The Pros And Cons Of Hormone Replacement TherapyFor several years, hormone replacement therapy has been considered as one of the most basic treatments doctors administer to patients with menopause disorders. It has been considered a very effective method for relieving menopause symptoms and many women have claimed to benefit from it. But the treatment does not give the same results to every woman and worse, the side effects began developing much, much later. By July of 2002 research conducted by clinics such as the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), have reconsidered the safety of this method. Is hormone replacement therapy actually safe? What are the health risks? What can be done to avert such risks? From the studies done, it was discovered that hormone replacement therapy may in fact bring bigger and more fatal health risks like ovarian cancer, compared to the menopause relief it offers. At the time the research results were made public, at least 10 million women were taking hormone replacement therapy for menopause. Since then, some doctors took it upon themselves to take responsibility and have refrained from issuing prescriptions or administering treatment until this method is studied further. Is the treatment totally unacceptable? You might be surprised to know that for some people, this is still the best option. Who benefits from this treatment then? Hormone replacement therapy actually helps in the elimination of osteoporosis and colorectal cancer. And if taken with combined estrogen therapy it could work wonders for a woman and because of this fact, doctors cannot disregard the method altogether. Those with menopausal discomforts who do not belong to the high risk sector can still undergo the treatment, if only for the short-term. Depending on the kind of symptoms, those with moderate discomfort can possibly not be at great risk, so they could still proceed with the treatment. Moderate menopausal discomfort can be one of these:
A woman needs to discuss all of her options with the doctor. If she is currently undergoing the treatment, she should be able to weigh if the very reasons why she is taking hormone replacement therapy are still valid today. The key here is to understand whether the treatment brings more risk than actual benefits to the person. And if the treatment was previously able to help remove a minor condition such as a hot flush, for instance, then the therapy may not be needed anymore. Who then are at risk? Women diagnosed with other ailments like cancer, diabetes, cirrhosis, high cholesterol and heart disease or have a family history of these ailments, should not consider a hormone replacement therapy course. Those who have exhibited unusual vaginal bleeding are also at risk. Doctors must be open to their patients about such possible contraindications. If a woman decides to stop the treatment, she has other alternatives that can relieve menopause symptoms. The most significant thing women must be aware of is that there is always a choice. In the long run, one should seek the best care available. And while the findings of WHI show some legitimacy, there are still no reported increased fatalities as a result of a hormone replacement treatment. So for some, this might still be the best treatment for menopause relief. |