HRT Guides : What You Should Know Before Using HRT.
As with all therapies, a woman who is considering hormone therapy must compare its potential benefits to its potential risks. And although short-term use is safer than long-term use, there is no time period of use that’s considered “safe.” Acceptable risk depends on a woman’s individual circumstances.
The decision will be largely influenced by the severity of her menopause-related symptoms, her risk factors for diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and breast cancer, and her personal health and philosophy. She may be suffering from hot flashes that affect her quality of life, making risks more acceptable (particularly since hot flashes are typically short term and risks are low). Or she may be a healthy woman considering hormone use to stay healthy, such as by trying to prevent osteoporosis, making risks less acceptable (particularly since therapy must be long term and safe, and effective nonhormonal alternatives are available). Or maybe she wants to do both.
“Each woman is in a unique situation.”
And her confusion is fueled by changing reports over the past decades regarding the effects and risks of hormone therapy. During these years, medical professionals have changed their views about the role of hormones as more research has been conducted. Experts agree that there is much they still have to learn. Although recent studies have provided some clarity for large populations, they don’t necessarily address all of the issues an individual woman faces. Only she, with the counsel of her healthcare providers, can do that.
“How Do I Choose HRT Products?”
Many factors will be part of a woman’s decision to use a particular hormone product—her age, her risks, her preferences, available treatment options, and the cost of the product. Each woman must decide if her potential benefits outweigh her potential risks.
Only after examining and understanding her own situation and after a thorough consultation with her healthcare provider can a woman make the best treatment choice. A woman’s decision about hormone therapy may also change as more is learned through clinical trials and as personal situations and risk factors change.
“Each Woman is Unique.”
Different Women, Different Needs There is no single way to ensure the best possible quality of life around menopause and beyond. Each woman is unique. It is beneficial for a woman to invest time working with her healthcare professionals to create an individual health plan and to reevaluate and make therapeutic adjustments.
Not only as new therapies and guidelines are available, but also as the woman’s body continues to change in its own individual way.
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