HRT doctor and bio-identical

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= The Bad News About HRT =

Hormone replacement therapy, also known as HRT does have benefits. Doctors and researchers believe that this form of therapy can help reduce the symptoms caused by menopause and hysterectomies including hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats and irritability. However, as with any prescription, HRT does have side effects. Also, many believe that hormone replacement therapy can increase the chances for breast cancer.

Hormone replacement therapy is usually prescribed to women who are experiencing unpleasant side effects from menopause. Menopause is a natural part of aging and if a woman can endure the temporary side effects caused by menopause, then hormone replacement therapy is usually not needed. Replacement hormones are generally given to treat symptoms or for prevention. If replacement hormones are necessary, a doctor will usually prescribe these drugs before menopause begins. This can completely stop hot flashes, night sweats and even some parts of the aging process can be delayed. Hormones might also slow down the development of osteoporosis. Some women feel that taking hormone replacement therapy can really make menopause more bearable.

However, there are side effects of replacement hormones, both in the short term and in the long term. Long-term effects show that taking hormone replacements can increase the risk of uterine cancer. Also, it can increase the risk of some forms of breast cancer. It is possible to increase the risk of uterine cancer when estrogen is given alone rather than with a combination of progesterone. For women who have a personal history of breast cancer, taking this form of therapy can increase the risk of both benign and malignant breast tumors. This is also true for women that have breast cancer in the family. However, some doctors feel that it is still acceptable to administer HRT to women with breast cancer in the family, if the woman is closely monitored while taking the replacement hormones.

In addition to the increase risk of uterine and breast cancer, taking hormone replacement therapy can also increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis during the first six months of therapy. This means that blood clots can form in the leg veins and can eventually affect the lungs. The risk is relatively small, but for women that already suffer from this disorder, the risk is real. Doctors will closely monitor these women as well.

There may also be short-term side effects from taking hormone replacement therapy. Such side effects can last several months and can range from very mild to very severe depending on the woman. Some of these side effects include nausea or vomiting, headaches, migraines, and vaginal bleeding and discharge. Sometimes additional medications can be given in conjunction with replacement hormones to help combat the short-term side effects.

When a doctor prescribes hormone replacement therapy it is only after talking a thorough healthy history and exam. The doctor will talk with the woman and discuss all possible side effect, as well as disadvantages and benefits of hormone replacement therapy. For many women, the advantages of taking HRT far outweighs the disadvantages, but many doctors feel more research should be done concerning the risk of breast cancer and HRT.

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