Menopause, hormones and HRT: everything you need to know, and why most women should have the therapy
Hormone replacement therapy has been used to treat problems caused by menopause since the 1940s, but it is still contentious. With new formulas and delivery methods, experts say the benefits far outweigh the risks
As we age, we are faced with exciting opportunities – and difficult challenges, particularly regarding our bodies. For women, one that gives us pause is menopause. The time that marks the end of menstrual cycles, usually in the 40s or 50s, can be a cause for celebration, but it may also usher in some unwelcome symptoms caused by falling hormone levels.
About 80 per cent of menopausal women experience hot flushes, thinning hair, mood swings and poor sleep.
To relieve these symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), was introduced in the 1940s. In the ensuing decades, different delivery methods, dosages and hormone combinations have been developed, and conflicting studies have shown benefits and risks. It is shrouded in misunderstanding. Some women embrace it, others are fearful of it. Even medical professionals are divided on it.
“I’m on HRT,” she says, “not just because I was exhibiting frustrating signs of menopause, but because a bone-density scan revealed osteopenia, which seemed to be advanced for my age.”
Osteopenia is the precursor to osteoporosis, porous bones that become weak and break easily. Falling oestrogen levels during menopause is one of the causes.