Hormone replacement therapy is one of the most controversial issues in the field of wellness and wellbeing. Many women are prescribed it to deal with the huge sexual and emotional changes that come as part of the menopause, but few can be sure that it is entirely safe.
Commonly referred to as HRT, women have been treated with replacement oestrogen and progesterone in this way for many years, as it provides a good relief for symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, as well as reducing the patients chances of suffering from menopause-induced heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
Progesterone is found in both sexes, but predominantly in women. It is very important for health during pregnancy, and women who find themselves having difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term are often prescribed progesterone to help them get over a progesterone deficiency in early pregnancy. Progesterone helps to balance oestrogen in the female body.
As women get older, the progesterone levels naturally start to decrease (usually starting at around the age of 30). A cream form of progesterone is also sometimes used to help combat symptoms that come with falling levels of progesterone, and this is applied topically – such as to the head, for headaches. It is also sometimes used to help lessen the symptoms of PMS, such as cramping, bloating and irritability, and is used in pill form in certain cases to help combat problems sleeping that are associated with hormones.
The safety of progesterone replacement drugs has come to light because of studies that link cancer and heart disease to oestrogen and progesterone supplements, and so the tide of public opinion has steadily started to turn away from this type of treatment. A lot more research is needed, however, before we can be sure that hormone replacement therapy is actually unsafe, and so many women feel that the risks are minor and that the benefits of the treatment outweigh any potential issues.
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