Is Hormone Replacement Therapy the Better Way to Age?

Hormone replacement therapy, also called HRT, had been used routinely for decades as a way to give women synthetic hormones to replace those lost through menopause. The treatment was believed to beat hot flashes, keep bones strong, reduce heart disease and prevent memory loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.

However, a 2002 study by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) found that the treatment had too many risks that could outweigh the benefits. The risks included increased blood clots, strokes and breast cancer. The treatment fell out of favor for doctors and patients because of the negative attention it received. Doctors stopped prescribing it except in extreme cases or women rejected it because of concerns.

Researchers have since noted that the study had flaws. The avoidance of HRT may have even resulted in unnecessary deaths for women who could have benefited from it, according to Yale School of Medicine researchers in a July 2013 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, reports Time.

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The treatment is still approached with caution even though advances in synthetic hormones have been made, such as calibration to the natural levels in the body and new delivery systems making the treatment safer. According to Women to Women, newly-developed bioidentical hormone therapy offers hormones produced naturally in pre-menopausal women, but is not seen as more effective or safer than synthetic HRT, according to the FDA.

Hormone therapy treatment remains the right course of action for many women. Patients need to discuss the option thoroughly with their doctor, including the risk factors,.

HRT helps to decrease the risk of heart disease, dementia and other conditions. Women who go through early menopause before age 45 are at a higher risk for these diseases.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the hormone therapy increases bone density to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, a bone degenerating disease. It may also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and brain aneurysms. Muscle fiber strength and muscle function are significantly improved to prevent the reduction of muscle proteins associated with aging.

HRT helps restore sexual function to many women and reduces symptoms of menopause for a better quality of life. The hormone therapy could prove to be a good way to face aging for women who consider the benefits and risks for their particular conditions and situations.

This article is for information only and is not intended as medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your specific health and medical needs.

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