Things to Know About Hormone Therapy | Myerlee Pharmacy
Menopausal hormone therapy is the solution for many conditions aging women face. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a female hormone medication taken to replace estrogen the body stops making during menopause. Menopause is a stage in a woman’s life when certain hormone levels decrease and the menstrual period stops. HRT treats common menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, anxiety, fatigue, and vaginal discomfort.- Including hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, vaginal dryness, mood swings, anxiety, decreased sexual desire, fatigue, and headaches.
- For menopause and hormone-related conditions, most women take estrogen or progesterone.
- Hormone therapies can be taken systemically or locally in several ways.
- Systemic Hormone Therapy: Systemic estrogen, which comes in pill, skin patch, ring, gel, cream, or spray form, typically contains a higher dose of estrogen that is absorbed throughout the body.
- Treats any common symptoms of menopause.
- Low-dose Vaginal Products: Low-dose vaginal preparations of estrogen, which come in cream, tablet, or ring form, minimize the amount of estrogen absorbed by the body.
- Low-dose vaginal preparations are usually only used to treat the vaginal and urinary symptoms of menopause.
- Systemic Hormone Therapy: Systemic estrogen, which comes in pill, skin patch, ring, gel, cream, or spray form, typically contains a higher dose of estrogen that is absorbed throughout the body.
- HRT is beneficial when taken soon after menopause symptoms begin.
- Women with menopause from surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation start HRT right away.
- Women with early menopause, before age 40, should consult their doctors as soon as possible in order to benefit from HRT right away.
- Reduction of menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, and headaches.
- Health benefits including reducing the risk of osteoporosis and colon cancer.
- Reduction in estrogen deficiency.
HRT effectively treats menopausal symptoms, but there are associated risks.
- Increased risk of endometrial cancer (only if a woman still has her uterus and is not taking a progestin along with estrogen).
- Increased risk of blood clots and strokes.
- Increased risk of gallbladder/gallstone issues.
- Increased risk of heart attacks and disease.
- Increased risk of developing breast cancer.
- Age: Women who begin hormone therapy at age 60+ or more than 10 years from the onset of menopause are at greater risk of the above conditions.
- Type of hormone therapy: The risks of hormone therapy vary depending on whether estrogen is given alone.
- Health history
- Discover the best product and delivery methods.
- Take estrogen in pill, patch, gel, vaginal cream, or slow-releasing suppository or ring form.
- Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time to treat symptoms.
- Younger than age 45, enough estrogen to provide protection against the long-term health effects of estrogen deficiency is needed.
- For lasting menopausal symptoms that significantly impair quality of life, your doctor may recommend longer-term treatment.
- See your doctor regularly to ensure that the benefits of hormone therapy continue to outweigh the risks and for screenings including mammograms and pelvic exams.
- Include physical activity and exercise daily.
- Enjoy a healthy diet and maintain a fit weight.
- Do not smoke and limit alcohol.
- Manage stress and chronic health conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Fort Myers, Florida's Leader in Hormone Replacement Therapy | Myerlee Pharmacy
Our team custom-fills proper dosage strengths, forms, and combinations prescribed by your physician to mitigate unique signs and symptoms.
Myerlee Pharmacy holds a Sterile Compounding permit issued by the Florida State Board of Pharmacy complemented by an International Standard Organization (ISO) Class 7 clean-room in compliance with the USP 797 guidelines.
Call Myerlee Pharmacy at 239-482-3022 or connect with us online to discover more about Hormone Replacement Therapy and other menopausal treatments today.