Written by Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Specialist: Gabriella Sanchez - January 25, 2023
Estrogen and Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, are two different treatments used to relieve menopausal symptoms. While both treatments involve the use of estrogen hormone medications, they serve different purposes and have distinct differences between them.
Estrogen is a female sex hormone that is naturally produced in a woman's ovaries before menopause. It helps regulate the menstrual cycle, maintain healthy bone structure, and promote sexual health. During menopause, when a woman's body produces less estrogen than usual, levels of this hormone decline dramatically resulting in hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and other menopausal symptoms.
Hormone Replacement Therapy is a common treatment prescribed by doctors to reduce these troubling symptoms caused by estrogen decline during menopause. HRT involves taking synthetic doses of estrogen hormones over an extended period of time to bring estrogen levels back up to normal range. In some cases progestin – a synthetic form of progesterone – may also be prescribed along with estrogen therapy to protect against certain cancers associated with prolonged exposure to estrogens in older women.
The first difference between these two treatments lies in the intention of their use - while estrogens are used for protecting bones from fractures due to osteoporosis or for relieving menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes or night sweats; hormones made from synthetic sources like those found in HRT are generally taken for longer periods of time with the primary goal being prevention from heart disease or stroke.
Another key difference between the two therapies is that while estrogens only need to be taken for short periods at regular intervals; hormones made with synthetic sources often require continuous intake over long-term durations so that their effects can remain active in the patient's body over time. Finally, while estrogens offer relief from a wide variety of menopausal symptoms; hormones used in hormone replacement therapy are most effective in reducing cardiovascular risks like heart attack or stroke as opposed to providing relief against hot flashes or other common issues associated with perimenopausal changeover.
Although estrogens can help alleviate multiple bothersome side effects associated with perimenopause; it can also cause undesired issues such as weight gain, fluid retention, nausea & vomiting etc., depending upon individual patient's metabolism & age ( younger individuals tend to develop fewer side effects). Similarly women who opt for extended courses may also experience abnormal bleeding patterns due to unbalanced levels of hormones being produced within their bodies over long duration of time leading to irregularities happening inside uterus consequently causing abnormal bleeding & spotting throughout treatment course . Moreover long-term usage may even lead towards formation/ progression of uterine cancers as well as emergence/development breast cancer cells within accepted clinical settings .
As for the potential risks associated with the usage of hormones made out of synthetic sources; some studies suggest that long-term consumption could potentially put patients at higher risk for developing endometrial cancer & breast cancer , forming blood clots , liver diseases , gallbladder diseases as well increased risk towards contracting stroke & coronary artery disease whereas comparatively shorter duration leads towards minor side effects such as water retention , headaches & stomach related issues . Therefore it becomes highly necessary for users intending on using any forms / types of hormone replacement drugs should seek professional medical advice beforehand so as NOT TO PUT THEIR HEALTH AT FURTHER RISK unknowingly WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING HORMONAL MEDICATIONS intended primarily on mitigating risks due to changes occurring inside bodily functions during postmenopausal transition period .
BHRT Pro Center provides specialized medical assistance through personalized treatments regimens such as tailored dosage selection made available after thorough review process based upon each individual’s detailed medical history ensuring maximum safety from major health related concerns when administering any hormonal drug therapies orally through scheduled intake courses alongwith other nutritional supplements prescribed where needed further improving overall health conditions amongst postmenopausal patients having difficulty managing aforementioned discomforts such as hot flushes , night sweats etc ; allowing them greater quality life whilst still remaining under safe confines medically speaking if not better !