The 4 Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Published on: 14 October 2019 Last Updated on: 10 September 2024

During menopause, estrogen levels in your body drop. Some women experience unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), also known as Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT), is the most effective way to treat these menopausal symptoms.

HRT involves estrogen-containing medications that replace the hormones that are no longer produced after menopause. Studies have found that hormone therapy also helps to prevent bone loss and reduce fractures in postmenopausal women.

If you want to relieve the symptoms of menopause, understanding the advantages and disadvantages of hormone replacement therapy can help you determine the right type for you. Highlighted below are the four types of HRT for menopause.

Here are the 4 types of Hormone Replacement Therapy:

1. Estrogen Pills

One of the most common forms of HRT is an oral medication. The pills include conjugated estrogens and are typically taken once daily without food. However, some have more complicated dosing schedules.

Pros

Like other forms of HRT, estrogen pills can lessen or remedy the bothersome symptoms caused by menopause. They also reduce the risk of osteoporosis (weakening of the bones).

Cons

Estrogen, on its own, slightly increases the risk of thrombosis and stroke. When used with the hormone progesterone, the risk of heart disease and breast cancer is heightened.

Like other HRT treatments, oral estrogens have side effects.

These include painful swelling of the breasts, vaginal discharge, headache, and nausea. People with liver problems should opt for other forms of estrogen as oral estrogens can be hard on the liver.

In addition, estrogen may not be absorbed, especially if you are taking certain medications or if you have stomach problems.

2. Skin Patches

Another type of HRT is skin patches, with examples including Alora and Estraderm. There are also combined estrogen and progesterone skin patches. Follow the instructions and replace the patch once or twice weekly.

Pros

First, the patch is convenient. You can stick it without worrying about taking oral medicine every day. The patch is also great for people with liver ailments as the estrogen goes passes directly into the bloodstream, avoiding the liver. Studies have proved that patches do not present a risk of thrombosis to postmenopausal women compared to oral estrogens.

Cons

Estrogen patches do have side effects. These include painful swelling of the breasts, vaginal discharge, headache, and nausea. The patch can also irritate the skin on which it is applied.

Do not expose estrogen patches to high temperatures or direct sunlight. The heat can bring about the rapid release of estrogen from some. Therefore, do not use a tanning bed or sauna when wearing an estrogen patch.

3. Topical treatment

Estrogen gels, creams, and sprays are another way of incorporating estrogen into your body. Like skin patches, this type of estrogen treatment is directly absorbed into the blood. They are normally administered once a day.

Pros

Since these topical estrogen treatments journey directly into the blood, they are low risk for people with liver problems.

Cons

A possible problem with the use of this type of estrogen treatment is that the gel, cream, or spray can be rubbed or washed off before being completely absorbed. Always let the treatment of dry before dressing and apply after bathing.

Since estrogen is directly absorbed through the skin, do not let your family members come into contact with these creams or gels. Ensure you clean and dry your hands after using the medication.

4. Vaginal Suppositories

These types of estrogen treatments are applied directly to the vagina. These treatments are most suitable for women who suffer particularly from vaginal dryness, itching, pain, or burning sensation during intercourse. The medication includes vaginal tablets, creams, and vaginal rings.

The exact dosing schedule depends on the product. However, the vaginal ring must be replaced every three months.

Pros

Research has proved that vaginal suppositories are more effective in treating vaginal symptoms of menopause than other types of estrogen treatment.

Some vaginal rings produce low doses, impacting the surrounding region only. This is favorable since they do not subject the whole body to high amounts of estrogen. In theory, this reduces the risks of estrogen treatment and is a safe method to reassure women unable to receive systemic treatment.

Cons

Vaginal suppositories containing low amounts of estrogen are only useful for menopausal symptoms brought about due to hysterectomy. They do not treat other symptoms, such as hot flashes. Although high doses of suppositories offer solutions to these symptoms, they may carry risks of cancer. Most doctors do not recommend long-term vaginal estrogen therapy in women who still have a uterus, as this may escalate the threat of endometrial cancer.

In conclusion, work closely with your doctor to decide on the best option from the various available hormone replacement therapies. Also, talk to your physician about how long you can take HRT and how to limit potential risks.

