Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT is indicated for women entering or adjusting to menopause. Usually, a combination of Estrogen and Progesterone hormones are used to alleviate symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, fatigue, loss of libido and vaginal dryness.
The hormone combinations can be synthetic and available in pills, patches, and creams. There are also bio-identical or natural hormones. There are risks associated with the use of hormones like cancer, heart attack, headaches, and stroke. For some women, the risks are very low and outweigh the benefits of HRT, which in addition to alleviating the symptoms of menopause, also reduce the risk of bone loss with aging, as well as improving the quality of life. However, for some women, the risks may be too high and the alternative solutions will be offered.
