HRT and How it Works

If you are suffering from adverse symptoms of the menopause, you may have considered HRT, but be unsure of precisely how it works, it’s safety and whether it’s right for you.

Hormone therapy is an effective treatment for the symptoms of menopause and because of its potential long-term health benefits, which help to eradicate many of the symptoms of menopause many women find uncomfortable.

How Does HRT Work?

Hormone replacement therapy works by supplementing the body with the oestrogen it is no longer capable of producing on its own.

The female body gradually produces lower levels of oestrogen as part of the ageing process, which results in a variety of side effects and symptoms associated with menopause. Examples of which include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, headaches, low mood, and reduced sex drive.

What Are the Benefits of HRT?

The benefit of HRT lies in its potential to naturally reduce or even reverse many of the symptoms that accompany menopause. For example, you may be considered an appropriate candidate for HRT if you are in a good state of health and:

• You suffer from relatively severe hot flushes and experience regular night sweats.
• You are considered at risk of bone damage due to osteoporosis.
• You are unable to maintain a healthy sex life due to vaginal symptoms of menopause.
• You experience early onset menopause or have a diagnosed oestrogen deficiency.

The appropriateness and therefore, the benefits of HRT differ significantly from one patient to the next, in accordance with the symptoms they are experiencing and their overall state of health.

How is HRT Taken?

There are two main types of oestrogen therapy:

• Systemic hormone therapy.This is the most common form of HRT prescribed, which involves the use of pills, skin patches, sprays, creams and other topicals with measured doses of oestrogen.
• Low-dose vaginal products.Usually containing a much lower dose of oestrogen, these products are applied directly to the vagina and are used specifically to target the vaginal symptoms of menopause.

The most appropriate course of treatment will therefore be determined by the nature and extent of your symptoms, along with your overall state of health at the time. If both treatment options are viable, your doctor will help you establish which is most appropriate for your requirements.

Is HRT Safe?

Extensive clinical trials assessing the safety of HRT have highlighted certain risks associated with oestrogen supplementation. Orally administered oestrogen pills have been linked in some patients with an elevated risk of:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Blood clots
• Breast cancer

However, evidence also suggests that these and other risk factors are linked with a variety of additional patient-specific factors, meaning that, for the majority of women, the benefits very much outweigh the risks.

How Eve Clinics Can Help

At Eve Clinics, we take a completely tailored approach to dealing with symptoms of the menopause, as we know that every woman is different.

Our expert doctors are able to give you guidance on whether HRT is right for you, outline any risks, and provide guidance on the best oestrogen treatment options.

As a leading provider of both medical and aesthetic solutions which help alleviate the side effects of menopause, should HRT not be right for you, we can also recommend alternative treatments for specific symptoms such as CO2 laser therapy to help combat vaginal dryness.