Some women experience a reduction in estrogen levels after going through menopause or having children. These individuals may benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which increases the amount of this critical chemical ingredient found naturally within your body and helps ease symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, etcetera, by giving you more control over how much femininity shows up on display!

Estrogen therapy is a treatment option for both men and women that can be used to relieve symptoms of hormone deficiency, such as those who have prostate cancer or breast augmentation surgery. There are many forms, including injectable hCG supplements, which help with weight loss in overweight patients; insufflated estradiol patches placed near the breasts on either side close enough so they touch skin but not too far away from any edges (so you may notice some staining); topical gels applied beneath your arms where there’s extra fat tissue due their proximity towards our bodies.

The cost of estrogen therapy can vary greatly depending on a person’s unique needs. The three main categories are annual exams, blood work labs, and product consumption; everybody requires different lab results or prescriptions, so contact us for more information!

Hormone replacement therapy is not a one size fits all solution. For some women, two years may be enough to relieve their symptoms, while other’s might need five or even seven before they are satisfied with the results- though no matter which length of time it takes, you’ll want this treatment for at least as long as recommended by your doctor so that any potential adverse effects don’t outweigh its benefits!

Estrogen is a powerful hormone that significantly affects many parts of your body. It stimulates egg production by the ovaries and other functions like regulating development and functioning in reproductive systems throughout almost all organs, including skin cells! Some of the body parts affected by estrogen are:

• Gastrointestinal system
• Urinary tract
• Skin
• Hair
• Breasts
• Blood vessels
• Bones

The benefits of hormone therapy may outweigh the risks if you’re healthy and you:

• Have moderate to severe hot flashes
• Have other symptoms of menopause
• Need to prevent bone loss or fractures
• Experience early menopause or have estrogen deficiency

Many women, and even some doctors, are basing fears of estrogen therapy (ET) on outdated research and are underutilizing estrogen when it’s safely indicated to ease menopausal symptoms in women in their 40s, 50s, and possibly 60s, says Bruce Carr, MD, director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.‍

Source: Endocrine Web

• headache
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• stomach cramps or bloating
• diarrhea
• appetite and weight changes
• changes in sex drive or ability
• nervousness
• brown or black skin patches
• acne
• swelling of hands, feet, or lower legs (fluid retention)
• bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods
• changes in menstrual flow
• breast tenderness, enlargement, or discharge
• difficulty wearing contact lenses

Source: Medlineplus.gov:

You shouldn’t use hormone therapy for menopause symptoms if you have the following:

• Heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease
• Breast cancer
• Estrogen-dependent cancer or precancer
• A known risk of developing blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
• Liver disease
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding that a doctor hasn’t evaluated
• A sensitivity to the components of hormone therapy, such as conjugated estrogens

Source: Mayo Clinic

Before taking estrogen replacement therapy:

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to estrogen, progestin, or other medications.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you take. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetaminophen (Tylenol); anticoagulants (‘blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), and phenytoin (Dilantin); morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, MSIR, others); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone) and prednisolone (Prelone); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); salicylic acid; temazepam (Restoril); theophylline (Theobid, Theo-Dur); and thyroid medication such as levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• In addition to the conditions listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, tell your doctor if you have had a hysterectomy and if you have or have ever had asthma; toxemia (high blood pressure during pregnancy); depression; epilepsy (seizures); migraine headaches; liver, heart, gallbladder, or kidney disease; jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods; and excessive weight gain and fluid retention (bloating) during the menstrual cycle.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, call your doctor immediately. Estrogen and progestin may harm the fetus.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist you are taking hormone replacement therapy.
• Tell your doctor if you smoke cigarettes. Smoking while taking this medication may increase your risk of severe side effects such as blood clots and stroke. Smoking also may decrease the effectiveness of this medication.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you wear contact lenses. See an eye doctor if you notice changes in vision or the ability to wear your lenses while taking hormone replacement therapy.

Source: Medlineplus.gov

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to estrogen, progestin, or other medications.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetaminophen (Tylenol); anticoagulants (‘blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), and phenytoin (Dilantin); morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, MSIR, others); oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Deltasone) and prednisolone (Prelone); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); salicylic acid; temazepam (Restoril); theophylline (Theobid, Theo-Dur); and thyroid medication such as levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• In addition to the conditions listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, tell your doctor if you have had a hysterectomy and if you have or have ever had asthma; toxemia (high blood pressure during pregnancy); depression; epilepsy (seizures); migraine headaches; liver, heart, gallbladder, or kidney disease; jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods; and excessive weight gain and fluid retention (bloating) during the menstrual cycle.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, call your doctor immediately. Estrogen and progestin may harm the fetus.
• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist you are taking hormone replacement therapy.
• Tell your doctor if you smoke cigarettes. Smoking while taking this medication may increase your risk of severe side effects such as blood clots and stroke. Smoking also may decrease the effectiveness of this medication.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you wear contact lenses. See an eye doctor if you notice changes in vision or the ability to wear your lenses while taking hormone replacement therapy.

Source: Medlineplus.gov

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. You should have a complete physical exam, including blood pressure measurements, breast and pelvic exams, and a Pap test at least yearly. Follow your doctor’s directions for examining your breasts; report any lumps immediately.
If you are taking hormone replacement therapy to treat symptoms of menopause, your doctor will check every 3 to 6 months to see if you still need this medication. If you take this medication to prevent bone thinning (osteoporosis), you will take it for a more extended period.
Before you have any laboratory tests, tell the personnel that you take hormone replacement therapy because this medication may interfere with some laboratory tests.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
You need to keep a written list of all the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking and any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Source: Medlineplus.gov