Does hormone replacement therapy (HRT) cause weight gain or loss?
There is no evidence that HRT leads to weight gain or weight loss. Women typically undergo menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. It occurs around one year after a woman’s last menstrual cycle.
Is HRT safe for women over 50?
While there are many inevitable health consequences of menopause and aging, the initiation of systemic or local HRT may be both appropriate and acceptable in some older women in order to improve the quality, if not the quantity, of life. Table 1.
How dangerous is hormone replacement therapy?
You’re likely referring to a large study that found that taking hormone replacement therapy – estrogen plus progesterone – for 10 to 14.9 years increased the risk of breast cancer by 88 percent. The risk more than doubled for women who took the hormones in combination for 15 to 19.9 years. This study was based on data from about 60,000 nurses.
What are the risks of hormone replacement therapy?
- Bloating
- Tenderness or swelling in body parts like the breasts
- Leg cramps
- Headache
- Stomach problems like indigestion
- Vaginal bleeding
Can HRT affect the heart?
Recent evidence shows that menopausal women taking HRT have no higher risk of dying from a heart attack than women who don't take HRT.
Why you should not take HRT?
But HRT may not be suitable if you: have a history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer or womb cancer. have a history of blood clots. have untreated high blood pressure – your blood pressure will need to be controlled before you can start HRT.
Does estrogen cause heart problems?
Estrogen can be heart protective It helps tissues throughout the body stay supple and flexible, and that includes blood vessels. This helps to increase blood flow. It helps keep blood pressure low. It helps keep blood triglycerides low, increases HDL cholesterol (the helpful kind) and lowers LDL cholesterol levels.
Why is HRT good for the heart?
Study shows women receiving HRT have lower levels of atherosclerosis and other health benefits. "Estrogen contributes to heart health through its helpful effects on cholesterol and because it increases blood flow by relaxing and dilating blood vessels," says Dr.
Why do doctors not like HRT?
Unfortunately, some doctors and healthcare professionals still believe outdated reports that HRT is linked to cancer, blood clots and heart problems, so they may be reluctant to prescribe HRT.
What is the safest HRT to take?
So in summary, the safest types of HRT are the oestrogen applied through the skin as a patch, gel or spray with body identical micronised progesterone. Many women also benefit from testosterone, which may help if you're forgetful or having trouble concentrating at work.
How can I protect my heart after menopause?
How to Prevent Heart Disease After MenopauseGet screened. Regular heart health screenings are important to maintaining a healthy heart. ... Exercise regularly. Women should try to shoot for at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week to help lower their risk of heart disease. ... Eat a healthy diet. ... Stay positive.
At what age should a woman stop taking estrogen?
If you are healthy, most experts agree that HRT is safe to use at the lowest dose that helps for the shortest time needed. If you're 59 or older, or have been on hormones for 5 years, you should talk to your doctor about quitting.
How can I replace estrogen naturally?
The most widely cited natural remedy is soy, which is very high in phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens. Other sources are red clover and flaxseed, both of which are available as supplements.
Does HRT increase risk of stroke?
HRT does not affect your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. HRT tablets (but not patches or gels) slightly raise the risk of stroke. However, it is important to remember that the risk of stroke in women under 60 is very low.
Is HRT safer than it used to be?
In fact, they have found evidence for an increased risk of blood clots and stroke. They also found an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women using HRT. Most of the effects of HRT - positive and negative - are seen while women are taking HRT, and disappear once they stop.
What are the negative side effects of HRT?
These side effects will often pass after a few weeks....Side effects of oestrogenbloating.breast tenderness or swelling.swelling in other parts of the body.feeling sick.leg cramps.headaches.indigestion.vaginal bleeding.
Why is HRT so controversial?
Proponents of bioidentical HRT state that the problem with synthetic hormones is that they are too different from our own; they stimulate additional 'unnecessary' hormone receptors and fail to replace some of the critical functions of our natural hormones, creating potentially serious side effects.
Who is not a good candidate for HRT?
Smokers and those with a family history of blood clots aren't good candidates for HRT. If you've ever had a form of reproductive cancer, you're likewise not a good candidate for HRT. Breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers often respond to estrogen.
Is it worth going on HRT?
