Menopausal symptoms are caused by a sudden drop in the secretion of female hormones due to menopause. I will explain hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a treatment method that can be a fundamental solution to menopausal disorders.
Table of contents
- What is hormone replacement therapy (HRT)? What are the main effects?
- What type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs?
- How is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) administered?
- What are the symptoms of menopause that improve with hormone replacement therapy?
- Who can’t do HRT and needs attention?
- What are the symptoms and side effects of starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
- What is the relationship between HRT and breast cancer risk?
What is hormone replacement therapy (HRT)? What are the main effects?
HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is a treatment method that supplements estrogen with drugs to treat mental and physical disorders caused by a lack of estrogen, which decreases in the body of women who are approaching menopause and menopause.
By supplementing the estrogen that is deficient in the body of postmenopausal women, it improves symptoms such as hot flash symptoms (hot flashes, hot flushes) and abnormal sweating, and improves vaginitis and pain during sexual intercourse caused by genital atrophy. has been shown to be effective in preventing osteoporosis.
In addition to this, it has the effect of restoring the decline in motivation and concentration, relieving depression, reducing bad cholesterol, increasing good cholesterol, keeping blood vessels supple, preventing arteriosclerosis, It has also been confirmed to increase collagen in the skin, keep the skin moisturized, and improve urinary frequency and urinary incontinence.
What type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs?
Among HRT drugs, estrogen preparations include oral drugs, patches, and ointments.
Estrogen preparation
- Oral medicine: Tablet medicine that is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Suitable for those who are concerned about skin rashes.
- Patch: Apply to the lower abdomen and absorb through the skin. Suitable for people with gastrointestinal and liver problems. It’s easy because you only need to stick a 500-yen coin-sized sticker once every two days.
- Ointment [TH2] …A medicine that is applied to the lower abdomen and inner thighs and is absorbed through the skin. Since it is often applied every day, it takes more time than a patch, but it is suitable for people who get a rash from the patch. Suitable for people with gastrointestinal and liver problems.
Progesterone (luteinizing hormone) preparations
Progesterone preparations are used to prevent endometrial cancer in people who have a uterus and have not yet reached menopause. It’s a pill drink. In addition, there is also a method of using a bar (nickname: Mirena) that is placed in the uterus and releases progesterone.
A combination of estrogen and progesterone (progesterone)
Estrogen and progesterone are combined in one tablet, so it is convenient because you only need one medicine.
How is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) administered?
There are two ways of administering HRT.
- Estrogen monotherapy: A method of administering only estrogen preparations to women after a hysterectomy. There is a method of using estrogen preparations every day and a method of using them periodically with a rest period.
- Estrogen/progesterone combination therapy: This is a method of administering an estrogen preparation and a progesterone preparation to a woman with a uterus. There are two methods of using estrogen and progesterone with a rest period, respectively, one method of setting only progesterone with a rest period and continuing to use estrogen every day, and the
other method of continuing to use both estrogen and progesterone every day. In addition, there is also a method of using a bar that is placed in the uterus to release progesterone (nickname: Mirena, which is continuously released for 5 years after being inserted once).
What are the symptoms of menopause that improve with hormone replacement therapy?
What menopausal symptoms can be improved with hormone replacement therapy?
QLife Co., Ltd. conducted a 2015 survey of 500 people who received HRT. 71.3% of the respondents answered that their symptoms improved.
Among them, the most common symptoms that improved were “suddenly hot flushed face (49%)”, “prone to sweating (38.3%)”, “frequent headaches, dizziness and nausea (20.6%)” and “anger.” Irritable (19.7%), Irritated and depressed (15.5%), I have trouble falling asleep, and I do not sleep well (14.4%), I have shortness of breath and heart palpitations (13.5%), and I get tired easily ( 10.1%)” etc.
When asked to what extent their QOL changed after starting HRT, 61.2 respondents felt that menopausal disorders “cannot perform daily activities at all,” “are so painful that they cannot be handled,” and “are difficult to handle.” %, but decreased to 13.2% after HRT. It was found that 74% of those who took hormone replacement therapy did not experience any problems during menopause.
Who can’t do HRT and needs attention?
People who cannot do HRT
- Those who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer or endometrial cancer
- Those who have a history of thrombosis or myocardial infarction
- Those with severe high blood pressure, heart disease, or liver disease
People who need to be careful when receiving HRT
- People with liver problems, hypertension, diabetes, or uterine fibroids It is
necessary to control the administration method and dosage. Get treatment in consultation with your doctor. - People who smoke People
who smoke should take smoking cessation treatment at the same time. Quitting smoking will not only improve your physical condition, but will also dramatically improve your overall health and improve your skin’s luster.
HRT only under the supervision of a doctor!
For hormone replacement therapy, always consult with your gynecologist and have a thorough discussion with them, check your physical condition through regular checkups, and control the administration method and dosage according to changes in your body and menopausal symptoms. However, it is important to enforce it.
What are the symptoms and side effects of starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
When starting HRT, irregular bleeding, swelling and pain in the breast, vaginal discharge, swelling in the lower abdomen, and nausea may occur on rare occasions. Most things can be cured.
When you start HRT, menstrual-like bleeding may occur, but if you want to avoid it, you can avoid it by changing the type, amount, and combination of medicines, so please consult your doctor.
It seems that many people are concerned about “side effects” when using female hormone drugs for treatment. Some people may have the wrong image of “becoming fat as a side effect” or “prone to cancer”.
However, female hormone drugs used in HRT have been studied for over 50 years and are very safe. For women over the age of 50, the benefits of using HRT far outweigh the drawbacks. Ordinary HRT does not increase the risk of breast cancer, and combined use of two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, reduces the risk of endometrial cancer.
Of course, there are some precautions to take, but you can safely proceed with treatment while consulting with your family doctor.
What is the relationship between HRT and breast cancer risk?
You may be concerned that supplementing female hormones with HRT increases the risk of breast cancer, but HRT with estrogen alone does not clearly increase breast cancer.
Studies have shown that HRT with estrogen and progesterone is associated with breast cancer risk equal to or lower than the risk of lifestyle factors such as mild obesity. Therefore, HRT is now considered to have a low risk of breast cancer.
The main factors thought to increase the risk of getting breast cancer
3.67 times: those with a history of mammary gland disease (dysplastic hyperplasia)
2.26 times: those who have given birth for the first time over the age of 35 (compared to women under the age of 25 who gave birth for the first time)
2.10 times: family members who have had breast cancer (parents, 1.56 times the number of those who have had a child (sisters, children) 1.2 to 1.4 times the number of women who have never
given birth (compared to women under the age of 25 who gave birth for the first time) 1.03 times the number of women
who underwent HRT with estrogen and progesterone after menopause … Menopause
Late female obesity (when BMI increases by 2)
0.68 times: Has given birth 3 times or more (when compared with nulliparous women)
*Breast cancer treatment guidelines based on scientific evidence 2. Created with excerpts from the 2011 edition of Epidemiology and Diagnosis
Furthermore, when receiving HRT, it is necessary to confirm that there are no abnormalities in breast cancer screening, so it is necessary to ensure that you receive breast cancer screening every year, which is useful for early detection and early treatment of breast cancer.
It is a waste to dismiss hormone therapy as scary because of misconceptions and misunderstandings without having the correct knowledge. Rather, think of it as an opportunity to gain knowledge about your own health. If you are suffering from mental and physical disorders that appear one after another during menopause, please consider it.
