Every Woman's Guide to Menopause and the Importance of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Menopause means "the pause in menstruation" and relates to the time a woman had her last menstrual period. Generally, women experience this between the ages of 45 and 55, but sometimes (though rare), as early as 30 years. This accompanies body changes like hot flushes, tiredness, depression, and an irregular cycle may occur years before the onset of menopause.

The three hormones produced by ovaries are progesterone, testosterone and estrogen. These hormones are not produced by the body after menopause. Although, estrogen may still be produced by fat tissue, that's why fat women do not experience estrogen deficiency symptoms after menopause. The body needs estrogen to stay healthy and long-term estrogen deficiency problems such as angina and stroke,Dowager's hump, hip fracture, genital degeneration, hip fracture, and osteoporosis, are becoming common as these women approach this stage. These health problems diminish quality of life among these women. The good news is, it is preventable.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE?

According to experts, there are 5 groups of estrogen deficiency symptoms that a woman may experience during this stage:

• Hot flushes, night sweats, headaches, palpitations, excessive tiredness, crawling sensations under the skin, and sleeplessness - are caused by instability in the normal working of the blood vessels.


• Mood changes, depression, loss of memory, feeling unloved, and anxiety- are psychological symptoms.


• Dryness of vaginal tissues and affected bladder- which leads to desire to urinate more often and make intercourse uncomfortable.


• Loss of interest in sexual intercourse- this is due to dryness of vaginal tissues and affected bladder that loses the urge in women in sex.


• Prone to fractures, back aches, muscle pains and osteoporosis- due to loss of strength of body's supporting tissues and thinning of the bones.

IN WHAT OTHER WAYS CAN ESTROGEN DEFICIENCY AFFECTS WOMEN?

Heart diseases and strokes increase among women after menopause. Before the occurrence, women were protected by their estrogen. Studies shows that administration of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) after menopause, reduces the risks. HRT is said to be important for women who have risk factors for heart disease, those with high cholesterol levels, obesity, and who have high blood pressure. It is said to be administered more importantly to women who experienced menopause at a very early age.

WHAT IS HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT)?

This means replacing the hormones that have been previously been produced by the ovaries. HRT reduces the incidence of heart diseases and strokes. Although, it s still under study on this subject, it is believed that short-term memory will be improved and Alzheimer's type called dementia will be reduced.

Genitourinary problems in old age will be reduced. It prevents bone loss and osteoporosis. This means that the quality of life will be maintained while 40% of quality life will be reduced and will continue to persists for ten years or a lifetime after menopause to women without HRT.

WHAT ARE THE FACTS AND FALLACIES OF HRT?

• HRT won't cause weight gain. Some women might experience initial side effects such as a bloated feeling, breast tenderness and fullness but theses are just reactions tend to settle down within the first few months of therapy and no need to worry about.


• HRT does not suppress ovulation and, therefore family planning methods should be implemented to avoid unwanted pregnancies during this stage.


• Women with history of liver disease, clotting problems, or estrogen dependent cancers should take a different type of therapy.


• HRT must be taken 5-10 years for estrogen deficiency symptoms, 10-20 years if for osteoporosis prevention and lifetime treatment should be done for the prevention of heart disease and stroke.


• Calcium supplements must be taken daily together with HRT. Calcium will not be absorbed by the body if there's no presence of estrogen in the body.

Around the age of 45-50 or anytime you feel you could be experiencing estrogen deficient symptoms, consult your doctor right away and ask about HRT and if it will suit your health needs. Remember: Don't take any medication without consulting your doctor first.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS WOMEN SHOULD DO BEFORE AND AFTER MENOPAUSE?

• Have a very active life and exercise daily. Eat a well balanced diet --- avoid fatty foods, liquor, cigarettes, and harmful drugs. It's a general knowledge that to have a healthy life, we should always find time to exercise, to get enough sleep, and to eat low-fat, low-cholesterol, fibrous diet. We always know this. But, not all people who knows practices what they know. So, if you're one of them, you should do this healthy lifestyle principle this time.


• always take multi-vitamins along with your breakfast to start your day. Make sure that vitamins have the essential ingredients for it to be useful to your daily body needs. Read this link for more information about multi-vitamins:


• take time to have fun once in a while. Smile and even if you're out of tune, hum and sing a lot. Take everything in life as an experience. Don't dwell on the stresses it will give you but focus on how to solve problems in life with a positive outlook and a smile even if the going gets tough.

Every woman will experience menopause. No woman is exempted. Therefore, we should take care of ourselves so that we will grow old gracefully without the unwanted symptoms menopause could bring. We have a choice. It's up to us what choice to take.

(DISCLAIMER: This article was not written to support and endorse any HRT brands or any Pharmaceutical companies. This is written purely on my quest to help women like me to be more informed about their health and to help them improve their life. Therefore, this article is for information purposes only.)

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