What is Hormone Replacement Therapy and Why It’s Needed?

We know that hormones control and regulate most of the basic functions of our body. They function as the internal communication system of the body that links cells throughout the body. They are responsible for coordinating every bodily function, such as growth, digestion, libido, and the immune system. Hence, when your hormones spiral out of control, even a touch, they can cause serious implication for your health and wellbeing. Hormone Replacement Therapy can help to reinstate your body to its best shape.

Hormone replacement therapy is simply a medical treatment aimed at replacing the dropping levels of hormones the body is no longer capable of producing and protect health in the long run. In addition, it relieves various symptoms related to the period of menopause in women, such as feminine area discomfort, hot flashes, and bone loss, etc. In men, it can help to restore various bodily functions, such as sexual drive, reproductive function, maintaining healthy bones and muscle, etc.

Hormone Imbalance in Women

As we know that as women approach their late 40s or early 50s, their ovaries stop releasing an egg every four weeks and they no longer get their monthly periods. It indicates that they will not be able to have children naturally. HRT is a commonly used treatment that replaces lower levels of female hormones to relieve menopausal symptoms in women. Estrogen and progesterone are the most crucial hormones in women’s reproductive systems and also during the time of menopause. Estrogen is responsible for stimulating the release of an egg while progesterone helps to prepare the uterus for egg implantation. During the natural process of aging or as a result of a hysterectomy, the amount of eggs decreases over time and so does the level of estrogen. Some of the other downsides of a fall in the production of estrogen include hot flashes, sweating, mood swings, osteoporosis, loss of libido, urinary problems, thinning of hair, sleep disorders, lower fertility, difficulty with memory and concentration, accumulation of fat in abdomen, hair loss, feminine area discomfort or dryness, and smaller breasts. The symptoms are usually more severe during the perimenopausal and menopausal phases and decline within 2 to 5 years after the postmenopausal phase.

Types of Female Hormone Replacement Therapy

There are various forms of Female Hormone Replacement Therapy. You can consult your doctor about the pros and cons of each before making a final decision. Here are the most commonly used methods of administering hormonal replacement therapy in women to replace the levels of estrogen and progesterone:

• Hormone Replacement Tablets: Tablets are one of the most common and simplest ways used to give hormone replacement therapy to women. You can find estrogen-only tablets or estrogen combined with progesterone. Normally, the suggested dose is one tablet a day.
• Hormone Replacement Patches: These skin patches are another convenient and common method of receiving hormone replacement therapy. You’re simply required to stick a patch to your skin and replace it every day.
• Estrogen Gel: The topical application of estrogen gel also a popular and easy way of HRT like skin patches. You’ll need to rub the gel onto your skin once every day.
• Estrogen Implants: A small pellet-like implant is placed under the skin, usually on the stomach, during the procedure. The process involves numbing the skin with a local anesthetic. The implant keeps releasing estrogen and works for several months. You’ll have to then get it replaced.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Routines

The hormone replacement therapy routine is set according to the stage of menopause. Your doctor will assess whether you’re at the early stage of menopause or have been facing the symptoms for some time before deciding your treatment routine.

The two treatment routines are:

• Cyclic HRT: Also known as sequential Hormone Replacement Therapy, this is recommended to women experiencing menopausal symptoms but still getting their periods. In Monthly Cyclic HRT, estrogen is taken each day and progesterone is taken for the last 14 days of the menstrual cycle. 3-Monthly Cyclic HRT involves taken estrogen every day in combination with taking progesterone for 14 days every three months. The first is used if you’re having regular periods while the second is for women having irregular periods so you have periods ever three months.
• Continuous Combined HRT: A woman in her postmenopausal stage (if she has not had her period for one year) is usually given this treatment routine. It includes taking estrogen-only or combined estrogen and progesterone continuously every day.

Hormone Imbalance in Men

It’s common for male hormonal levels to decline with age. Therefore, Hormone Replacement Therapy is used in men as well. Men are given testosterone during the treatment. This hormone is required for the development of male sex organs and the manifestation of male characteristics, such as facial hair. Male Hormone Replacement Therapy is often used as a treatment for hypogonadism, a disorder that causes the male body to produce a very low amount of testosterone. Some men are born with this condition while some may develop it later in life. In the absence of the optimal level of testosterone, men can have issues like lower sex drive, impotence, infertility, osteoporosis, weaker muscles, and loss of facial or body hair. Male Hormone Replacement Therapy includes providing the missing testosterone to restore its optimal level for restoring sexual function, prevent osteoporosis, boost energy, and strengthen the muscles. Additionally, Male Hormone Replacement Therapy is used for men undergoing a sex change.

Types of Male Hormone Replacement Therapy

If you’re considering hormone replacement therapy to make up for the lower level of testosterone in your body, your doctor might suggest you the following options to choose from.

