Menopause is a normal part of a woman’s aging process. The word describes the changes that accompany the end of a woman’s reproductive period, which typically happens when she is in her early 50s. If you’re dealing with any issues related to menopause, hormone therapy could help.
During her reproductive years, a woman’s ovaries release an egg every month. They also produce the hormones progesterone and estrogen that regulate menstruation and ovulation. As a woman goes through menopause, her hormone levels drop and she gradually stops ovulating and menstruating.
While menopause is normal, it can cause a variety of unpleasant side effects like the following:
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Trouble concentrating
• Insomnia
• Muscle weakness
• Urinary incontinence
• Painful intercourse
• Dizziness
Hormone therapy restores the patient’s hormones to their original levels and, thus, reduces the severity of menopause’s side effects or eliminates them altogether. Hormone therapy can also reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
What Does Hormone Therapy Involve?
Since several hormones are involved, and different patients will have different symptoms and hormone levels, we will have to customize the therapy for each patient. We will start by asking the patient about their symptoms and administering blood tests to determine the amount of hormones the patient will need.
There are different ways to administer hormones. The patient may choose from pellet insertion, oral therapy, injections, transdermal (skin patch), lotion, or gel. We will make sure to recommend the methods we think would be most suitable for the patient.
For example, oral therapy is not recommended for patients with liver problems. Such patients will be offered methods that don’t affect their liver. With skin patches, for example, the hormones bypass the liver and head straight into the bloodstream that transports them within the body.
How Does Pellet Therapy Work?
Pellet insertion or pellet therapy is a surprisingly old form of hormone replacement therapy that dates back to the 1930s. It is particularly popular in Australia and parts of Europe.
In pellet insertion, the hormones are contained within a pellet slightly bigger than a grain of rice. Over a period of months, the pellet will dissolve within the patient’s body and release a constant and steady stream of hormones. Pellet insertion avoids the fluctuations that accompany other forms of hormone replacement therapy.
Who is a Good Candidate for Hormone Therapy?
Simply book an appointment at Fort Worth Center for Pelvic Medicine to find out whether or not you qualify for hormone therapy. During this meeting, we can tell you about various treatments you may be interested in, including MonaLisa Touch®. Contact us today to set up your initial consultation at our office in Fort Worth!