Hormone Replacement Therapy

For most women, the years between 45 and 55 are full of change. This is the time of menopause. Periods stop. The ability to bear children ends. But these years may also offer new opportunities. You have a chance to apply all that life's taught you. Even so, coping with your own body may be a challenge now. You may have hot flashes and mood swings. Plus, your risk of bone loss (osteoporosis) increases. For many women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helps. It reduces symptoms of menopause and helps restore a sense of well-being.

Find Out About HRT

Before and after menopause, you may have lower levels of certain female hormones (chemical messengers). This change in hormone levels can affect how you feel. But HRT can relieve some of your symptoms. Some types of treatment may also help reduce your risk of bone loss. Talk with your health care provider about taking hormones. You may also want to talk with women who are using HRT. Learn all you can. That way, you can make an informed choice.

Hormones Control Your Cycle

A woman's menstrual cycle (monthly period) is controlled by changing levels of certain hormones. These hormones travel through the blood. Two hormones, estrogen and progesterone, play a big role in the menstrual cycle. They are produced in the ovaries (where eggs are stored).

The Menstrual Cycle

Hormones help prepare the uterus for pregnancy. At the start of the cycle, the two ovaries produce estrogen. This makes one ovary release an egg, and signals the production of progesterone. The egg travels through the fallopian tube. Then it enters the uterus. If the egg is fertilized, a woman becomes pregnant. If this doesn't happen, the egg is shed along with the uterine lining. This bleeding is called menstruation.

Symptoms you may have:

Day 1 to 7:

• Menstrual bleeding (period)

• Cramping

• Headache

Day 8 to 14:

• Increased and thickened vaginal mucus

• Higher energy

Day 15 to 28:

• Bloating

• Tiredness

• Irritability

• Cramping

• Breast tenderness

What Happens During Menopause

Menopause is not a sudden change. During the months or years before menopause (perimenopause), the ovaries begin to run out of eggs. Less estrogen and progesterone are produced. This may bring on symptoms such as hot flashes. Twelve months after your last period, you've reached menopause. From that point on, you are in postmenopause.

Perimenopause

In the years leading up to menopause, the ovaries produce less estrogen. Fewer eggs are released. Periods become less regular.

Symptoms you may have:

• Heavier or lighter periods

• Longer or shorter time between periods

• Hot flashes

• Breast tenderness

• Bloating

• Mood swings

Postmenopause

After menopause, very little estrogen is produced. As a result, the uterine lining does not thicken. Periods have ended.

Symptoms you may have:

• No periods

• Vaginal dryness

• Hot flashes

• Mood swings

• Night sweats

• Insomnia

Surgical Menopause

Menopause can occur after a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) if the ovaries are also removed. Estrogen and progesterone levels decrease quickly. This may cause sudden and severe symptoms.

The Effects of Low Estrogen

When your estrogen level falls, changes occur throughout your body. You may be at greater risk for osteoporosis and heart disease. You may also notice some of the symptoms of menopause. These include night sweats and headaches. Your diet, family health history, lifestyle, and other factors affect your risks and symptoms.

Osteoporosis

Estrogen helps maintain strong bones by preventing calcium loss. Too little calcium can increase the risk of fractures in the spine, hips, and leg and arm bones. Thin or petite women are at greater risk. So are those who drink a lot of alcohol, smoke, or are not active. A family history of osteoporosis may also increase risk.