Read Also:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Prevent Travel Nurse Burnout: Easy Self-care Tips

We all know what stress is. We all cope with it every day; we look for creative new ways of handling it but prolonged exposure to stress can lead to burnout which could have some long-term consequences. Travel nursing, like any other health care field, falls into the category of highly stressful jobs. The stress became even more emphasized since the pandemic had started. In the last few years, jobs for travel nurses have not only grown in scope, but also in terms of remuneration. The global pandemic has necessitated the biggest movement of trained nursing professionals across the world. While there are stressful moments involved, the salaries and compensations are the perks that are leading the nursing industry. With the chance to see the world, a lot of young professionals are encouraged to pursue short term travel nursing jobs. Travel nursing can be both stressful and rewarding: There has been an increasing demand from medical staffing companies for healthcare workers in the past year. And yes, while it also meant higher pay for travel nurses, more job openings, and travel opportunities it also came with exponential exposure to everyday stress. Now, as a healthcare professional you are already used to coping with situations that would upset and throw out of tracks every average person, but COVID-19 is still quite new to everyone, and just like with everything that’s new it takes some time getting used to it. We know how tough you are but you are still prone to feeling effects of accumulated stress over time and as a health care staffing agency that puts its employees first, we are saying that you should take some measures of precaution to avoid burnout and to increase or maintain the quality of your life. Things you can do outside work: We know it can be hard to put work aside and go back to your normal life once you take off your uniform. But if you think about it, in a long run, doing so you are doing yourself and your patients a favor. By focusing on your wellbeing, you are refueling, reenergizing, and investing in your career too. You will be more concentrated, more rested, and more efficient if you had enough time for yourself. Focus on your physical and mental health: This can be, for example, a walk in a park, going for a run, or just wandering around the city exploring new cafes, restaurants, parks, buildings and enjoying the pulse of a new place. You could start off by exploring your new residential area and discovering places according to your taste. You could go on a hunt for a beautiful sunset or sunrise and get the perfect postcard for your friends back at home. Invest in your own health - find a farmer’s market and enjoy organic or unique specialties that locals could tell you about. Yoga is great for both physical and mental health: Find a gym or a park to do yoga every day. If you are not a fan of exercising indoors, you could find a park or a nice and quiet place to do your stretches or yoga, for example. It's very beneficial to practice yoga outdoors with other people. Why not try that out? Maintain social relationships and contacts: Stay in touch with your friends from home or hang out with some new people you’ll definitely meet. It would be nice if you could avoid talking about work and instead focus on experiencing new tastes, learning new things, and hearing different points of view. Make the most of your stay. Things you can do at work: It can be very busy and sometimes overwhelming at work, and we understand that being a travel nurse you sometimes can’t just decide when to take a break. But if you have the chance, take that little break. As they say, one can be surrounded by people and still feel alone. That’s why you should try to bond with your colleagues or/and patients that you like. It will make your workplace a much more pleasant place to be at and you will look forward to your next day at the hospital. The social component of our overall wellbeing must not be disregarded. We are social beings, right? Everyone’s threshold of stress tolerance is different. And if you start feeling overwhelmed by your everyday tasks, if you find yourself unable to stay focused for a longer period of time, or if you start getting easily frustrated, don’t wait. Seek professional help, take care of yourself and put yourself in the first place just like your medical staffing agency does. You are important to us. And we take care of what’s important. Don’t push yourself. Be gentle with yourself. Treat yourself like you treat your patients. Let us take care of you. Read Also: Effects of Anxiety on Heart Disease How To Live Stress-Free 6 Steps for Choosing the Best Workout Gear 8 Motivations to Start Up Health & Fitness