There is good evidence that commencing HRT (hormone replacement therapy) between the ages of 49 and 59 can reduce our risk of strokes and heart attacks by up to 30%. We know that after 50 this risk goes up for women and it is related to estrogen decline.
What can I take instead of HRT?
Clonidine. Clonidine is a prescription medicine that can help reduce hot flushes and night sweats in some menopausal women. It's taken as tablets 2 or 3 times a day. It does not affect hormone levels, so unlike HRT it does not carry an increased risk of problems such as breast cancer.
How long does it take for a bioidentical pellet to release hormones?
When dosed appropriately, bioidentical pellets release the exact doses of hormones the patient needs over three to six months. Pellet therapy can be customized to each patient, getting a better balance of hormones. And as each pellet is placed under the skin, patient compliance is almost at a 100% level.
What is the difference between synthetic and bioidentical hormones?
One of the most prominent examples of the difference between synthetic hormones and bioidentical hormones come from estrogen and progestin. Synthetic versions of these hormones are tied to significant increases in the risk of breast cancer and other problems.
How does testosterone differ from bodybuilding?
The difference comes from the levels of testosterone when starting the supplementation. In bodybuilders, they already had an average to high level of testosterone in their system. Then, they added more.
How many women were tested for estrogen and progestin?
According to the Estrogen-Progestin Replacement study that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in the late 1990s, more than 2,700 women with existing coronary heart disease were tested to determine if estrogen plus progestin would prevent a second heart attack.
What can women do to help prevent heart attacks?
What we can conclude is that women concerned about a heart attack risk would be best to maintain a healthy weight, use proper supplements, and use HRT to help mitigate the risk of heart disease and heart attack.
What is the most significant thing to remember about your patient?
Conclusion. The most significant thing to remember about your patient is that they can do considerable research on different forms of hormone replacement therapy. They come to you with questions and predetermined ideas of what they want and don’t want.
Why is obesity a risk factor for heart attack?
Excess weight and obesity are risk factors for a heart attack because of their association with increased anxiety, depression, adrenal fatigue, increased blood pressure, increased cholesterol levels, lower antioxidant levels, and other risk factors for heart disease.
What hormones are used for hot flashes?
As recently as 10 years ago, virtually every woman at menopause automatically got a prescription for estrogen or estrogen combined with progestin, another female hormone. Hormone replacement therapy was standard treatment to relieve hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia and other menopausal symptoms.
Why is long term use of HRT discouraged?
Long-term use is discouraged because the risk for heart attack, stroke and breast cancer increases the longer HRT is used.
How does estrogen help women?
Estrogen helps a younger woman’s body protect her against heart disease. Changes in the walls of the blood vessels, making it more likely for plaque and blood clots to form. Changes in the level of lipids (fats) in the blood occur. An increase in fibrinogen (a substance in the blood that helps the blood to clot).
How to reduce side effects of HRT?
He or she can often reduce these side effects by changing the type and dosage of estrogen and/or progestin.
Why do women on hormone replacement therapy have less heart disease?
It appears that the reason why the observational studies showed women on hormone replacement therapy had less heart disease was likely due to the lifestyles of women who take hormone replacement therapy rather than the medical benefits.
What are the side effects of HRT?
About 5 to 10 percent of women treated with HRT have side effects which may include breast tenderness, fluid retention and mood swings. In most cases, these side effects are mild and do not require the woman to stop HRT therapy. If you have bothersome side effects from HRT, talk to your doctor.
How many women are involved in WHI?
Involving more than 160,000 women, WHI is the world’s largest clinical trial of health interventions for midlife women, studying the effects HRT, diet changes and calcium and vitamin D supplements on heart disease, osteoporotic fractures and breast and colorectal cancer risk. In 2002, scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ...
What are the basic types of hormone therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy primarily focuses on replacing the estrogen that your body no longer makes after menopause. There are two main types of estrogen therapy:
Who can benefit from hormone therapy?
The benefits of hormone therapy may outweigh the risks if you're healthy and you :
What is hormone replacement therapy?
By Mayo Clinic Staff. Hormone replacement therapy is medication that contains female hormones. You take the medication to replace the estrogen that your body stops making during menopause. Hormone therapy is most often used to treat common menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal discomfort.
