"Hormone replacement therapy - Is it for me? If so, should I use pills, patches, or creams? What about natural hormones?"  As a pharmacist specializing in women's hormones for the last 30 years, these are some of the questions I have been asked.  This basic website attempts to answer the many questions that women have about hormone replacement therapy (HRT).  It will enable you to work with your health clinician to decide what is your best choice. - Joe Gartner R.Ph.
Monday
Sep122011

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Is It For You?

If there is one symptom that many menopausal women share, it is the initial confusion of trying to make sense of all of the conflicting information about hormones.  Hardly a month seems to go by without a new report in the media about either the benefits or the risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).  
The use of the term "replacement" in HRT has been questioned.  The amount of hormones used in post menopause are much lower than those produced by younger women and are technically not a replacement.  Some specialists feel that hormone therapy is a more accurate term, but as of now HRT is the most widely recognized term so I will continue to use it.  
A woman who is considering HRT is no doubt faced with many different opinions concerning the most appropriate form of hormone therapy. Some women even question whether HRT should be used at all.
I would like my Web site to give you an overall view of HRT and a look at what the current studies are showing.  The  results of the large Women's Health Initiative (July 2002) have raised questions as to whether the benefits of the most commonly prescribed HRT, Prempro, exceed the risks in long-term use.
Every woman’s situation is slightly different.  HRT is not a case of "one size fits all".  I hope my Web site will provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your hormone replacement therapy.
Ask yourself: Are you looking for short-term treatment (hot flashes and mood swings), long- term prevention (heart and bones), or a combination of both? 
 
Keep in mind, if you have serious concerns about long-term therapy, you can always opt for taking HRT for just a short time.
 
Let’s look at the benefits and risks…

 

RISKS OF HRT…
Endometrial Disease
Breast Cancer
Circulatory Problems
Gallbladder Disease

 

AuthorJoe Gartner | Comments Off |
Monday
Sep122011

Hormone Choices

When we talk about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), it can encompass several hormones. The most studied hormone for HRT is estrogen; therapy with just this hormone is often referred to as ERT.  However, for most women a progesterone compound, whether "natural" or synthetic, is often included to eliminate the uterine cancer risk that is associated with using estrogen alone.  For years these were the only two hormones considered in HRT.
Recently there has been attention drawn to testosterone and some of its precursors (DHEA).  It seems that some women may benefit from small doses of these hormones.
Once you decide to use hormones, the next step is to choose which form to use -- pills, patches, or creams. Should the hormones be "natural"?  And exactly what makes a hormone natural?
 
Natural Hormones
Estrogen
Phytoestrogen
Progesterone
Testosterone and DHEA
SERMS (designer estrogens)
Pills, Patches or Creams
AuthorJoe Gartner | Comments Off |
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