12 Mind-Boggling Effects of Technology on the Brain

The effects of technology on the brain are very real, and very polarizing. Many people love the potential value that technology can have on our ability to function in the world. Others have the idea that the effects are negative and limit us in many ways. The reality is probably that there are good and bad effects. In any case, side-effects of technology on our minds are worth looking into so we can be aware of them and notice ourselves being affected. Here are a few interesting ways that technology is affecting human minds. The Effects of Technology on the Brain: We'll touch on a few of the negative and positive effects to give you a well-rounded idea of where we are at in relation to technology. There's no doubting the value of unlimited information, but it's difficult to deny the addiction and change in social behavior that technology can bring. Let's get started. 1. Our Taste Buds Can Respond Differently to Food: Once upon a time, the dinner we prepared for ourselves was a welcome meal that we took for what it was. Research has shown that people who scroll through images of meals on Instagram and Pinterest before they eat actually enjoy their meal less. The idea is that the perceived value of the food online diminishes how you feel about your own food by comparison. 2. We Can Relax About the Small Details: Our ability to access unlimited practical information at a moment's notice frees up a lot of time for us to relax and enjoy what we're doing. Things like directions, hours of a store, and more are all things that we would sweat once upon a time. Those details are now guaranteed to be available at all times, so we don't need to think about them until we need them. 3. Our Memory Could Be Diminishing: Our brains are complicated and adaptable to the way things are changing. When we notice an area where we can free up more room to think about other things, we do so. What we're talking about is the need for us to remember trivial information. Little things like directions, phone numbers, historical facts, actors' names, and more are all things that our brains know we can look up on our phones. That means we don't have to set space aside to remember those things, so, more and more often, we don't remember them. We just pull out our phones and look the information up. 4. Social Development: The overwhelming presence and use of social media is a brand new thing in the scheme of human development. Within the last decade, children have gone through adolescence with benefit and harm of social media on their lives. The self-consciousness of a virtual self is a new thing, and we have yet to fully grasp how it will change people in the long-run. 5. Lesser Concern for Safety: One of the overwhelming benefits of technology on our brains is that we are now more comfortable with our safety. As technology advances, our physical and financial safety improves. Studies have shown that the absence of this kind of stress is greatly beneficial to the health of our brains. 6. Sleep Disruptions: A lot of evidence suggests that the light emitted from our laptops, smartphones, and tablets sends conflicting signals to our bodies. Our circadian rhythms are thrown off, with our bodies taking light as a message to stay awake. You may have noticed that it's difficult to get to sleep after a long night of using the computer or extended cell phone use. 7. Attention Span: Information comes to us quickly and we can consume it fast, too. There aren't a lot of pieces of the modern technology puzzle that require people to sit and think, focus, or pay attention anymore. Seeing as we are regularly using technology, it means that we are regularly not developing longer attention spans. 8. New Forms of Identity: One interesting change that technology has brought is the ability to construct an identity through the technology you possess. One clear example of this is the split between Mac and PC users. Things like Nixon watches and other items can help a person to express how they feel as a person. 9. Self Help: Interestingly, the problems or stressors that are sometimes caused by technology can be solved by it too. Take anxiety, for example. The anxiety related to excessive social media use could be partially treated by applications or information found online that is intended to treat anxiety. 10. Improved Decision Making: While parents everywhere are concerned about the impact of first-person shooters and similar games on their kids' brains, evidence suggests that such games could have benefits on cognition. Vision and decision making skills are improved in some cases when individuals spend a lot of time playing games like first-person shooters. 11. Memory Formation: The use of phones in situations that previously were absent from technology has a potential effect on our formation of memories. While we're swiping away, life goes on around us. Our concentration is situated on the screen, distracting us from the sensory information that converges to form concrete memories. 12. Interconnectedness: Subcultures and groups of like-minded people have the ability to connect on levels that were never thought possible in the past. One group of people who like a specific film can have hours and hours of discussion with a similar group across the world. Not only that, but those groups can expand outward, recruit new members, form friendships, and that group will create subgroups. The point is, people are interconnected to others in the world who share their interests and beliefs. Jump Onboard and Be Mindful: The effects of technology on the brain are very real, and sometimes it's difficult to tell what is helping and what's hurting. In most cases, the value of an effect will depend on the person. Technology is here to stay, though. Everything from interviews to paychecks is handled online, and we have the information to keep you informed and on top of things. Read Also: 6 Ways To Promote Healthy Brain Top Bad Habits That Hurt Your Brain Power 3 Reasons Why Online Degrees Are Better

