4 Most Common Causes of Female Infertility
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Is Hormone Therapy Right for You? 4 Key Considerations
While no two women experience the same menopausal journey, most face at least some changes. From hot flashes to bone loss, there are many potential side effects of menopause, some of which can impact a woman's quality of life and overall wellness.
2 million women now enter menopause each year in the United States.
That isn’t news to board-certified gynecologist and Certified Menopause Practitioner Dr. Karen F. Brodman, who has been helping women navigate the often bumpy menopause transition for years. Here’s what we want you to know about menopause hormone therapy.
1. Hormone therapy is generally safe for most women
Back in the early 2000s, a study was released that linked hormone therapy to an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer.
This study has since been found incomplete and statistically non-significant, prompting the US government to remove black box warnings on hormone replacement therapy.
The reality is that hormone therapies are generally safe for most women, with a few exceptions, including:
- Pregnant women
- Women with a history of breast or endometrial cancer
- Women with a history of blood clots or heart attack
- Women with liver disease
If any of these apply to you, we’ll take a closer look at what might work best to remedy your menopause symptoms while safeguarding your health.
2. The best treatment for hot flashes and vaginal health
The most common side effects of menopause include hot flashes and night sweats. They affect 75% of women going through menopause.
The other common side effect is a decline in vaginal health, including thinning tissues and vaginal dryness, which affects more than half of postmenopausal women.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that hormone therapy is the most effective way to address these common side effects.
3. Protecting your bone health
With the sudden loss of estrogen that comes with menopause, many women lose bone density. In fact, about 20% of bone loss occurs during this stage.
If you’re worried about bone loss and osteoporosis, hormone therapy is a good way to protect yourself against these side effects and future fractures.
4. Not all hormone therapies are the same
We also want to underscore an important point — there are different types of hormone therapies. For example, if you’re only struggling with vaginal health issues, we might prescribe a more targeted hormone therapy in the form of an estrodiol cream.
If your symptoms are more extensive and include issues with vaginal health and vasomotor symptoms, you can try systemic hormone therapy or the aforementioned topical estrogen alongside a prescription medication that reduces hot flashes and night sweats.
If you'd like to address all of the changes, inside and out, systemic hormone therapy can support your health moving forward.
The best way to figure out what’s right for you is to come in and sit down with Dr. Broadman for a consultation. To get that set up, please contact us at our New York City office located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
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