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BENEFITS OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
Relieves Hot Flushes
Oestrogen invariably improves hot flushes and those symptoms
accompanying it. Progestogen proves to be less effective than
oestrogen, but will also reduce the intensity and frequency of them.
Relieves Secondary Symptoms
Hot flushes result in insomnia - excessive tiredness leads to
inefficiency, which in turn results in depression and stress.
Improves Vaginal Dryness
Oestrogen restores the health of the vagina and lower urinary tract,
thus improving vaginal lubrication and lessening the risk of
infection of these organs.
Improves Secondary Symptoms
As the condition of the vagina improves, so it heightens the woman's
desire for sex, and in turn relieves the 'bed-time headache', which
may offer more fulfilment in her marriage, thus helping to banish
depression.
Beneficial for early menopause as a result of surgery
Many women are 'forced' to undergo hysterectomies at an early age,
for a number of medical reasons e.g. heavy bleeding, pelvic
infections or endometriosis. This poses a problem to the young
woman, as many a time, the disease is so widespread that the ovaries
are removed together with the uterus, resulting in an abrupt
decrease in hormonal levels. A sudden decrease in oestrogen would
probably be far more difficult to cope with, than had it occurred
under normal circumstances. These women are also at a far greater
risk of developing osteoporosis, and should therefore be advised to
begin hormone replacement at the time of surgery.
Eases Moodiness
Many women taking oestrogen, report an increased upliftment in their
state-of-mind, and feel less irritable, depressed and more able to
cope with everyday hassles.
Eases Secondary Symptoms
The woman may now start to accept the fact that she is able to cope
with all the changes happening to her as, she now no longer suffers
with intense hot flushes, sleeps better at night and her vaginal
dryness has improved which in turn has resulted in more harmonious
sexual relations.
Prevention or Treatment of Osteoporosis
Medical studies have clearly proven that oestrogen therapy decreases
the loss of calcium from the bones after menopause. Women at high
risk of osteoporosis - those with a family history of the problem,
those who undergo early menopause, those of a thin and short stature
and those who smoke or use alcohol in excess - may well want to
consider using oestrogen replacement, as the effects of this disease
are extreme. Oestrogen replacement therapy in this case, would be
far more beneficial if combined with a regular intake of vitamin D,
calcium and if the woman were to follow an exercise program.
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