Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Worth the Risk?

As a woman enters into menopause, also Known as the "change of life", her body may react in many different ways. Some of the symptoms are missed periods, Hot flashes, Vaginal dryness, Urinary and vaginal infections, Insomnia and Emotional upsets. Some women have very severe symptoms where others will have only mild symptoms. Depending on how severe your symptoms are,you may want to talk with your doctor about the best course of treatment for you.

Menopause is not a disease but a normal, natural part of life. There is nothing wrong with this biological process other then the sometimes uncomfortable symptoms. Each woman is different and their individual reactions to the biological changes will be varied.
Hormone replacement therapy can help relieve the symptoms of menopause - but at what cost? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises doctors to prescribe estrogen only when the benefits clearly outweigh the risks, and only for as long as needed, and at the lowest effective dose possible to bring symptoms to manageable level .This is due to the information obtained by studies conducted by The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) which is a set of studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

If you are considering HRT discuss the following risks with your doctor first.

Heart disease. Will the increase of of estrogen and progestren increase your risk of heart disease?

Cancer. Will you be at higher risk for breast cancer if you use HRT?

Asthma. Will your risk of developing Asthma increase?

Gallstones. Will you be at higher risk of developing gallstones?

Some of the benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy are less hot flashes . Possible elimination of the flashes within the first month of of starting the medication.

Strengthens bones. In fact,HRT may signifificantly reduse the risk of osteoporosis.

Reduce risk of sleep apnea. The University of Toronto and St Micheal's Hospital Sleep Laboratory did a study that revealed Post- menopausal women suffer more from sleep apnea and that Hormone Replacement Therapy might be one way to fight this serious problem. The studies at this time are inconclusive but may be promising.

If you decide that Hormone Replacement Therapy isn't for you, then you may want to explore the available alternative therapies.
If you suffer from hot flashes and mood swings, Black Cohosh might be very useful. This plant has been used for thousands of years by Native Americans to treat "female" problems.

St Johns Wort is used to help menopausal women feel better both physically and emotionally.

Vitamins are also important to minimize the symptoms and effects of menopause. Vitamin A can counter act dry skin and fight yeast infections. The vitamin B family fights migraines, osteoporosis and depression. They are also important to heart health.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that also helps reduce hot flashes and protects your skin.

Calcium is important to keeping strong bones.

You can find more information about naturopathic treatment for menopause at www. naturopathic.org.

reference: The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
3201 New Mexico Avenue, N.W., Suite 350
Washington, DC 20016

reference: www.mayoclinic.com/health/hormone-therapy
reference: familydoctor.org