Participate in Your Hormone Replacement for Optimal Benefits
Like any aspect of your health, the more you take control of managing it, the better the results. Being an active and informed participant in your medical care empowers you to make the decisions and seek out the treatments that are the most effective for your individual health concerns, risk factors and lifestyle.
The same holds true for Hormone Replacement Therapy. HRT can be truly life changing. In women, it can alleviate most of the troublesome symptoms of menopause, restore sexual enjoyment, and dramatically reduce the risk of bone fractures from osteoporosis. And for males, as well as improving sexual performance and libido, testosterone replacement can help men reduce their risks of heart disease, diabetes, and even death.
But modern hormone therapy is not a “one size fits all” solution. The more hormone rebalancing is customized to a patient’s unique needs – and the more they participate in their care – the better the results. Unfortunately, many traditional doctors still simply prescribe a standard-dose, same-for-everybody, estrogen or testosterone pill and then send patient’s on their way.
In this article the hormone replacement experts at SottoPelle in Phoenix, AZ explain the right way to approach hormone therapy – so that you are an active participant in achieving optimal health and well-being through HRT.
Reduce Risks & Side Effects from Hormone Replacement
Taking some simple precautions can increase safety and reduce the side effects of hormone replacement therapy. For example, studies have shown that women should start hormone replacement therapy within 10 years of menopause or before age 60.
And, if a woman still has her uterus, she should take progesterone or progestin with estrogen replacement. While taking estrogen alone can increase the risk of endometrial cancer, clinical studies have shown that adding progesterone or progestin negates this risk.
Taking only the dose you need – i.e. the lowest dose that works for you – also helps eliminate risks and side effects with any medication or treatment. That is why customized hormone replacement like SottoPelle is superior to one-size-fits all standard pills from the pharmacy.
Women should always get regular mammograms and pelvic exams – but this is especially important when taking hormone therapy. While hormone therapy is safe for the vast majority of women it should not be administered to women with certain cancers. So, remembering to get your annual exams can help identify any changes in the breasts and/or any precancerous cells, to ensure that hormone replacement is safe for you.
And, men undergoing testosterone replacement should monitor their prostate. Prostate cancer is a very slow-growing tumor, but it is dependent on the presence of testosterone. So regular prostate examination and blood testing, while always important, is even more essential during male hormone replacement. remember, testosterone therapy does NOt cause prostate cancer – but it should be discontinued if a man has prostate cancer.
Who Should Not Use Hormone Replacement
Hormone replacement therapy is safe for the vast majority of women and men! But, like any medical treatment, there are some people with certain risk factors for whom HRT may not be appropriate. Your doctor may decide that hormone replacement isn’t right for you if you have, or have previously had: blood clots, stroke, liver disease or certain cancers (breast, endometrial/uterine, ovarian, or prostate).
You should also discuss your family medical history or hereditary factors with your physician to see if you are a good or bad candidate for hormone replacement. For example, if your mother had osteoporosis, HRT may be a great treatment to help you lower your chances of bone fractures! But, if your mother suffered from breast cancer, your doctor will likely want you to avoid HRT.
Support Hormone Replacement with Lifestyle Factors
Many small but important daily lifestyle choices can also help you reap greater benefits, and avoid more risks, while undergoing hormone replacement.
Women’s lifestyle changes can help them manage their estrogen levels, and support estrogen replacement therapy. Estrogen and calcium need each other to help build bone strength – so HRT patients should eat a diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D. Women on estrogen therapy may also wish to consider taking a calcium supplement. This can boost bone health, help prevent osteoporosis, and reduce the risk of debilitating bone fractures. Strength training – whether weight lifting or weight bearing exercises like yoga – can also help restore bone strength and reduce the of osteoporosis.
Quitting smoking, avoiding second hand smoke, and reducing alcohol consumption and sugar intake can also boost the benefits and reduce the risks of hormone therapy for both men and women. These steps can reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke, as well as lower body fat content and blood sugar to help reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome.
Find a Hormone Replacement Expert | Phoenix & Worldwide
The most important step in understanding how hormone replacement therapy can improve your health is to talk to a doctor who is an expert that is specialized in modern bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Together you and your treating physician can determine if hormone replacement may be a beneficial part of your individualized healthcare regimen, based on thorough and comprehensive blood work, your age and overall health, any risk factors you may have, and your lifestyle.
If you are interested in learning more about whether hormone replacement therapy is right for you, consult with your physician or schedule an appointment with the hormone experts at SottoPelle in the Phoenix, AZ area today. If you live outside of the greater Phoenix area, you can find a physician in your area who is highly trained in hormone replacement using our Physician Finder HERE.