5 Best Stimulant-Free Fat Burners

Every year, millions of people start off with a resolution to lose weight and achieve the body that they have always dreamed of. However, by mid-year, a lot of people have already gone back to their usual less-than-healthy routine. With summer approaching though, some people start scrambling to get their body ready for the beach, and so they try fat burner supplements to complement their diet and exercise. It’s not easy to find one that works, and it’s even more difficult to find one that is free of side effects. There are two types of fat burners that you can choose from depending on their effects on your nervous system. The stimulant fat burners contain ingredients that can affect your heart rate and stimulate the nervous system. The non-stimulant fat burners do not have any effect on the nervous system and are usually free of those types of side effects. Read also: 5 Common Weightlifting Mistakes Women Should Avoid Many stimulant fat burners are reported to have negative effects on its users. This type of fat burners typically contains caffeine in large amounts. This ingredient can cause insomnia and anxiety when consumed in excess. Many popular fat burners also contain ephedrine, which is potentially dangerous in large amounts and can increase blood pressure and heart rate. Another side effect is the increased levels of cortisol that can eventually result in anxiety disorders and chronic stress. This is why non-stimulant fat burners can be a better option compared to stimulant based ones. To give you an overview of the benefits of non-stimulant fat burners, take a look at the ingredients usually found in them: Carnitine Carnitine is an amino acid that is usually called L-carnitine or acetyl l-carnitine. The body produces carnitine with the use of lysine and methionine to help in transferring fatty acids to the mitochondria. These fatty acids like triglycerides will undergo the process of oxidation to produce energy. It can also help in storing less fat and burning more calories. Some foods such as animal foods contain this amino acid but supplements have higher amounts of carnitine more beneficial for weight loss. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is a natural fatty acid derived from omega-6 fatty acids and linoleic acid. It is commonly found in dairy products as well as meat. But the supplemental CLA is created from safflower or sunflower oil. Due to the presence of linoleic acid, CLA is an essential ingredient when it comes to suppressing the appetite, decreasing body fat mass, and preventing fat production. Sesamin Sesamin is also called lignin. It is a compound that is mostly found in sesame seed. Oats, flax, and other grain-based products are also good sources of sesamin. Lignin reduces fat storage by increasing the activities related to the metabolism of fat. It is also a known ingredient in many antioxidant supplements. Apart from that, it is also an estrogen receptor modulator that men can consume to maintain higher levels of testosterone. Seaweeds Seaweed may be one of the last things that you will think of when it comes to fat loss. It is not only an ingredient to the food that you eat such as sushi. The carotenoid siphonaxanthin is a xanthophyll present in green algae that can reduce fat. It controls adipogenesis, the process of cell differentiation. This stops fat development in tissues and can reduce appetite. Exogenous Ketones Exogenous Ketone is a nutritional supplement that contains ketones. This main ingredient is a compound that is naturally created by the body to produce energy for the mitochondria from fats. Ketones have a small molecular structure that is considered to be a more efficient fuel than glucose. Aside from fat reduction, some of its other benefits include lower heart rate, oxygen consumption and increased levels of cardiovascular endurance. Your choice in the type of fat burner you should use depends on your needs and preferences. You must look at the benefits and downsides of both types. Picking the wrong supplement could cause more problems than expected. Since the non-stimulant fat burners have more advantages than disadvantages for those who are sensitive to caffeine or those with anxiety disorders, it is recommended that you choose these if you have such problems. There is an effective fat burner for everyone! Read also: Tips To Lose Weight Naturally How To Lose Your Weight With Venus Factor 6 Imbalances In Body Hampering Weight Loss Efforts

The 4 Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Here are the 4 types of Hormone Replacement Therapy:

1. Estrogen Pills

2. Skin Patches

3. Topical treatment

4. Vaginal Suppositories

How CBD Oil Capsules Are Changing People’s Lives

How Talcum Powder & Ovarian Cancer Is Related?

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Technologies For Creating A Startup Idea

How to Download Facebook Videos on Android?

7 Rules of Effective Ecommerce Web Design

The 10 WordPress Plugins Every Sucessful Blogger Uses

Follow Us

Recent

Caribbean CBI and Does India Allow Dual Citizenship?

Self-Driving Cars And Pedestrian Safety: Who’s Responsible When Tech Fails?

Ryan McCorvie on Helping Kids Develop a Global Perspective

Safe Tree Care Tips for Urban Homeowners

Related

Prevent Travel Nurse Burnout: Easy Self-care Tips

12 Mind-Boggling Effects of Technology on the Brain

5 Best Stimulant-Free Fat Burners

The 4 Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Here are the 4 types of Hormone Replacement Therapy:

1. Estrogen Pills

2. Skin Patches

3. Topical treatment

4. Vaginal Suppositories

Share this Article

How CBD Oil Capsules Are Changing People’s Lives

How Talcum Powder & Ovarian Cancer Is Related?

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related