Hormone Replacement Therapy

For years, hormone replacement therapy after 65 was thought to be a no-go for reasons ranging from the medically-sound to the prejudiced. This was true for both women who were already receiving hormone therapy and for women who have never started it. Now, that is changing due to a growing body of evidence suggesting that HRT can have significant benefits for women over 65.

Most women are used to experiencing hormonal fluctuations. Since puberty, our bodies become accustomed to the ebb and flow of estrogen and progesterone that guide the reproductive cycle. The changes are routine and familiar. We come to know what to expect. But perimenopause can change that, as it introduces new and foreign hormonal states.

Menopause is a normal and expected part of every woman’s life. But too often, women are taught to believe that because menopause is a natural transition, their symptoms are inevitable rather than something that requires medical intervention. For many, this damaging belief leads to unnecessary suffering.

A lot has been said about menopause. There is a seemingly infinite number of books offering advice. Films and TV shows use it as a plot point. Thousands of memoirs, both humorous and serious, investigate this critical transition point in a woman’s life, and it’s a regular topic of conversation in lifestyle columns and magazine articles. In other words, menopause is an undeniable part of our cultural conversation. But what about perimenopause?

Standardized pharmaceuticals transform and save lives every day. Their role is so central in our lives that it is easy to forget just how powerful these medications can be, whether they’re treating a headache, regulating mood, or destroying cancer cells. But despite the tremendous promise of standardized medications, they aren’t right for everyone, particularly when it comes to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

There’s a sharp, persistent throb on the side of your head, a pulse of pain that seems to quicken even while it slows down time. You have trouble concentrating, become acutely sensitive to noise and lights, feel nauseous, and maybe even experience vomiting. It’s a migraine. And if you are undergoing menopause, it could be the result of your changing hormones.

According to CDC research, 25% of perimenopausal women have trouble falling asleep more than four nights per week. Even more have trouble staying asleep, and over 50% of surveyed women don’t wake up feeling rested during most of the week. These numbers are powerful confirmation that sleep duration and sleep quality are often serious concerns during the transition to menopause, and they’re affecting huge numbers of women across the globe.

Hormone replacement medications have been prescribed for over 80 years. Since Edward A. Doisy discovered the estrogen hormone in 1929, scientists have developed an array of drugs that supply the body with sex hormones derived from animal and plant sources. These medications can be life-changing for men and women with hormone imbalances as well as those who experience uncomfortable symptoms due to the natural aging process.

“Testosterone supplements” are everywhere in today’s health market. These products claim to boost testosterone naturally to address myriad health concerns and can be easily purchased online, in specialty nutrition stores, and even at your corner pharmacy. Indeed, over-the-counter testosterone treatment has grown into a full-scale industry that attracts men of all ages. The golden question is, do these supplements really work?

Menopause can be a difficult time. Intrusive symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, painful sex, and sleep problems can create physical discomfort and emotional distress. Meanwhile, the transition out of your fertile years can be a time of introspection and give rise to complex feelings about your sense of self and your place in the world. For some, it is also a time when the symptoms of depression emerge, either for the first time or more severely than in the past.