Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help alleviate some symptoms associated with menopause and peri-menopause, yet isn’t the only form of treatment. Many women turn to safer alternative therapies which are marketed as natural remedies; these cannot be regulated by any medical authority and can vary in terms of dosage, purity and side effects.
Bioidentical hormones
As women progress through the stages of menopause and into postmenopause, their quality of life may change considerably. Common symptoms may include hot flashes, mood swings, loss of libido and vaginal dryness – though natural remedies may help ease some symptoms – hormone replacement therapy (HRT) remains one of the most effective means of treating these issues.
Traditional HRT uses synthetic hormones derived from animal sources, like pregnant horse urine and progestins, to replace natural hormones lost due to menopause. There are alternative options such as bioidentical hormones derived from plant sources like soybeans and yams; these hormones chemically mimic what your body naturally produces and therefore respond similarly.
Bioidentical hormones come in various forms, including tablets, creams, and implants. Their dosage can also be customized based on your physician’s prescription to ensure that they reach therapeutic concentrations within your body at precisely the right moment.
Bioidentical hormones offer another distinct advantage over their synthetic counterparts derived from horse urine or other animal sources: They don’t contain animal products that could compromise safety. This makes bioidenticals safer choices.
Bioidentical hormones offer an alternative that’s more natural than traditional HRT; they’re made from plants and are bioidentical to those naturally produced by your body, making it more likely that they’re absorbed and helping minimize side effects.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may provide relief for women experiencing menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings, as well as reduce your chances of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
Although BHRT provides many advantages, it’s essential that it be administered by an expert practitioner. A gynecologist with extensive training in this area will ensure you’re receiving tailored treatment specific to your hormonal imbalances.
Medically supervised hormone replacement therapy (MHT)
MHT may help ease many of the symptoms associated with menopause and can even improve quality of life in postmenopausal women, but this therapy comes with risks; thus women should carefully consider all potential advantages and disadvantages before making their decision to use MHT. Women with a family history of breast cancer should use it with caution; also ensure to use MHT only under medical advice from a provider.
A recent study suggests that the benefits of MHT outweigh its risks, particularly among women starting treatment before age 60 or within 10 years postmenopause. The researchers reviewed data from 102 meta-analyses of RCTs and 38 observational studies involving 44,639 women, which showed MHT did not increase all-cause death or cardiovascular events but did increase stroke and venous thromboembolism risk; limitations include small number of trials conducted, high heterogeneity, and lack of statistical power in this research project.
Recently, there has been growing concern regarding the increased breast cancer risk associated with oestrogen-progestogen MHT after a 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study indicated it significantly increases risk (1 case per 1000 woman-years). This led to 55% less use of MHT; however reanalysis of data suggested this increase only applied to those women who had used oestrogen previously.
NAMS recommendations emphasize individualized decision-making when considering MHT use, taking into account benefits and risks for each woman individually. This approach includes factors like symptoms management, age, medical history, personal preferences and personal preference. MHT should ideally be taken for as short a duration possible to alleviate symptoms; women experiencing early menopause may benefit from low dose MHT; but always consult your physician about any specific symptoms you’re experiencing before beginning medication. For women at greater risk for heart disease or blood clots in legs/chest/ or an increased history of breast cancer, MHT may not be the right option; alternative treatments may be recommended instead.
