Many women, as they start to approach the age where menopause may begin for them, worry about what the experience will be like. While some women experience very mild symptoms when they go through menopause, others have experiences that can be quite difficult. Women can experience physical and psychological symptoms that can greatly interfere with their daily lives, cause feelings of hot and cold flashes, affect their sex drive and even lead to feelings of sadness or depression. If you are going through menopause and are dealing with symptoms that are proving to be challenging for you, you may want to explore the options available to you in terms of treatment. You want to understand the different menopause hormone therapy options available to you so you can choose the one that will work best for you.
• Typical Hormone Replacement – The most common form of treatment that women are aware of is Hormone Replacement Therapy, often referred to as HRT. HRT is often prescribed by your doctor and includes the introduction of synthetic hormones into your system to replace the estrogen and progesterone that is decreasing in your body. While this type of therapy does provide relief of symptoms to many women, there are risks involved in using HRT. There are some women that can be at a higher risk for blood clots, strokes and heart attacks as a result of taking HRT. There is also the risk of developing certain cancers.
• Natural Hormone Therapy – As an alternative to typical HRT, natural hormone replacement therapy has begun to be more popular in recent years. This type of menopause hormone therapy makes use of products made up of only natural ingredients, such as herbs and plant powders, to provide you with the hormone replacement you need to feel better. The herbs make use of phytoestrogens that closely resemble the natural estrogen in your body. You do not run the risk of any potential side effects using a natural product and can still get the relief you are looking for. More doctors are now offering this up as an alternative to traditional treatment methods.
It is important that you fully explore all of the options available to you for treatment so you can decide for yourself what you would like to do. Consult with your doctor so you can discuss the options and find out what can work best for you to help you through this time in your life.