What are the factors that determine whether hormone replacement therapy is appropriate for you?
Health history. Your family history and your personal medical history and risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, blood clots, liver disease and osteoporosis are important factors in determining whether hormone replacement therapy is appropriate for you.
How old do you have to be to start hormone therapy?
Age. Women who begin hormone therapy at age 60 or older or more than 10 years from the onset of menopause are at greater risk of the above conditions. But if hormone therapy is started before the age of 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits appear to outweigh the risks. Type of hormone therapy.
How to treat menopausal symptoms?
Minimize the amount of medication you take. Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time needed to treat your symptoms. If you're younger than age 45, you need enough estrogen to provide protection against the long-term health effects of estrogen deficiency. If you have lasting menopausal symptoms that significantly impair your quality of life, your doctor may recommend longer term treatment.
What is systemic estrogen?
Systemic estrogen — which comes in pill, skin patch, ring, gel, cream or spray form — typically contains a higher dose of estrogen that is absorbed throughout the body. It can be used to treat any of the common symptoms of menopause. Low-dose vaginal products.
How does hypothyroidism affect the heart?
Hypothyroidism can affect the heart and circulatory system in a number of ways. Insufficient thyroid hormone slows your heart rate. Because it also makes the arteries less elastic, blood pressure rises in order to circulate blood around the body. Elevated cholesterol levels, which contribute to narrowed, hardened arteries, are another possible consequence of low thyroid levels.
Why does thyroid cause muscle aches?
Because it also makes the arteries less elastic, blood pressure rises in order to circulate blood around the body . Elevated cholesterol levels, which contribute to narrowed, hardened arteries, are another possible consequence of low thyroid levels. Another noncardiac symptom—muscle aches—may also be relevant.
What causes heartbeat to be abnormal?
Excess thyroid hormone also causes the heart to beat harder and faster and may trigger abnormal heart rhythms. One is atrial fibrillation, a disorganized rhythm in the heart's upper chambers. A related symptom is palpitations, a sudden awareness of your heartbeat.
What is the butterfly gland?
Located at the base your throat, the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland releases hormones that affect every organ in your body—especially your heart. Thyroid hormone influences the force and speed of your heartbeat, your blood pressure, and your cholesterol level. As a result, a malfunctioning thyroid gland can cause problems ...
How many people have thyroid disease?
An estimated 6% of people in the United States have thyroid disease. Most of them—about 80%— have an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism. When thyroid levels drop, all the systems in the body slow down, triggering a range of symptoms that include fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation, and dry skin.
What gland is responsible for heart problems?
Image: Thinkstock. The thyoid gland, which wraps around the windpipe, releases hormones that have wideranging effects on the body. Too little or too much of this crucial hormone can contribute to heart problems. Located at the base your throat, the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland releases hormones that affect every organ in your body—especially your ...
Can statins cause muscle aches?
Muscle aches can be a symptom of hypothyroidism as well as a side effect of cholesterol-lowering statin medications, a condition known as statin-related myalgia. In fact, research suggests that hypothyroidism is more common in people who can't tolerate statins.
What hormone makes a man?
Testosterone and the heart. Forget clothes. In a very real sense, testosterone makes the man. It is responsible for the deep voice, increased muscle mass, and strong bones that characterize the gender. It stimulates the production of red blood cells by the bone marrow.
How many men have testosterone deficiency?
Testosterone deficiency affects about 6% of American men; most are in the older age groups. Although the problem is relatively common, it is underdiagnosed. According to one survey, only 12% of men with androgen deficiency were receiving treatment.
How many men are taking testosterone?
If the FDA's estimates are correct, about 250,000 American men are receiving testosterone for hypogonadism, the only condition for which the hormone is approved. But some 1.75 million prescriptions for testosterone products were written by American doctors in 2002, at a cost of $400 million — and the numbers have continued to soar. Why are all these men taking testosterone? And should they?
How often do you inject testosterone?
Until recently, men who needed testosterone required injections of the hormone every one to three weeks. Now, most men use skin patches (Testoderm, Androderm), gels (AndroGel, Testim), or tablets that are placed on the surface of the gums (Striant).
What causes hypogonadism in men?
