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4 Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormonal imbalances can be responsible for a number of different problems, with 80% of women experiencing issues caused by it in many cases without even knowing. If you’ve recently found yourself dealing with symptoms like weight gain, unexplained weight loss, muscle weakness, increased thirst or hunger, or decreased sex drive, they could be caused by conditions related to your hormones.
While there are other reasons you may be dealing with them, a common reason for hormonal changes starts around menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one method of helping your body restore normal hormone function. Let’s find out more about what hormones do for your body, how the imbalances can affect you, and how this method can help.
If you live in the Las Vegas, Nevada area and are looking for help with hormonal problems, Dr. Staci McHale and New Beginnings OB-GYN can help. We provide women of all ages medical solutions with individualized and compassionate care, including issues with hormonal imbalances.
The importance of hormones
Your hormones are created in your endocrine system, which consists of glands in various places in your body , such as your hypothalamus, ovaries, and pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and pineal glands. They act as chemical messengers that maintain different functions in your organs, muscles, skin, and other areas. Hormones control your metabolism, growth, emotions, blood pressure, sexual function, and sleep, so when they are out of balance it can create many problems throughout your body.
Reasons for hormonal imbalance
Your body goes through the transition out of your menstrual cycle when you reach menopause, which happens over a year and often starts in your 40’s but can happen earlier. During this time your body will stop producing reproductive hormones, which will lead to many changes in how your body functions without them, including mood changes, weight gain, vaginal dryness, and thinning hair.
Other causes for hormonal imbalances include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy, premature menopause (also known as primary ovarian insufficiency), birth control pills, and diabetes.
Hormone replacement therapy benefits
Here are some benefits of hormone replacement therapy:
1. Reduces vasomotor symptoms
Vasomotor symptoms of menopause include sweating, heart palpitations, anxiety, and sleep problems. In an 18 week period after starting HRT, the severity and frequency of symptoms like these were reduced by 87%.
2. Improves mood changes
This treatment can help to stabilize your mood, reducing the amount of depression and other changes you may experience during menopause.
3. Reduces cardiovascular risk
While menopause does not cause heart problems, your risk of having those issues increases while you’re going through it. HRT can also lower your chances of cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure and heart attacks.
4. Reduces osteoporosis risk
The hormonal changes you go through in menopause reduce the amount of bone density in your body. HRT can help to increase bone density, reducing the risk of fracturing or breaking bones.
HRT is safest within 10 years of menopause up to 59 years old and should be taken at the lowest possible dosage, for the lowest possible time. Women with a history of high blood pressure, blood clots, stroke, breast cancer, or gallbladder disease should avoid using HRT.
So if you need help with hormonal imbalance and you’re considering hormone replacement therapy, make an appointment with Dr. McHale and New Beginnings OB-GYN today to get started.
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