Hormone therapy has long been prescribed to treat symptoms of menopause and help women reclaim their younger self. Treatments are often minimally invasive and may help women experience fewer symptoms of menopause.
At PRP in Philadelphia, Dr. Stuart Kauffman offers hormone replacement therapy. He understands that when you have a problem with hormone production, you often feel the effects throughout your body, and he works with his patients to move them toward a solution.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help balance estrogen (a hormone found in women) and progesterone (a hormone found in men) levels.
There are many reasons your doctor may recommend hormone replacement therapy; however, many receive treatment to balance estrogen and progesterone levels during or near menopause. HRT tends to suppress many of the menopausal symptoms women experience.
Hormonal imbalances are often the reason people consider hormone replacement therapy. The symptoms of a hormonal imbalance depend heavily on which hormone is in question.
Hormones regulate your body. They’re produced in the endocrine glands and travel through the bloodstream to vital glands around your body. Hormones control the major processes in your body like metabolism and reproduction. An imbalance may cause one or more of these systems to overproduce or underproduce hormones.
Sometimes, a hormonal imbalance has no known cause. But, if you suspect a hormonal balance, here a few symptoms to look for:
You may experience one or more symptoms at a time.
There are two primary types of hormone therapy: systemic and low-dose vaginal products.
Systemic estrogen comes in the form of a pill, patch, ring, gel, or spray. It typically contains higher amounts of estrogen that can be absorbed throughout your body. This type of therapy can be used to treat symptoms of menopause.
This type of hormone therapy comes in the form of cream, tablet, or ring, and minimizes estrogen absorption into your body. Low-dose vaginal preparations are often used to treat the vaginal and urinary symptoms of menopause.
Depending on your health, Dr. Kauffman recommends the best option for you. If you haven't had your uterus removed, that may mean a low-dose prescription of estrogen along with progesterone or progestin. However, depending on your overall wellness goal, you may be prescribed systemic hormone therapy.
If you’re concerned you may have a hormone imbalance and want to know if HRT is right for you, schedule your consultation today by calling our office or requesting an appointment online.
