What is Estrogen Therapy?
Estrogen therapy, also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), involves the administration of estrogen to alleviate symptoms related to menopause and other conditions associated with low estrogen levels.
There are two primary types of estrogen therapy:
- Systemic Hormone Therapy: This is used for the treatment of common symptoms of menopause. It involves a higher dose of estrogen that gets absorbed into the bloodstream and travels to all parts of the body. Systemic hormone therapy can be administered in various forms, including oral tablets, skin patches, gels, creams, and sprays.
- Local (Low-Dose) Estrogen Therapy: This is typically used to treat the vaginal and urinary symptoms of menopause. The estrogen is delivered in a lower dose directly to the vaginal tissues, using products such as vaginal creams, tablets, or rings.
Indications for Estrogen Therapy
Estrogen is a group of hormones that play a crucial role in the development and functioning of both the female and male reproductive systems. It is primarily produced in the ovaries, but small amounts are also made by the adrenal glands and, in men, by the testes. Estrogen is essential for various bodily functions, particularly in women.
Sometimes, your body is unable to produce sufficient estrogen. This can occur for several reasons. For instance, in women, estrogen production slows down as they get older. Some conditions can also impact the production of estrogen levels. Such circumstances may necessitate employing estrogen therapy to supplement the body’s estrogen levels and alleviate symptoms associated with low estrogen levels.
Common indications for estrogen therapy include:
- Menopause: The primary use of estrogen therapy is to relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood swings.
- Osteoporosis Prevention: Estrogen helps maintain bone density, reducing the risk of fractures in postmenopausal women and older men.
- Hypogonadism: For women with low levels of estrogen due to underactive ovaries.
- Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI): For women who experience menopause before the age of 40.
Benefits of Estrogen Therapy
- Estrogen therapy in women: Crucial for health and wellness. Protects against many illnesses including heart disease, osteoporosis, memory loss, cataracts, and urinary tract infections. It also prevents temperature dysregulation and improves skin.
- Estrogen therapy in men: Protects against bone loss and osteoporosis. Estrogen optimization is supportive.
