Am I a Good Candidate for Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Everyone knows hormonal changes can make the teenage years tumultuous, but did you know you can encounter challenges related to hormonal imbalances throughout your life? This is especially true for women approaching menopause.

Menopause symptoms usually start years before your body stops ovulating, and they can persist even after you’ve officially entered menopause — sometimes continuing for years! While it’s true that women share common symptoms, everyone experiences hormonal changes differently based on personal imbalances.

If you’re dealing with unpleasant symptoms related to shifting hormones and want to reclaim control of your life, board-certified OB/GYN, Asia Mohsin, MD, and the team at Progressive Women’s Health in Friendswood, Texas, can help with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Keep reading to learn more about this safe and effective therapy and whether you’re a candidate.

All about hormone imbalances

Your body produces different hormones, and each helps your body perform different functions. From your digestion and metabolism to your libido and mood, carefully balanced hormones trigger key changes that help keep you functioning at optimal levels.

As your body goes through the changes associated with the start of menopause, this balance changes. Your reproductive hormones begin to decrease, and, as a result, you may experience unpleasant symptoms, including:

Hot flashes
Decreased libido
Vaginal dryness
Night sweats
Brain fog, confusion, or forgetfulness
Insomnia
Pain during intercourse
Mood swings and mental health issues

Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy may be able to help you get your hormones back in balance.

All about hormone replacement therapy

The goal of hormone replacement therapy is to replace missing hormones. This, in turn, can help restore balance and cause symptoms to decrease or stop completely. There are different types of HRT options, and Dr. Mohsin makes customized recommendations based on your needs. Some of the options include the following:

Oral tablets taken daily
Replaceable skin patches for women who don’t want oral tablets
Topical gels that transmit the hormones through your skin
Small implants — called pellets — which are placed under your skin for slow release
Vaginal rings and creams for treating vaginal dryness

These HRT products provide hormones identical to the ones your body creates naturally, and they can help you rebalance your hormone levels safely and effectively, so you can reclaim your life.

Candidates for hormone replacement therapy

Not every woman experiencing hormone imbalances is a candidate for HRT. It’s important to discuss your symptoms openly with Dr. Mohsin to learn if this treatment is the right option for you.

Generally speaking, candidates for HRT often share some of the same symptoms and signs. If you have the following symptoms, you may be a candidate for hormone replacement therapy:

1. Menopause symptoms are interrupting your life

One of the most common reasons women ask for HRT is because of troublesome menopause symptoms, such as those listed earlier. From getting enough sleep to getting through work, these symptoms can make it difficult to carry out normal tasks. These symptoms may even cause you to miss out on special events. If problematic menopause symptoms are interrupting your life, talk with Dr. Mohsin to learn if HRT can help.

2. You sex life isn’t sexy

Hormone imbalances can create big problems when it comes to your sex life. Decreased libido, lack of lubrication, and pain during intercourse due to changes in your vaginal tissues can take your sex life from fun and enjoyable to virtually sex-free. For many women, HRT helps them return to a healthy sex life.

3. Your PMS symptoms are extreme

As you approach menopause, you may have noticed that your PMS symptoms have gotten more and more extreme. About 8% of women suffer from this condition, called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which can cause serious pain and mental health distress. A personalized HRT treatment plan can help alleviate these symptoms.

4. You have low bone density

Your hormones play an important role in your bone density by signaling your cells to renew bone tissue. If your hormones become imbalanced, you may begin to lose bone strength.

Furthermore, you could develop osteoporosis, which could increase your risk of suffering bone fractures. By replacing the hormones your body isn’t making, a tailored HRT plan may be able to help slow or even prevent bone loss.

5. You have other hormone-related symptoms

You might also be a candidate for HRT if you experience other hormone-related symptoms not listed above. Many women struggling with hormone imbalances experience things like:

Mood or personality changes
Mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression
Joint pain and overall weakness
Insomnia and other sleep disturbances
Chronic headaches or migraines
Difficulty with weight gain
Chronic low energy and fatigue
Trouble concentrating and memory problems

This list only covers some of the more common hormone-related problems. Talk to Dr. Mohsin about any troublesome symptoms you have to learn if they could be triggered by imbalanced hormones.

To see if you’re a candidate for hormone replacement therapy, call 281-993-4072 or book an appointment online with Progressive Women’s Health today. We also offer telehealth visits.