Menopause
101
What About Estrogen Supplements?
Adapted by Tracee Cornforth
In perimenopause, your doctor might suggest birth control pills. These will provide birth control, make your periods more regular, and lower your chance of cancer of the uterus and ovaries. It may also help with symptoms like hot flashes. However, the pill hides the arrival of menopause. When you think you might have reached menopause, you could stop taking the pill for several months to see if you still have a regular period.
Once you have reached menopause, your doctor might suggest estrogen and progesterone, known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT. For women without a uterus, the doctor will recommend estrogen alone. This is called estrogen replacement therapy or ERT. The hormones are usually taken as pills, but can be given as skin patches, creams, or vaginal inserts, depending on a woman's particular needs.
Taking hormones for a short time (less than 5 years) may help relieve any symptoms of menopause. Taking HRT/ERT for more than 5 years will also help delay osteoporosis and may protect against heart disease. It should improve your cholesterol levels and may also help your memory.
Is HRT Really Necessary?
"Is it really
necessary to be on hormones in menopause? I have been advised by the
doctor that I should take them. I tried the patch and could not
continue to use it because I had a skin reaction to it and it would
not stay on like it was suppose to. I have gallstones and do not want
to take oral hormones because I was told it could make me have a
gallbladder attack. I've tried the vaginal cream but was not
imressed. I seem to be healthy with no menopausal symptoms except for
a little anxiety and wonder if it's really necessary since this is
the way nature intended for it to be."
What
Do You Think?
However, there are side effects and possibly health risks. This is particularly true if you have liver problems, high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood), or a history of blood clots. Blood clots and an increase in your chance of developing breast cancer are two risks of HRT/ERT.
<<< Menopause 101 Table of Contents
Adapted from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging
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