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Menopause

What Are The Signs That You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy

What Are The Signs That You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy? 11 Signs Checklist

Written and Reviewed by Dr. Uzma Qureshi
Published on: 12/06/2024
Signs That You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy

Do you know that hormones are the key drivers of your normal body function? They control everything, from your sleep-wake cycle to your energy regulation. But what happens during menopause when there is a severe hormonal imbalance? Hormone replacement therapy might appear as the first treatment option in your mind. However, before making a choice, it is essential to understand what are the signs that you need hormone replacement therapy. 

Understanding the clues that your body is giving you to get HRT is important. These clues not only raise awareness but also keep you informed about your health and well-being. In this blog, you will learn what role this therapy plays in your well-being what are the signs and when to start HRT.

11 Signs That You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy

Females experiencing severe symptoms of menopause often turn to HRT for support. However, certain types of HRT are also considered for males who are experiencing symptoms of testosterone deficiency. 

The following are 11 signs that you need hormone replacement therapy:

  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Vaginal atrophy
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Fatigue
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Low sexual drive/libido
  • Weight gain
  • Osteroprosrosis
  • Hair loss

Let’s explore all these 11 signs in detail.

  1. Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are defined as episodes of severe heat spreading around your upper body for at least 3 to 4 minutes. This episode can leave you anxious, stressed and sometimes sweaty. Oestrogen helps your body stay at a normal temperature, but during menopause, due to its deficiency, your body finds it difficult to maintain temperature, and hot flashes occur.

To avoid such episodes, find out the triggers, like tight clothing, stress, warm weather, heat, and smoking. HRT helps recover the deficiency of oestrogen in your body and prevent these unpleasant episodes. 

  1. Night Sweats
Night Sweats

Night sweats are the hot flashes that occur while you are asleep and leave you or the sheet drenched in sweat. They may occur if you are sleeping in a warm environment, under heavy blankets, or in tight clothing. Before this episode occurs, the adrenaline rush increases your body temperature and heats your face, neck or chest, waking you up from sleep. Thus, these episodes can disturb your sleep during menopause or may lead to insomnia. 

  1. Vaginal Atrophy

Oestrogen and progesterone not only regulate sexual or reproductive functions, but they also maintain the health of your body’s tissues, such as the vaginal tissues. Before menopause, your vaginal wall is healthy, plump, reddish and moist. However, the decline in those hormones during perimenopause and menopause causes your vaginal wall to thin, dry, and brown—a condition known as vaginal atrophy.

  1. Vaginal Dryness

The vaginal wall becomes thin and dry due to decreasing oestrogen and progesterone levels. This dryness causes other symptoms, such as itching or burning, especially during intercourse. Additionally, the risk of bacterial infections increases when your vagina is dry. Managing vaginal dryness often involves addressing hormonal imbalances through treatments like hormone replacement therapy (HRT), moisturisers, lubricants, or vaginal oestrogen therapy. It can also be cured by vaginal dryness natural remedies.

  1. Urinary Incontinence
Urinary Incontinence

Menopause can weaken the muscles around the urethra, the tube that allows urine to exit the body from the bladder. This weakening can lead to various urinary problems, including difficulty controlling the urinary leakage, known as urinary stress incontinence.

Signs may include urinary symptoms such as frequent urges to urinate, difficulty holding urine, or urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, or laughing and sometimes recurrent UTIs.

  1. Fatigue

It is not easy to balance severe menopause symptoms and social life. This job can drain your energy both physically and mentally, leaving you fatigued. During menopause, the decrease in oestrogen affects the levels of thyroid and adrenal hormones, which are energy regulators. 

Additionally, having poor sleep due to hot flashes or night sweats during menopause makes you constantly tired. 

  1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OSA is characterised by repeated episodes of breathing cessation while you are asleep. It happens when your throat muscles relax excessively, causing the airway to block, either completely or partially. 

Middle-aged women with low oestrogen and progesterone levels are more susceptible to snoring and OSA, according to a recent PLOS ONE study. They examined data from 774 women aged 40-67. It was found that higher oestrogen and progesterone levels were linked to reduced odds of snoring and experiencing choking sensations during sleep, respectively.

  1. Low Sexual Drive/Libido

Less oestrogen and testosterone compromise sexual desire and libido in women, particularly during menopause or times of hormonal fluctuations. This decline in hormone levels can lead to various symptoms, like vaginal dryness, decreased sexual sensitivity and reduced desire. All these symptoms impact your sexual satisfaction and overall well-being. 

Men’s decreased testosterone levels also reduce their libido, which can sometimes cause erectile disorders. HRT can manage all these sexual symptoms.

  1. Weight Gain
Weight Gain

Weight gain is one of the common 34 symptoms of menopause in women. Your body tends to store fat, which reduces muscle mass. These hormonal fluctuations also store fat around your abdominal area rather than in your thighs and hips. This weight gain not only alters your shape but also puts extra pressure on your joints and reduces your quality of life. 

  1. Osteroprosrosis

Osteoporosis means weak and brittle bones. According to research published in 2021, postmenopause osteoporosis is a common condition that affects 1 in 3 women. When oestrogen levels drop after menopause, bones can weaken quickly. Menopause hormone therapy (MHT) can help prevent bone loss and fractures by up to 20–40%. MHT is effective for all women, even those with a low risk of fractures. 

  1. Hair Loss

Another answer to your query: What are the signs that you need hormone replacement therapy? Is excessive hair loss. The decline in oestrogen levels can lead to hair thinning or loss in some women. While menopause can be a contributing factor to hair loss, it’s essential to consider other potential causes, such as genetics, ageing, underlying health conditions, or nutritional deficiencies. 

Now You Know What are the Signs that You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy!

Hormones play a vital role in regulating various bodily functions, and when imbalances occur, they can lead to a range of symptoms affecting your daily life. Whether it’s managing hot flashes, addressing urinary issues, improving sexual health, or combating fatigue, hormone replacement therapy can offer relief and restore hormonal balance. Ultimately, recognising when to take hormone replacement therapy empowers you to take proactive steps towards better health and vitality. Consulting with healthcare professionals for menopause treatment is key to personalised treatment plans tailored to your individual needs and concerns.

FAQs About Signs You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy:

What are the pros and cons of HRT?

Controlled menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, as well as improved bone health, are the pros. On the other hand, its cons include an increase in the risk of heart disease when used for a longer period.

Does hormone replacement therapy work?

Yes, hormone replacement therapy can effectively manage vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and joint aches, especially early in menopause. It also helps with later symptoms like vaginal dryness, pain during sex, and urinary issues.

Is hormone replacement therapy safe?

Indeed, experts suggest that this is a more effective treatment option if it’s been 10 years since your last menstrual period. Despite the side effects, it is considered less harmful to use it for fewer years at lesser doses.

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