PART
1 - FINDING AN IDEAL REGIMEN
The rationale for
women to use HRT following menopause is to sustain quality of life and
to be afforded protection from the negative health consequences of hormone
deficiency. Accordingly, an ideal HRT regimen would prevent menopausal
symptoms, maintain libido, preserve sexual response, maintain the integrity
of hormonally dependent tissues and prevent cardiovascular disease,
osteoporosis and dementia. Finally, it would accomplish these goals
without causing unpleasant symptoms.
These goals can
almost always be accomplished if, (1) the hormones used are identical
to those secreted by the ovary and are (2) delivered into the bloodstream
with their chemical structure intact in (3) amounts sufficient to exert
their intended affect that (4) remain at relatively stable blood levels.
Menopausal women
who have a negative experience with their initial HRT prescription often
become disillusioned and assume that all HRT programs will affect them
in the same way. The problem is further compounded if the menopausal
woman’s doctor has limited skills in the care of menopausal women.
The physician may not be aware that other treatment options are available
that are capable of relieving the menopausal woman’s symptoms
without causing unpleasant side effects. If a patient fails to respond
to the prescribed therapy, the physician may regard them as uncooperative
and/or as having a mental problem. After all, they did provide the treatment
the "book" said was going to work and if didn’t it couldn’t
be their fault. It would have to be a failure on the patients’
part.
How does
a woman find an HRT program that relieves her symptoms and doesn’t
cause side effects?
She can accomplish
this by learning about HRT options and routes of administration. This
will enable her to knowledgeably participate in the decision making
process. She will be able to either lead her doctor in the appropriate
direction, or be able to recognize a physician who has the skills required.
Many women are under the impression that all gynecologists and endocrinologists
are knowledgeable about menopause. However, menopausal medicine and
expertise in HRT is a subspecialty and will be recognized as such in
the near future.
Where does
she learn this?
She can start by
reading the rest of this section and the other sections of the web site,
especially those under the HRT & Hormones heading. When she finishes,
she may be more knowledgeable about HRT than many physicians.
PART
2 - UNPLEASANT SIDE EFFECTS OF HRT… Why they occur and strategies
to avoid them.
PART
3 -PROGESTERONE, PROGESTINS & PROGESTERONE CREAM...What exactly
are progesterone and progestins?