[GoodFairy]

Hi Mamas, I have just started menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to hopefully stop or lessen the unbearable hot flushes. (I tried a lot of natural remedies from the health stores that didn't help at all).
My query is - is this HRT just delaying me going through menopause until I stop taking it or is my body still going through normal menopause processess and the HRT is masking it (like taking a tylenol to cover a headache that is going on anyway but the tablet is masking the symptoms). Is the HRT totally stopping/delaying menopause by giving me the hormones my body isn't producing anymore?
I don't want to just "put off the inevitable" by taking HRT which has health risks for however long then have to face all the menopause symptoms when I stop taking it in a year or two.
My doctor never covered this in our discussions.
Thanks for your help.

 

[hormonehelper]

The purpose of HRT isn't to mask menopause, the purpose is to help alleviate symptoms of menopause.

HRT helps alleviate the side effects of menopause and replace the hormones the body has lost due to menopause.

During menopause, many women have hormone imbalances due to the drastic drop in progesterone. When progesterone levels drop to near zero, you have estrogen dominance, which results in a long list of undesirable menopause symptoms. The purpose of HRT is alleviate these symptoms.

With conventional HRT, research has shown potentially serious side effects.

An alternative to HRT, BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy) is a hormone treatment used to supplement the body with various bioidentical hormones such as progesterone, various estrogens, DHEA, testosterone, and pregnenolone.

BHRT has become popular because it doesn't have the potential serious side effects of HRT.

BHRT is considered to be "natural hormone replacement" because the hormones used have the same exact molecular structure as hormones made in the human body producing the same physiological responses as endogenous hormones.

http://www.bhrt-resource.com/bioidentical-hormones.html

There are also other natural remedies you could try to help reduce your hot flashes. Black cohosh is a popular herb for relieving hot flashes. Other herbs include Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis), Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus), Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra).

Adjusting your diet and lifestyle can also make a big difference. Probably the biggest things to avoid are caffeine, spicy foods, hot weather, and alcohol.

 

[Lindy]

Gee, Hormonehelper, you sound like a commercial. Are you sure their are no serious side effects with bhrt? I really don't believe it. I know they are the "in" thing right now, but I'm worried that down the road we'll find out they are as bad as regualr hrt.

I've heard from women who took hrt and as soon as they stopped the same issues came back. I would rather just go thru them now and get them over with. Of course mine are not that bad or at least not more than I can handle. I feel for anyone going thru menopause because it is not easy. There are several websites for women to talk about their experience. Um, I don't have any links at the moment, maybe I can find them later. I wish you well Goodfairy, menopause doesn't last forever (it just seems like it). I've heard that it is like birthing yourself. You come out on the other side feeling strong and powerful.

Here is one website www.minniepauz.com/

 

[subtlycrunchy]

Hi Lindy,

I'm reading up about hrt, bhrt, herbs, soy, etc. too. Haven't decided which course to take, but here are some good things to read:

Test Your Menopause IQ
Perimenopause - the beginning of hormonal change
Hormone replacement therapy: what we know nowhttp://www.womentowomen.com/bioident...t/default.aspx
Bioidentical hormones - a guide to your options and alternatives


Good luck! Believe me, I know it is such a difficult decision it is to make!

 

[Lindy]

Hi subtlycrunchy,

I think you meant to direct your post to Goodfairy. I'm not using anything as I am not having problems with menopause.

 

[subtlycrunchy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindy Hi subtlycrunchy, I think you meant to direct your post to Goodfairy. I'm not using anything as I am not having problems with menopause.

Hey, guess I did! I never checked back in on this thread. Thanks so much for pointing out my mistake

Goodfairy, if you're out there, check out those links

:

 

[Lindy]

Your welcome!

 

[KimPM]

There's a book that explains a bit about BHRT: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause by John R. Lee.

http://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Doct...3735445&sr=8-1

Also this one:
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause: Balance Your Hormones and Your Life from Thirty to Fifty also by John R. Lee

http://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Doct...3735445&sr=8-2