When most people think of menopause, they think of it as a time in life when your periods end, and the risk of unintended pregnancy evaporates. But menopause is much more complex than that, with effects that can be far-reaching and, often, uncomfortable.
Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help. Unfortunately, many women are unaware of the benefits of HRT, or they’re misinformed about its usage and safety profile, leaving them not only at risk of greater discomfort during the menopause years but also at greater risk for chronic health problems like osteoporosis and fractures.
With locations in Cranston, Providence, and Smithfield, A. Michael Coppa, M.D., is a leading provider of gynecology care and women’s health services in Rhode Island. Dr. Coppa and his team provide an update on HRT so you can make an educated and informed decision about whether or not it’s right for you.
During menopause, estrogen production declines significantly, and other hormone production can also begin to slow down. While it’s common to think estrogen is only associated with reproductive and sexual health, it’s actually involved in many aspects of health and wellness.
When levels decline dramatically, it leaves women with an array of symptoms, like:
Without treatment, declining hormones can take a toll on a woman’s physical health and emotional well-being, too.
HRT helps combat the effects of menopause by supplementing a woman’s natural hormones with lab-created bioidentical hormones designed to function just like “natural” hormones. Today’s HRT uses a patient-centered approach, prescribing hormones individually based on each woman's unique needs for maximum benefits with minimal risk of side effects.
About 20 years ago, data from the large Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) were released, suggesting possible increases in risks of breast cancer and heart attack associated with HRT. However, recent studies show that those data were largely misinterpreted or misapplied.
WHI looked at HRT in women who had been in menopause for a decade or longer. In clinical practice, though, HRT is typically prescribed much earlier, during the first few years of menopause or even during perimenopause — the years leading up to menopause.
While risks of breast cancer and heart attacks may be higher among older menopausal women, for women in the earlier years of menopause, data indicate HRT actually far outweighs any risks. In fact, data show that “when initiated within 10 years of menopause, HRT reduces all-cause mortality and risks of coronary disease, osteoporosis, and dementias.”
Today, the North American Menopause Society and other medical research societies agree that HRT is safe and effective for treating the diverse symptoms of menopause and for decreasing certain health risks when administered at an appropriate age and using an individual approach to dosing. For women suffering from menopausal symptoms, HRT can help relieve issues that can significantly detract from overall quality of life.
Dr. Coppa has extensive experience prescribing HRT for women at his practice. It helps relieve hormone-related symptoms while improving patients’ quality of life. To learn more about HRT and how it can contribute to your health management plan, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Coppa and his team today.
