Hormone Replacement Therapy

What is hormone replacement therapy?

During menopause, many women experience a hormonal imbalance due to a sudden decrease in hormone levels. As your body produces less estrogen and progesterone — two hormones that you no longer need as much after child-bearing years — the decline may cause extremely unpleasant side effects.

Many women experience overwhelming hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings that impact the quality of their life. 

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a way to restore balance to your hormones so you feel more like yourself again. 

What HRT methods are available?

Some women choose a systemic form of hormone therapy in the form of a patch, pill, or cream that delivers the appropriate doses of hormones to your whole body. You can also get low-dose vaginal estrogen in the form of a cream, tablet, or ring, that treats vaginal symptoms of menopause, including vaginal dryness and painful sex, along with hot flashes and night sweats. 

Advanced Women’s Health Specialists also offers BioTE® hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) in the form of a small subcutaneous (under the skin) pellet. Many women prefer BioTE because it is a plant-based hormone rather than a synthetic one. 

The tiny pellet stays under your skin and delivers an even, constant dose of estrogen, progesterone, or a combination of both, based on your needs. The pellet is about the size of a grain of rice, and you don’t have to think about taking it every day as you do with other types of HRT. BioTE pellets are more closely matched to your natural hormones than synthetic hormones. 

Your practitioner can help you decide which type of hormone replacement therapy is right for you. 

What are the benefits of hormone replacement therapy?

HRT helps relieve symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause. It may help reduce the number of hot flashes you have, help your skin look healthier, and even help reduce your risk of osteoporosis. Other benefits of hormone replacement therapy include relief from:

• Night sweats
• Brain fog
• Fatigue
• Depression and anxiety
• Low sex drive
• Adrenal fatigue
• Thyroid disorders

HRT and BHRT can also help with weight gain, which is another side effect of hormonal imbalances. 

If you’re in perimenopause or menopause and you’d like to learn more about which type of hormone replacement therapy is right for you, contact Advanced Women’s Health Specialists by phone or book an appointment online.