What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy is a medication that contains female hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. Both hormones play many key parts in the body of women. It can be used to replace these substances in those women with menopause, which reduce levels of both hormones. Therefore, doctors often prescribe these medications for alleviating symptoms of the menopause, such as vaginal discomfort, mood swings, and hot flashes. [1]
Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy
In general, there are two forms of hormone replacement therapy. These include:
– Low-dose vaginal products: As the name implies, low dosages of estrogen can be used to reduce the amount of hormones absorbed by the women’s body. They are available in the ring, tablet, or cream form and can be used for relieving urinary and vaginal symptoms of menopause.
– Systemic hormone therapy: In this type, systemic hormones with high doses of estrogen are used. There are different forms available, such as spray, cream, gel, ring, patch, or pill. They are suitable for improving common problems in women with menopause. [2]