is in her menopausal years. The latter can be one of three stages: pre-menopausal, menopausal, or post-menopausal.

During the menopausal years, a woman's body stops developing hormones that she previously needed for child-bearing purposes. The lack of these hormones creates an overall change in her body. Not only does her monthly menstrual cycle cease, but a woman often suffers from hot flashes, facial hair growth, and constant mood swings, et cetera. Depression is also a common
symptom of the menopausal years. If you're in your menopausal years and you suffer from any of these symptoms, you should ask yourself: Do I Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Along with the negative symptoms that a lack of certain reproduction hormones brings on, it also causes other changes in a woman's body. These changes can lead to serious medical problems such as Osteoporosis, Heart Disease, and Cancers, just to name a few. HRT's are even thought to help prevent Alzheimer's Disease. So, medicine has come up with a way to replace the hormones that a woman's body is not producing now that she's in her menopausal years. It's called "Hormone Replacement Therapy, (HRT)". Hormone Replacement Therapy can effectively help stop, or at least ease, the negative symptoms a woman tends to suffer when she's in her menopausal years. It can also decrease the risks of a woman suffering from serious medical problems.

If you think you're in need of replacement reproduction hormones, then you should visit your gynecologist and ask him/her, "Do I Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?" If he or she agrees you do, they'll probably prescribe one or two of the most common synthetic hormone replacements. These are brand names like Cenestin, Provera, Premarin, and Estraderm, just to name a few. These replacement hormones are taken either orally, transdermally (by wearing a patch), or vaginally. Your gynecologist will need to adjust the dosage of your Hormone Replacement Therapy so it can work the best for you.

So, if you're a woman who is in her menopausal years of life, you probably wonder, "Do I Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?" Hormone Replacement Therapy can help relieve annoying symptoms that are interrupting your life. They can also help prevent serious medical illnesses.

However, medical studies have yet to determine if the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks. Women who participate in Hormone Replacement Therapy are at risk for strokes, heart attacks, thromboembolism, (blood clots), and cholecystitis (gallstones).

Besides asking your gynecologist, "Do I Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?", you should ask about the health risks associated with taking them.

A feasible alternative to HRT is taking natural herbs like Black Cohosh or Saint John's Wort. These herbs are shown to have no side effects, as long as they are taken as directed. Yet these two herbs can actually help lessen or stop negative symptoms a woman is experiencing.

Experts also recommend eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, lowering your weight if need be, watching your cholesterol, and quitting smoking.