The term hormone replacement therapy is one that you may have heard of in general conversation with friends. However, you may not know what this type of therapy is and how it helps many people. Hormone replacement therapy can help some individuals as they experience hormonal changes, such as when going through menopause or andropause. It’s important to learn more about hormone replacement therapy to see if this type of treatment is right for you. The following offers insight into hormone replacement therapy and some signs that you may need this type of treatment.
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy is a medical treatment that helps to restore any hormonal balance that may be disrupted. Reduced hormone levels are often the result of menopause, the end of menstruation in women, or andropause, the natural decline in testosterone levels in men, but people can experience reduced hormone levels for other reasons, too. Estrogen, testosterone, and/or progesterone are added to one’s body as part of this therapy in order to balance out the hormones. Hormone replacement therapy can be completed with the use of pills, patches, injections, or creams. The patient will take the hormone replacement medication until a proper balance is reached.
What Are the Signs That You May Need This Therapy?
You may have a reduced amount of hormones if you experience certain symptoms. Some of the signs that may lead to considering hormone replacement therapy include the following:
- Night sweats
- Mood swings
- Hot flashes
- Sleep disturbances
- Irritability
- Difficulty losing weight or unexplained weight gain
- Decreased sexual function or libido
- Persistent fatigue and low energy
These symptoms are often related to menopause and the issues one experiences when going through this period of time that can last many years. By undergoing hormone replacement therapy, you can gain replacement hormones which may help to alleviate your symptoms.
How Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Work?
If your body isn’t making enough hormones, you may start to experience some or all of the symptoms listed above. Hormone replacement therapy offers a way to provide your body with those missing hormones which will likely help to reduce the symptoms you experience due to diminished hormone levels. In addition to helping lessen the symptoms of reduced hormone levels, hormone replacement therapy can also aid with bone loss, in the case of osteoporosis and osteopenia. Hormone replacement therapy replaces the natural hormones in the body so symptom sufferers can feel better and have peace of mind.
What Are the Steps of Hormone Replacement Therapy?
There are different types of hormone replacement therapy that may work for patients and the types of hormones the patient receives may include estrogen, testosterone, or progesterone, depending on the types of hormones the individual needs. Once it’s recommended that the patient obtains hormone replacement therapy and they express an interest in doing so, a personalized procedure plan will be developed by the medical professional who will prescribe and/or administer the treatment.
The healthcare professional will follow your progress and make any revisions to the treatment plan along the way for effectiveness and to minimize side effects. Hormone replacement therapy likely won’t produce immediate results. This type of treatment takes a while for results to be realized, usually a few weeks to a few months. Once you undergo hormone replacement therapy, you’ll have regular visits with the healthcare professional to ensure that the treatment is working according to plan. Any changes to the hormone replacement therapy plan can be made along the way so that the treatment produces the desired results.
Eclipse Clinic Offers Hormone Replacement Therapy Services
If you’ve been going through menopause and suffering from symptoms related to this physiological process, you may want to explore hormone replacement therapy options. Eclipse Clinic in Waxahachie, Texas, offers hormone replacement therapy to help patients with their symptom-free living goals. You can make an appointment with the Eclipse Clinic team to learn more about hormone replacement therapy and other options that may help you with this phase in your life. Eclipse Clinic health professionals are here to guide you every step of the way with kind, compassionate medical care.
Contact Eclipse Clinic regarding our hormone replacement therapy and other healthcare services today and get started moving through the menopause phase of your life with ease.