Estrogen levels fluctuate throughout a woman’s life, but when nearing menopause, those fluctuations can become extreme. Once in menopause, estrogen production declines dramatically, causing unpleasant symptoms and affecting your health in other ways, too.
At Evergreen Women's Health, Cynthia McNally, MD, and Cory Killeen, FNP-BC, offer hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to supplement natural estrogen levels, relieving symptoms and reducing your risks of more serious health issues. If you’ve been wondering what HRT can do for you, here are five benefits you should know about.
Many women think of estrogen only in terms of its effects on sexual health and reproduction, but estrogen has lots of other functions, too. Low estrogen levels contribute to “brain fog,” a condition that makes it hard to concentrate and focus. Memory can also be affected.
Irritability and moodiness are also common, including increasing your risks of anxiety and depression. HRT helps improve cognitive function and clear up brain fog, improving your mood and your outlook, as well.
Low estrogen levels affect your sex life in a couple of different ways. When estrogen production declines, your level of sexual desire — or libido — also declines, affecting your quality of life and intimate relationships, as well.
Low estrogen levels also take a toll on your vaginal health, decreasing natural lubricants that make sex comfortable and pleasurable. As estrogen dwindles, many women experience vaginal dryness that leads to discomfort and even mild bleeding during or after sex. The risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) may also increase.
HRT improves both your libido and your vaginal health, increasing levels of desire as well as a more satisfying sex life.
Estrogen also plays a role in healthy sleep habits. That’s one reason why many women find their hours of restorative sleep dwindle when they approach menopause. In addition, low estrogen levels can cause night sweats that disrupt sleep and keep you up at night.
HRT reduces night sweats and improves the duration and quality of sleep, improving your overall wellness and your mood, too. Plus, getting adequate sleep on a regular basis leads to a boost in energy and alertness during the day.
Estrogen supports a healthy metabolism, enabling your body to efficiently use calories while limiting the production and storage of fatty tissue. As menopause nears, estrogen declines and metabolism slows down as a result, leaving you with excess pounds that can be especially difficult to lose.
HRT helps you maintain a healthy weight by improving your metabolic activity. Better weight management means a better body image and improved self-confidence, as well as lowered risks of chronic health problems, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
Decreasing levels of estrogen take a toll on skin health, leading to dry, rough skin and a breakdown of the skin’s protective barrier. Menopause also affects bone density and increases your risk of osteoporosis, as well as osteoporotic fractures.
HRT helps promote skin health, so your skin can retain more moisture and maintain its natural barrier. It also supports the normal bone replacement cycle, reducing your risks of weak, porous bones.
Estrogen is just one hormone that can affect your physical and emotional wellness. Evergreen Women’s Health offers thyroid hormones and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) to enhance overall hormone function, as well.
To learn more about HRT and how we can design a therapy just for your needs, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Evergreen Women’s Health in Vancouver, Washington, today.
