Menopause is a natural part of life and the aging process, but the symptoms like hot flashes, weight gain, and sleep loss can make your life uncomfortable.
While there’s no cure for menopause symptoms, treatments like hormone replacement therapy may provide much needed relief as your body transitions through the process.
If you’re looking for relief as you go through menopause, we can help. Our medical director, Dr. Nasrin Ejtemaee, and our team at Ashburn Laser & Skincare MedSpa offer comprehensive treatment for the symptoms of hormone imbalance like those experienced during menopause.
What is hormone replacement therapy?
As you age, the body’s production of critical hormones and proteins begins to decline. For example, common signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles, volume loss, and saggy skin result from less collagen production.
As women approach menopause, the end of the reproductive cycle, estrogen levels decrease. Less estrogen can result in familiar menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and fatigue.
We prescribe hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as one way to help manage menopause symptoms by balancing estrogen loss. Depending on your symptoms and your health profile, we may prescribe a combination of HRT that includes both estrogen and progesterone, or just estrogen.
HRT is available in several forms including oral tablets, hormone gel, patches, and vaginal inserts.
The goal of hormone replacement therapy is manage your menopause symptoms by replacing estrogen loss. HRT won’t slow down or reverse the process, but it can help make your symptoms less intense and help you feel more comfortable.
In addition to managing your menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy may have other benefits such as lowering your risk of developing osteoporosis, which results from loss of bone density. Bone density loss can increase your risk of fractures.
It may also play a role in lowering the risk of serious health conditions like diabetes and colon cancer in certain women.
Like any medication, there are also potential health risks associated with HRT depending on your health profile, and the age you started taking the treatment, among others. Some studies have shown an increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease in some women.
Is hormone replacement therapy right for you?
Hormone replacement therapy is generally recommended for healthy women experiencing moderate menopause symptoms, which include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Chills
- Weight gain
- Mood swings
- Irregular periods
- Difficulty sleeping
Comprehensive treatments that include hormone replacement therapy in addition to lifestyle adjustments may be most effective in managing your menopause symptoms.
For more information about hormone replacement therapy and whether it’s right for you, contact us today to schedule a consultation at our Ashburn, Virginia, clinic.
