Benefits of Hormone Therapy for Women

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) supplements the body with hormones that it no longer produces sufficiently. Particularly in your menopausal years, it aims to supplant estrogen and progesterone to relieve you of disruptive symptoms of menopause.

READ ALSO: What Age Does Menopause Start?

Symptom relief, however, is not its most important goal. Ultimately, HRTs aim to improve your quality of life during this transitional phase and support your overall health as you age. No matter the form of HRT prescribed to you, it’s essential to understand that your OB-GYN encourages you to take it for critical reasons we will discuss in this article.

 Beyond Relief: Benefits of Hormone Therapy for Women

Although it’s commonly known and prescribed for the relief of uncomfortable menopause symptoms, hormone replacement therapy serves a larger purpose for your health. Below are the specific benefits HRT can offer you.

1. Relief from common menopausal symptoms.

Menopause is often accompanied by disruptive symptoms that can be disruptive to daily life. These symptoms arise as estrogen and progesterone levels decline and are not present in quantities sufficient for supporting specific body functions.

Relief from these symptoms is one of the primary reasons women approach OB-GYNs and ask about HRTs. When taking them, you can experience a decrease in the frequency or severity of the symptoms below.

• Hot flashes and night sweats. Also known as vasomotor symptoms, hot flashes, and night sweats are among the most common uncomfortable menopause symptoms. HRT helps alleviate this by stabilizing estrogen levels, which, in turn, regulates internal body temperature. Once on HRTs, the frequency and severity of episodes start to decline; sleep interruptions are reduced, and you feel more rested and alert during the day.
• Insomnia and sleep disturbances. These symptoms often go hand in hand with hormonal imbalances. By alleviating night sweats and restoring hormone levels, HRT can help improve sleep patterns, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Better sleep improves daytime functioning, energy levels, and overall health.
• Mood swings and mental distress. Hormone fluctuations during menopause can cause mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and even depression. As hormone levels stabilize with HRTs, mood-related symptoms lessen, and you achieve better emotional well-being. You may feel more balanced and less emotionally overwhelmed.

2. Prevents osteoporosis and bone density loss.

One of the lesser-known yet significant effects of menopause is the accelerated loss of bone density due to the decrease in estrogen levels. This reduction in estrogen weakens bones and increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, particularly in the hips, spine, and wrists. 

Hormone therapy helps prevent osteoporosis by maintaining adequate estrogen levels in your body. In doing so, bone formation improves, and bone resorption slows down. Studies have shown that HRT effectively preserves bone density, making it a valuable option for long-term skeletal health.

 Cardiovascular Health Benefits

Estrogen protects cardiovascular health by promoting healthy cholesterol levels and supporting the elasticity of blood vessels. When estrogen levels decline during menopause, women experience an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and heart disease.

HRT can help reduce these risks by maintaining healthier lipid profiles and improving blood vessel function. While HRT is not recommended solely for heart disease prevention, it can be a beneficial component of overall cardiovascular health management when initiated around the time of menopause.

3. Alleviates Vaginal Dryness and Discomfort

Vaginal dryness, itching, and pain during intercourse are common symptoms of menopause caused by the thinning and drying of vaginal tissues due to reduced estrogen. These symptoms can affect intimate relationships.

Hormone therapy, particularly local estrogen treatments, helps restore moisture and elasticity in the vaginal tissues, reducing discomfort and making sexual activity more comfortable. Alleviating these symptoms improves physical health and enhances emotional well-being and confidence.

4. Supporting Urinary Health

The loss of estrogen during menopause can also impact urinary health, leading to symptoms like increased urgency, frequency, and even urinary incontinence. Estrogen therapy helps strengthen the tissues of the bladder and urethra, which can reduce these symptoms and improve bladder control. 

By addressing these issues, HRT contributes to better urinary health and overall quality of life, allowing women to go about their daily activities without constant concern about urinary discomfort or accidents.

 HRTs for Supporting Women’s Health

While the majority of online and in-clinic conversations around HRTs still focus on symptomatic relief for menopause, it’s essential to be aware of its more significant role in women’s health. 

Certainly, symptomatic relief is enough reason to stop by your OB-GYN’s clinic for an HRT prescription. However, we should also emphasize its long-term, health-supporting benefits. Osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease are both irreversible conditions that, if not managed promptly, could significantly compromise a woman’s quality of life.

If you would like to talk to an OB-GYN about how soon you can start HRT, please contact Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN. We’d be more than happy to discuss it with you.