Hormone replacement therapy, commonly known as HRT, is the standard pharmaceutical treatment for menopausal symptoms. It is usually made up of two kinds of hormones — oestrogens and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone). Levels of these hormones fall after menopause, and hormone replacement therapy helps relieve symptoms and has some long-term health benefits, such as osteoporosis prevention.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is replacing hormones–usually estrogen and progesterone–which a woman’s body once made in sufficient amounts, but because of age or medical reasons, is no longer able to produce. Replacing these hormones back to physiological levels can restore normal hormonal cycles. By doing this, women will not only begin to feel younger and more vivacious, but will also reduce their risks of cardiovascular problems and osteroporosis.

Many women now taking estrogen or estrogen combined with progestins are able to discontinue their HRT. Please consult with a medical professional before doing so. It is possible that if adequate natural progesterone levels were present, any needed estrogen could be made from it. Because progesterone sensitizes estrogen receptors, it makes sense to supplement with progesterone rather than estrogen.

Estrogen and progesterone (two of the hormones used in some forms of HRT) may increase a woman's risk for developing breast cancer. Patients should be aware that these hormones affect many tissues in the body and therefore before a patient considers HRT, it is prudent to discuss all the risks, benefits, and limitations of pursuing HRT with a medical doctor.

Hormone Replacement Therapy can be a lifetime commitment. Most studies have been done involving a minimum of six months therapy. Many have been and are conducted over longer periods of time. Benefits gained from HRT will gradually diminish if the therapy program is not continued. Many individuals on HRT obtain excellent results with a rotating or cyclical protocol of six months on HRT and four to eight weeks off. - (1*, 2*)

As previously stated, Hormone Replacement Therapy is used to restore your hormone levels to their optimum youthful levels. You need a blood test to determine your existing hormone levels, to see whether or not you qualify for HRT and what your replacement dosages should be. Since most of the hormones used in HRT are dispensed by prescription only, you cannot obtain them without a physician's prescription.

If you are taking Premarin, Provera, or Prempro, the drugs used in the Women's Health Initiative Study that has been so widely publicized in the last year, the answer is YES! Does that mean you should stop other hormone replacement regimes? NO! It means you should switch to non-oral human estradiol and human progesterone in a cream, gel, patch, or pellet form and monitor "free" estradiol and progesterone levels in the blood to assure correct dosage.

Dr. Donnica Moore discusses constipation, its symptoms, and its association with some medications and diseases.

A decision that is right for one woman may not be right for another, so the answer is different for each person. The decision would depend on what a woman hopes to get from HRT, such as relief of menopause symptoms. All of the pros and cons have to be balanced against each other.

According to a long-term study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, hormone replacement therapy did not result in weight gain. However, regardless of whether they are taking HRT, women are more likely to gain some weight with aging. A good diet and regular exercise can help avoid this.

Don't wait if you are experiencing symptoms of hormone imbalance. In general, hormones begin to decline after the mid-20s and hormonal imbalance symptoms are frequently present by the mid-30s. A good time to start replacing hormones is between 35 and 40.

The Women's Health Initiative study show that traditional HRT with Premarin (made form pregnant mares urine) and Provera a chemically synthesized artificial progesterone) is not safe. Bio-Identical hormone therapy with natural Estrogens and Progesterone is safe and does not have to adverse side effects of Premarin and Provera. Provera can increase the rate of breast cancer but natural Progesterone can decrease the rate 10% Fournier A et al.

A simple answer: When you need it! This can only be determined by a competent medical professional that will follow up with appropriate testing in order to protect your well-being. It would be a smart thing to have your baseline hormone levels tested when you are in your mid 20s. Keep these result and you will know what your youthful hormone levels were and this will be of great assistance to your Doctor in maintaining these youthful levels later in life.

Anyone who is over age 35 without a medical history precluding them from human growth hormone or testosterone replacement. Anyone for whom it is not illegal to use or contraindicated in their profession or due to their medical condition.

Health-and-Fitness:Women's-Issues] The terms herbal hormone replacement therapy and natural hormone replacement therapy are sometimes used by advertisers to describe their products. Here we look at how the terms can be used and how they can be misleading. Health-and-Fitness:Women's-Issues] Studies concerning red clover, hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms return mixed results.

This section is dedicated to Judy R, who died Jan 4., 2002 due to adverse effects of wood smoke infiltrating her home. Judy had lived with EI and sadly, suffered a "premature" death. -- barb http://www.city.whitehorse.yk.ca/Residents/GovtServices/Departments/environment/1999/Wood%20Smoke/AirQuality.html http://library.lp.findlaw.

Recently, studies have strongly suggested that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) actually increase the risk of breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, strokes and blood clots. Particularly striking is a study that links HRT to increased risk of ovarian cancer.

During menopause, a woman's body significantly reduces the production of estrogen. This decrease in estrogen may cause hot flashes, bone loss, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. To lessen the side effects, doctors may prescribe HRT. Recent use of combination hormone replacement therapy has been shown to increase breast cancer risk, with higher risk associated with longer use.