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Hormone Replacement Therapy

Life is one big cycle made up of many different smaller ones and as we age, we can divide our lives into various separate phases. Puberty and menopause are two of the most significant occurrences in any woman's life. Puberty tends to be celebrated, while menopause is often dreaded. Perimenopause commences for most women in their late forties, beginning with a reduced production level of hormones in the body. Menopause occurs a year or two later, and is simply the last natural menstrual period that a woman has.

Most women experience various negative symptoms during this time in their lives. One of the most common and discussed symptoms are hot flashes, which can be annoying, but pose no harmful consequences. They can be described as a sudden wave of heat that begins in your chest and extends to your neck and face. It is like a general blush that is often accompanied by sweating, reddening and sometimes dizziness. Night sweats are virtually the same, the only difference being that they occur at night while you're sleeping - and usually wake you up. As a result, insomnia and general sleep deprivation are very common during this period. Hot flashes gradually diminish and disappear within a few years after menopause.

Other common menopausal problems linked to minimal estrogen levels in the body include severe mood swings, lack of sexual desire, shrinking and thinning of the vagina and breasts, less vaginal lubrication during intercourse, frequent vaginal and bladder infections, and increased facial hair growth.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms and the individual woman, some women decide to control these problems via Hormone Replacement Therapy (commonly referred to as HRT). It is important to note that the vast majority of women choose not to seek treatment, either because their symptoms aren't particularly acute, or because of personal beliefs. HRT involves prescribing estrogen, usually combined with progesterone to increase naturally low post-menstrual levels in order to alleviate the symptoms as listed above.

Estrogen is a hormone produced primarily by the ovaries, but is also produced in the adrenal glands and is responsible for maintaining the lining of the uterus, breast growth and controlling the menstrual cycle. Usually for the purpose of HRT, conjugated estrogens are used and are mainly derived from pregnant mare's urine.

Progesterone plays a significant role during pregnancy and in the latter part of the menstrual cycle. It is a hormone found in both sexes, but is primarily regarded as a female hormone. As with estrogen, progesterone levels drop significantly upon reaching menopause. For women taking HRT, it is important that progesterone be administered along with the estrogen to prevent uterine or endimetrial cancer. On the other hand, women who have had hysterectomies do not share this concern, as there is no chance of them developing these types of cancer.

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