are there any alternatives to hrt?
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The alternatives to HRT can be broadly classified as: Herbal medicine - a practice based on the use of plants or plant extracts to relieve symptoms, e.g. evening primrose oil or St John's Wort.
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The history of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) started in the 1960s, with very high popularity in the 1990s. The first clinical trials on HRT and chronic postmenopausal conditions were started in the USA in the late 1990s.
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Implantable Estrogen While implantable estradiol pellets have been suggested as treatment for symptoms of menopause, there are no United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, commercially available formulations of implantable estradiol pellets available in the United States.
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Progynova is a Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). It contains the female hormone, oestrogen. Your ovaries gradually make less of this hormone as you get older and will no longer produce it after you have been through the menopause. Progynova can be used in peri- and postmenopausal women.
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Most experts agree that if HRT is used on a short-term basis (no more than five years), the benefits outweigh the risks. If HRT is taken for longer, particularly for more than 10 years, you should discuss your individual risks with your GP and review them on an annual basis.
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It found more than 1 year's use of HRT increased the risk of breast cancer, with the risk increasing the longer HRT was used. Women appear to remain at increased risk more than 10 years after they'd stopped taking HRT. The risk was greater with combined oestrogen and progestogen HRT than oestrogen-only HRT.
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Once you stop taking estrogen, you may develop brittle bones. However, lifestyle, dietary and nonhormonal medications can be very effective in preventing bone loss and osteoporosis. Women who stop taking HRT may have a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
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This includes hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, mood swings, anxiety, decreased sexual desire, fatigue, and headaches. Doctors may also recommend HRT to decrease the risk of osteoporosis.
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['Skin patch. A patch is applied once every 24 hours, in the evening, and releases small amounts of the hormone into the skin.', 'Gels. Topical gels are spread daily onto the skin over both upper arms, shoulders, or thighs. ... ', 'Oral therapy. ... ', 'Pellets. ... ', 'Injections.']
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Whatever form or dose of HRT you are using, it's advisable to come off your medication gradually, weaning the dose down over a period of time. Your body may have become dependent on the additional supply of hormones provided by the HRT, and if you stop taking them suddenly you may go into an 'overnight menopause.
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It may also take your body time to get used to HRT. When treatment begins you may experience side effects such as breast tenderness, nausea and leg cramps. Usually these side effects will disappear within six to eight weeks.
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['Clomiphene or Clomid.', 'Anastrazole or arimidex.', 'hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) or hMG (human menopausal gonadotropin)']
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Although it's generally only prescribed as a last resort for menopausal symptoms, hormone replacement therapy is a common and very effective hair loss treatment for some women — as long as they are menopausal or post-menopausal and are not at higher risk for adverse effects from HRT.
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Short-term hormone replacement therapy is safe for most menopausal women who take HRT for symptom control. However, before HRT is prescribed, make sure you review your medical history with your health care provider.
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Like any medicine, the hormones used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can cause side effects. Any side effects usually improve over time, so it's a good idea to persevere with treatment for at least 3 months if possible. Speak to a GP if you have severe side effects or they continue for longer than 3 months.
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Skin patches Oestrogen-only and combined HRT patches are available. Skin patches may be a better option than tablets if you find it inconvenient to take a tablet every day. Using patches can also help avoid some side effects of HRT, such as indigestion, and unlike tablets, they do not increase your risk of blood clots.
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Although there have been concerns raised about HRT and the potential risks to various aspects of women's health, more recently published findings show that although not entirely risk free, it remains the most effective solution for the relief of menopausal symptoms and is also effective for the prevention of ...