In other cases, the problem originates in the pituitary gland of the brain; causes include tumors (almost all benign), head trauma, brain surgery, various medications, some hereditary disorders, severe malnutrition, and chronic illnesses. Men with hypogonadism should receive testosterone-replacement therapy.
When was testosterone discovered?
In 1935 , doctors discovered the male hormone testosterone. Testosterone therapy quickly became the standard treatment for men with low levels of the hormone, or hypogonadism, though its role for aging men with normal testicular function remains highly debatable.
What happens if you abuse testosterone?
Athletes who abuse testosterone and other androgenic steroids have a sharply increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
Treatment
- As recently as 10 years ago, virtually every woman at menopause automatically got a prescription for estrogen or estrogen combined with progestin, another female hormone. Hormone replacement therapy was standard treatment to relieve hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia and other menopausal symptoms.
Pathophysiology
- Scientists are still learning about the actions of estrogen in the body. Studies have shown that estrogen affects almost every tissue or organ system, including the heart and blood vessels. Estrogens known effects on the cardiovascular system include a mix of positive and negative:
Health
- Over the years, evidence was accumulating that suggested estrogen also helped protect women against heart disease. With heart disease is the number one killer among women over age 65, this is an important issue. Women develop heart disease 10 years later than men, but by age 65, their risk is equal to that of men.
Uses
- Recent studies on the long-term use of HRT are changing that way of thinking. With scientific data potentially linking HRT to higher risks of heart attack, stroke and other serious health problems, many women are reconsidering HRT.
Results
- During the first year of HRT, women in the study had a 50 percent increase in heart attack and stroke. But, after two years of treatment, women on HRT actually had less heart disease and fewer heart attacks and strokes compared with women not taking HRT. The study left many unanswered questions, leading researchers to take another look at these same women. They pu…
Research
- Meanwhile, an even larger study, the Womens Health Initiative (WHI), was raising more questions about the potential risks associated with HRT. Involving more than 160,000 women, WHI is the worlds largest clinical trial of health interventions for midlife women, studying the effects HRT, diet changes and calcium and vitamin D supplements on heart disease, osteoporotic fractures a…
Epidemiology
- How prevalent is heart disease among women? Menopause usually occurs naturally in women between ages 45 and 55 . However, loss of estrogen can also occur if the ovaries are removed during surgery or if a woman goes through early menopause.
Signs and symptoms
- Menopause is a normal stage in a womans life. The term menopause is commonly used to describe any of the changes a woman experiences either before or after she stops menstruating. As menopause nears, the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen (a female hormone), causing changes in the menstrual cycle and other physical changes. The most common symptoms of m…
Diagnosis
- Technically, menopause is the end of a womans reproductive cycle, when the ovaries no longer produce eggs and she has her last menstrual cycle. The diagnosis of menopause is not confirmed until a woman has not had her period for six to twelve consecutive months.
Prevention
- What can be done to reduce the risk of heart disease for menopausal women? First and foremost, \"traditional\" risk factors should be addressed. Women with the lowest risk of heart disease are those who: If you have bothersome side effects from HRT, talk to your doctor. He or she can often reduce these side effects by changing the type and dosage of estrogen and/or progestin. If you …
Risks
- More recent studies of women, such as the Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study (HERS) and the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) concluded overall health risks exceeded the benefits provided by HRT. Women who participated in the WHI showed an increased risk for breast cancer, coronary heart disease (including nonfatal heart attacks), stroke, blood clots and …
Overview
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment program in which a woman takes estrogen with or without progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone). To decrease the risk of uterine cancer in women who have a uterus, progestin is usually prescribed with estrogen.
Qualification
- All women taking hormone replacement therapy should have regular gynecological exams (including a PAP smear). The American Cancer Society also recommends that women over age 50 should:
Side effects
- About 5 to 10 percent of women treated with HRT have side effects which may include breast tenderness, fluid retention and mood swings. In most cases, these side effects are mild and do not require the woman to stop HRT therapy.
Causes
- No. Although women who take birth control pills are also taking estrogen and progestin, the effect is not the same. Women who take birth control pills have not been through menopause and need higher levels of hormones to prevent ovulation. HRT is not a high enough strength to stop ovulation.
Medical uses
- After menopause, estrogen levels are low and HRT is used at a low dose to restore hormone levels to a more normal level.