Hormone therapy involves the use of estrogen or estrogen plus progestin to help relieve the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, from hot flashes and night sweats to vaginal dryness. Also called “hormone replacement therapy” or “menopausal hormone therapy,” it can even protect against the bone loss that occurs early in menopause. If you are experiencing menopausal symptoms, talk with your Grace & Heart provider about whether hormone therapy might be right for you based on your personal and family medical history. And if you decide to take hormone therapy, talk with your provider every year about whether to continue it. The decision should be made with your doctor or certified nurse midwife, taking into account your symptoms, as well as the risks and benefits.
How Hormone Therapy Works
As women approach menopause, their ovaries shrink and gradually stop making estrogen. Hormone therapy seeks to replace and balance the body’s supply of estrogen.
Estrogen can relieve symptoms of menopause in two ways:
If your primary symptoms are vaginal dryness and painful intercourse, an alternative to hormone therapy is treatment with the MonaLisa Touch®, a special gynecologic CO2 laser.
You and your Grace & Heart provider can talk about what form may work best for you. You can decide based on your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle.
Learn More about Hormone Therapy
The experienced team of physicians and nurse practitioners at Grace & Heart will help you weigh the benefits and risks of hormone therapy. To learn more, give us a call at (863) 382-BABY to schedule an appointment with one of Grace & Heart's women’s health-care providers.
How Hormone Therapy Works
As women approach menopause, their ovaries shrink and gradually stop making estrogen. Hormone therapy seeks to replace and balance the body’s supply of estrogen.
Estrogen can relieve symptoms of menopause in two ways:
- Systemic estrogen therapy releases estrogen into the bloodstream, where it travels to the organs and tissues that need it. Systemic estrogen therapy comes in the form of pills, skin patches, gels, and sprays.
- Local estrogen therapy releases small doses of estrogen directly into the vaginal tissue. It is useful for women whose only symptom is vaginal dryness and comes in the form of a vaginal ring, tablet, or cream.
If your primary symptoms are vaginal dryness and painful intercourse, an alternative to hormone therapy is treatment with the MonaLisa Touch®, a special gynecologic CO2 laser.
You and your Grace & Heart provider can talk about what form may work best for you. You can decide based on your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle.
Learn More about Hormone Therapy
The experienced team of physicians and nurse practitioners at Grace & Heart will help you weigh the benefits and risks of hormone therapy. To learn more, give us a call at (863) 382-BABY to schedule an appointment with one of Grace & Heart's women’s health-care providers.