The majority of women going through peri-menopause or menopause experience symptoms during their hormonal transition including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and insomnia. For some women the the symptoms are severe enough where it interferes with their quality of life and requires treatment.
There are numerous options for treatment, however hormone therapy is the gold standard for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause. The decision to start hormone therapy should be individualized based on your potential benefits and risks.
The potential benefits of hormone therapy include improvement of symptoms like hot flashes and sleep, and long-term benefits like a reduction in colon cancer risk, reduced risk of fractures from osteoporosis, and improvements in cardiovascular risk (depending on your age).
The potential risks of hormone therapy vary depending on the age of the patient and the timing since their last menstrual period. Women over 60 years old or those who have not had a period in over 10 years can increase their cardiovascular risk when using hormone therapy. Women with personal history of breast cancer or endometrial cancer may face potential risks when starting hormone therapy.
Determining if hormone therapy is a right fit for you involves having a lengthy discussion regarding your health and risk factors with an experienced professional. We have assessed the risk versus benefit of hormone therapy for hundreds of patients and can help you decide if this therapy would be safe and effective for you.
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