Hormone Replacement Therapy

What is hormone replacement therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment for women experiencing moderate or severe menopausal symptoms.

In perimenopause – the years leading up to menopause – your estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate. These hormonal changes cause irregularities in your menstrual cycle and many of the symptoms associated with menopause.

Your ovaries gradually stop producing estrogen and other sex hormones. With these hormonal changes, your ovaries no longer ovulate and your period stops. You reach menopause when you go one full year without your period.

Though the type and severity of menopause symptoms vary, for some women, menopause symptoms have a significant effect on their quality of life.

Am I a candidate for hormone replacement therapy?

When you come in for a hormone replacement therapy consultation with Dr. Banooni, he conducts an in-depth evaluation to determine if the therapy is the right choice for you.

You may be a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy if lab tests indicate your hormone levels are low and you’re experiencing moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms such as:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Painful intercourse
• Diminishing sex drive
• Fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping
• Changes in mood
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Urinary incontinence

You may not be a candidate for hormone replacement therapy if you have a history of breast cancer, blood clots, heart disease, or stroke.

What are the benefits of hormone replacement therapy?

In addition to relieving your symptoms and improving your quality of life, hormone replacement therapy may prevent bone loss and decrease your risk of postmenopausal bone fractures.

Estrogen plays a major role in the bone-building process, so when your estrogen levels fall, your body can’t make enough new bone cells to replace the old bone cells. Over time, your bones weaken, making you more susceptible to fractures and osteoporosis.

The estrogen in your hormone replacement therapy can help keep your bones healthy and strong.

How is hormone replacement therapy given?

Dr. Banooni works with you when designing your hormone replacement therapy. Your hormone replacement therapy may include estrogen alone or estrogen with progesterone.

You may receive your hormone replacement therapy as a:

• Pill
• Lotion
• Injection
• Skin patch
• Spray
• Pellet

Your hormone replacement therapy may include a high or low dose of estrogen, depending on your symptoms and needs.

High-dose estrogen, also called systemic estrogen therapy, helps most of the symptoms of menopause, while low-dose estrogen therapy treats vaginal and urinary symptoms.

To schedule your hormone replacement therapy consultation with Peyman Banooni, MD, call the office or request a visit online today.