Hormone Therapy


The use of hormone therapy has been debated a great deal since the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Hormone Study findings were released in 2002. Before this study, it was thought that hormone therapy could ward off heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, while improving women's quality of life. Findings emerged from clinical trials that showed this was not so. In fact, long-term use of hormone therapy poses serious risks and may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

During perimenopause, some doctors suggest birth control pills to help with very heavy, frequent, or unpredictable menstrual periods. These pills might also help with symptoms like hot flashes, as well as prevent pregnancy. As you get closer to menopause, you might be bothered more by symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, or vaginal dryness. Your doctor might then suggest taking estrogen, as well as progesterone, if you still have a uterus. Taking these hormones will probably help with menopause symptoms and prevent the bone loss that can happen at menopause. However, there is a chance your symptoms will come back when you stop hormone therapy.

Currently, hormone therapy is recommended for postmenopausal women who have moderate to severe hot flashes or night sweats. Instead of hormone pills, topical hormones like vaginal creams are recommended for women who have problems with vaginal dryness. Women should talk about these issues with their doctors, who also may prescribe hormones to prevent osteoporosis if other kinds of medicines cannot be taken. Postmenopausal women should not take hormone therapy as they grow older to prevent problems like heart disease.
Hormone therapy can help with menopause by:

* Reducing hot flashes
* Treating vaginal dryness
* Slowing bone loss
* Decreasing mood swings and depression
* Improving sleep

For some women, hormone therapy may increase their chance of getting:

* Blood clots
* Heart attacks
* Strokes
* Breast cancer
* Gall bladder disease

Who should NOT take hormone therapy for menopause:

Women who . . .

* Think they are pregnant
* Have problems with vaginal bleeding
* Have had certain kinds of cancers (such as breast and uterine cancer)
* Have had a stroke or heart attack
* Have had blood clots
* Have liver disease

Hormone therapy can also cause these side effects:

* Bleeding
* Bloating
* Breast tenderness or enlargement
* Headaches
* Mood changes
* Nausea