Menopause Hormone Therapy – – Is It For You?
Should You Be Using Hormone Therapy During Menopause? When a woman begins having menopause symptoms like hot flashes, irregular periods or mood changes, she will probably wonder at some point whether she should take some type of menopause hormone therapy (MHT). Sometimes called “hormone replacement therapy,” or HRT, it usually refers to a combination of the female hormones estrogen and/or progesterone. Research is beginning to show what the risks and benefits of menopause hormone therapy are, but there is still a lot to learn about the effects of estrogen and progesterone on our bodies and our health. While it is a very effective treatment for many menopause symptoms, hormone therapy can increase the chances of other conditions, and the decision to use it is a balancing act of determining whether the pros outweigh the cons. The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study is the largest study done on menopausal women and focused on heart disease, bone fractures, and breast and colorectal canc