It’s only natural for people ages 40 and up to start coming into terms with the symptoms of andropause and menopause. However, this period in life doesn’t promise a lot of pleasant changes. Along with hair loss and a lower sex drive, the general experience is marked with total discomfort. To alleviate this pain, many people around this age do their best to maintain their physical and mental health. While routine exercise, eating a proper diet, and living a stress-free lifestyle does the job of easing their troubles, these do not always work. However, there is one other way to easily deal with the signs and symptoms of aging: hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment that is used to relieve the common problems associated with hormone imbalance. An aging body cannot produce the same amount of hormones as it once did when it was younger. Hormones affect a lot of necessary functions and processes in the body, and any slight change in them affects everything – from one’s mood to weight. HRT is used to correct these imbalances and restore your hormone to its optimum level.
Is Hormone Replacement Therapy for You?
Receiving hormone replacement therapy is not that simple. To be an eligible candidate for this treatment, men and women must first pass a set of criteria.
1. What is your age and when did you first experience the symptoms?
Hormone replacement therapy works best before or during the peak of the symptoms. People under 60 experience worse conditions than those who are older, so it is advisable to receive HRT at around this age. Those older that 60 who are planning to get HRT are at the risk of heart disease, blood clots, dementia, and stroke.
2. What is your health history?
If you are a smoker or have a history of the following conditions, do not take hormone replacement therapy:
- Heart problems
- Blood clots (particularly in your legs or lungs)
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Stroke
3. Are your symptoms that severe?
The main purpose of HRT is to alleviate the symptoms of hormone imbalance. It is okay to consider HRT if you are feeling a slight discomfort. However, if you are feeling very few or none of the symptoms of andropause or menopause, then you don’t have to take HRT. If you are from Australia, you can check out the best endocrinologist in Sydney and get yourself assessed if your symptoms are severe enough to start hormone replacement therapy..
4. Have you tried any alternatives?
HRT is usually the last approach people choose. Some men and women have tried over-the-counter lubricants and even behavioral therapy and hypnosis. If none of the alternatives work for you, then you can try HRT.
5. Are you bothered by the risks?
Hormone replacement therapy is a medical treatment with its own set of risks. Increasing the levels of estrogen and progestin in the body can slightly increase the risk for:
- Breast cancer
- Stroke
- Deep-vein thrombosis
If you are having doubts with HRT but still want to give it a try, it is best that you consult a doctor to help you out. There are a lot of clinics that specialize in hormone replacement therapy across the Beverly Hills area. These clinics create a program unique to your needs and biological design to help prioritize the problems you feel the most.
Source(s):
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Hormone-replacement-therapy/Pages/Introduction.aspx
- https://www.webmd.com/menopause/features/is-hormone-therapy-right-for-you-13
- https://www.genemedics.com/hormone-therapy/
