Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Entering Menopause
Considered a normal consequence of aging, menopause is the time in women's life
when the production of hormones in their body decreases to a point that causes
normal or physiologic menstrual bleeding to stop. Menopause usually occurs between
the ages of 45 and 55, when a woman's ovaries run out of available follicles or
eggs (a natural process) or when her ovaries are removed surgically. In the absence
of these estrogen-producing follicles, estrogen levels fall below the point necessary
to trigger ovulation and cause physiologic uterine bleeding.
Effects of Menopause
The symptoms of hormone imbalance are unmistakable for most, but women do have
different experiences during the menopause process. Approximately 10 to 15%
of women go through menopause with little or no symptoms, while others experience
severe problems. The most common symptoms of menopause are:
- Hot flashes, which occur in more than 60% of cases
- Night sweats and sleeplessness
- Vaginal dryness, painful intercourse
- Painful urination, more frequent urinary tract infections
- Headaches and joint pains
- Increased anxiety, mood swings and depression
- Reduced sex drive
The long-term health consequences of hormone deficiency include the thinning
and weakening of the bones (osteoporosis) which is aggravated by menopause,
leading to an increased risk of fracture. Women also become more vulnerable
to heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol and memory disorders such as Alzheimers
disease, part of which may be due to losing the protective effect of estrogen.
Traditional HRT
A program of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a way of replacing lost hormones
to counteract the negative effects and consequences of menopause and hormone
deficiency. It is a proven remedy for hot flashes and sleep disturbances, and
also alleviates vaginal discomfort. Studies have also shown that HRT can help
maintain bone density, but its effect on heart disease and stroke is less certain.
The traditional HRT regimens consist of first the administration of a synthetic
estrogen and if indicated a progestin and/or testosterone. However, we now know
from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) that synthetic hormones (Premarin and
Prempro) appear to provide greater risks than benefit for many women.
Bio-Identical HRT
In the shadow of the WHI results, over 50 million American women are now making
major health decisions about the best way to optimize health during the changes
of menopause. Many physicians and their patients are now choosing bio-identical
hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) instead of conventional, synthetic therapies
to treat peri-menopausal or menopausal symptoms, PMS and sexual dysfunction.
At Cox Pharmacy, our goal is to help women feel their best as they live through
this transitional time. One of the primary ways we have done this is by implementing
a comprehensive BHRT program. We spend time with each patient in order to understand
the causes of their symptoms and educate them about the solutions that are available.
We also listen to their unique description of symptoms and then recommend the
appropriate natural hormones to achieve hormonal balance in order to resolve
your symptoms.
In addition, pharmacists at Cox Pharmacy have achieved the highest levels of
training and recognition in prescription compounding so you can be assured that
your BHRT medication is precisely created and personally tailored to meet your
needs. For women experiencing menopause or other hormonal disorders, Cox Pharmacy
has the expertise, the knowledge and the advanced training needed to provide
the highest quality care and customized prescription compounding to improve
your quality of life.
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