• Intramuscular Testosterone Injections: Testosterone is injected into the muscles of the buttocks during this procedure. The treatment is repeated every two or three weeks.
• Testosterone Patches: You’ll be asked to apply a testosterone patch to your arm, buttocks, back, or abdomen every day. It’s crucial to rotate the application sites of these patches.
• Topical Testosterone Gel: The gel is applied to the arms, shoulders, or abdomen on a daily basis.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bioidentical basically refers to a drug with the same molecular and chemical structure as the hormones occurring naturally in the body. Some people might confuse them with natural hormones but, in reality, these are prepared in a lab. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is a type of Hormone Replacement Therapy that has become the talk of the town in the recent years. The therapy claims to be a natural solution to hormonal issues among men and women. It helps to improve and restore the dropping or out of balance hormonal levels along with eliminating the pesky symptoms that come with menopause in women and hypogonadism in men. Besides, it can be used to ease symptoms of cancer treatments or to certain conditions, like adrenal and thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, and fibromyalgia.

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy includes giving hormones procured from plant-based estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These hormones are identical in their chemical composition to the ones produced in the human body. These plant hormones come in the form of tablets, skin patches, creams, gels, implants, and injections. Some drug companies make bioidentical hormones while others are custom-made by pharmacies according to a doctor’s instructions. The process of customizing the bioidentical hormones is known as compounding and involves combining or altering the ingredients to fulfill the specific needs of a person. Some forms of manufactured bioidentical hormones are approved by the FDA while none of the custom-made bioidentical hormones are FDA approved.

Side Effect of Male Hormone Replacement Therapy

Risks that come with using testosterone are a primary drawback of the male hormone therapy. Some of these side effects are more serious while others are relatively minor. Some of the minor risks of taking testosterone include fluid retention, frequent urination, and acne breakouts. The serious side effects may include

High doses of testosterone can lead to various serious issues in men, including infertility, sleeping problems, prostate disorders, breast enlargement, reduced testicle size, elevated cholesterol level, increased risk of stroke, decreased sperm count, and increased amount of red blood cells in the body. An increase in the number of red blood cells can lead to high blood pressure, muscle pain, chest pain, blood clots, and blurry vision. Some studies show that higher levels of testosterone given to treat hypogonadism may cause the prostate to enlarge. It’s mandatory to get regular checkups and tests while taking male hormone replacement therapy to detect and treat any of these side effects.

Risks of Female Hormone Replacement Therapy

After the widespread speculations about the potential risks of using Hormone Replacement Therapy, women became more mindful and cautious about whether they should go for the therapy or not. However, according to a number of health care professionals, the Endocrine Society, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the North American Menopause Society, the list of benefits outweighed the potential risks for many women. The risks associated with using Hormone Replacement Therapy mainly depend on the type of hormone therapy used, the dose, and the duration of taking the medication. Here are a few of the risks associated with Hormone Replacement Therapy:

• Breast Cancer: It is important to take breast cancer screening tests regularly due to potentially increased risk of breast cancer during hormone replacement therapy.
• Weight Gain: Many women using hormone replacement therapy believe that their medication will make them gain weight. However, there is no scientific evidence that supports this assertion.
• Blood Clots or Thrombosis: Studies suggest that taking hormone replacement therapy can lead to a greater risk of having blood clots. However, some analyses show that there is no increase in the risk of blood clots when you use hormone replacement therapy gel, cream, or skin patches. Since the chances of menopausal women having blood clots are usually quite low, the overall risk due to hormone replacement therapy tablets is still considered small. indicators to beware of include redness, pain, or swelling in legs, sudden breathlessness, coughing up blood, and chest pain. Let your doctor know about any sudden changes in your body.
• Muscle and Bone Problems: Changes to the structure or function of muscles and bones are often observed in women using hormone replacement therapy. Mild painkillers can be used to manage and control these aches and pains. Some women may develop pains in their joints, which often settle down after a few weeks of the therapy. Weight-bearing exercises like cycling, running, walking, or gym exercises can aid in building up and protecting the bones. In severe cases of bone thinning, women can end up developing osteoporosis and bone fractures if osteoporosis lasts for a few years.

Who Should Use Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Despite all the potential health risks and side effects, hormone replacement therapy is still considered to be the most effective way of treating various problems caused by dropping levels of hormones. The benefits offered by hormone replacement therapy outperform the risks associated with it in healthy people.  People who are suffering from menopausal symptoms, hypogonadism, loss of bone mass, stopped having periods before the age of 40, had their ovaries removed or lost the function of ovaries before their 40s can benefit from hormone replacement therapy.

Who Should Avoid Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy is not deemed to be suitable for anyone who has or previously had breast cancer, womb cancer, or ovarian cancer, has a history of thrombosis, has a liver disorder, has uncontrolled or untreated hypertension, or is pregnant. Alternative treatments to hormone replacement therapy are recommended under these circumstances. Your doctor might suggest other strategies to reduce the symptoms associated with decreased hormonal activity to reduce the risk of certain health issues, including heart disease and osteoporosis. A healthy diet, lifestyle changes, and medications are some commonly used alternatives to hormone replacement therapy.

The Takeaway

Hormone replacement therapy is one of the best options for treating symptoms caused due to lower levels of hormones in the body. Though hormone replacement therapies come with a myriad of potential risks, you can minimize these risks with the help of your doctor. In case you’re not fit for taking hormone replacement therapy, there are many alternative ways of relieving the symptoms and protecting your health in the long run. Discuss your individual symptoms and health risks with your doctor to decide whether hormone replacement therapy is appropriate for you.