Who Benefits From HRT?

June 17, 2004

Menopause

Who Benefits From HRT?

Despite the risks, some women are excellent candidates

for HRT. Their menopausal symptoms respond well to treatment, they

have few pre-existing health problems, and they either have few

side effects or have a high tolerance to the side effects of the

HRT drugs.

Also, women who’ve had a complete hysterectomy

at a young age, leaving them in surgical menopause, are good candidates.

The abrupt drop in hormone production throws their body into shock,

resulting in hot flashes, fatigue, depression, loss of libido, and

other symptoms, just as if they were in chronological menopause.

These women are also at higher risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.

However, if you begin taking HRT at 30 to try and restore the protection

your natural hormones would have given you until menopause, you’ll

be taking it for 20 years before your peers begin. And the research

is not in yet about the effects of very long-term use.

Who Shouldn’t Take HRT

Many women find the side effects of HRT intolerable: fluid retention,

tender breasts, weight gain, headaches, nausea, anxiety, vaginal

discharge, and estrogen allergy. Or they may have health problems

such as a pre-existing breast or uterine cancer, heavy bleeding

from fibroids, severe migraines, or blood clotting problems that

HRT aggravates. Other women have a family history of a high-risk

disease that makes HRT potentially more risky.

You are the only one who can balance the

potential benefits against the risks. You are in charge. And if

you decide to go with HRT, make sure your doctor monitors you carefully

during your use of these powerful hormones.

Read More on Menopause:

Getting Started

What is Menopause?

Quiz: Is it Menopause?

Keep it SIMPLE Tip — Taking Herbs

Nutritional Therapies

Power Nutrients for Menopause

HRT

Making the HRT Decision

Who Benefits from HRT

If You Must Take HRT

JAMA Study on HRT

Weaning off HRT