Hormone Replacement Therapy: Are You Getting Too Little or Too Much?

Hormone replacement therapy is prescribed for women across the world to help combat the effects menopause reeks on the body. The level of hormones in each case is determined by many factors including age and whether the menopause was naturally occurring or caused by surgery. For many women, especially those suffering from symptoms related to surgically induced menopause, the side effects of too little or too much replacement hormone in the body elude them. As a woman on hormone replacement therapy, I understand the lack of information available. I have researched and studied the effects of hormone replacement therapy and compiled a list of symptoms for each woman to look for and subsequently discuss with her doctor.

TOO LITTLE ESTROGEN

When a woman starts hormone replacement therapy, the doctor prescribes the lowest dose he or she feels will be effective for the patient. Without being a psychic, the doctor has no way of knowing for sure the perfect level. Trial and error is the only tried and true method. As if the information available was not "muddy" enough, some of the symptoms of too little estrogen can be mirrored in cases of too much estrogen. If a woman is started out on a hormone level that is too low for her natural chemical makeup she may experience:

Hot flashes
Shortness of breath
Night sweats
Sleep disorders
Vaginal shrinkage
Painful intercourse
Vaginal dryness
Dry skin
Anxiety
Mood swings
Headache
Depression
Memory Loss
Heart palpitations
Yeast infections
Inability to reach orgasm

TOO MUCH ESTROGEN

In the beginning months after menopause, generally the same number of women will be effected by too much estrogen as are effected by too little. Both situations can be uncomfortable but, too much estrogen can actually lead to health problems. If your estrogen level is too high you may experience some of these symptoms:

Water Retention
Fatigue
Breast Swelling
Fibrocystic Breasts
PMS-like symptoms
Loss of sex drive
Uterine Fibroids
Craving for Sweets
Weight Gain

As with all women currently taking hormone replacement therapy or thinking about using this therapy in the future, there are pros and cons to consider. Discussing all aspects of hormone replacement therapy with your gynecologist is truly an important step to living life after menopause at the same comfort level (or better in some cases) as before menopause. Keeping track of all symptoms, no matter how simple they may seem and talking with your doctor about them is probably the most important decision you can make. Hormone replacement therapy is not for everyone, but for those of us who are new to menopause, these symptoms are real and can be addressed and corrected with a few tweaks in our estrogen levels.

For more information on menopause feel free to visit www.knowmenopause.com .