Any woman who has been through menopause knows how uncomfortable some the symptoms can be and how they can impair everyday routine and quality of life.
Thankfully, certain women may gain relief from their symptoms by modifying their diet. For others, slight changes in lifestyles can also see improvements in the symptoms such as regular exercise, identifying and eliminating trigger foods, taking time to rest and changing the sleep environment.
These changes are unfortunately not enough to alleviate all the symptoms in some women. For them, medical therapies in the form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be necessary.
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy or HRT for short, is prescribed by a doctor for women who relief from troublesome symptoms
Hormone Replacement Therapy provides comfort to women suffering from mild to extreme menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness and lowers the risk of osteoporosis.
Are there many types of Hormone Replacement Therapy?
There are two main types Of HRT that include:
Oestrogen Therapy:
It is the most common treatment for the menopause symptoms, and it is particularly useful with women who have recently undergone a hysterectomy.
Replacing the reduced natural oestrogens can relieve all of the troublesome symptoms of the menopause. Oestrogen therapy can be delivered in numerous ways:
A pad
A pill
Medical gels
Vaginal creams
Vaginal rings
Oestrogen-progestogen therapy:
This treatment option is for women who have an intact uterus. Studies have shown that Oestrogen alone in women with an intact uterus can increase the risk of ovarian cancers. Supplementing Progesterone with Oestrogen reduces this risk.
Oestrogen-progestogen therapy is also available in numerous delivery options.
Are there any risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy?
HRT, like all medical therapies, carries certain risks and side-effects. It is important for women who are about to start treatment to understand the risks. It is also important to quantify the risks, and in most cases, it is thought the benefit to risk ratios favours initiating treatment.
Known side-effects and risks:
Blood clots
Heart attacks and strokes
Breast cancer
Gall bladder disease in some patients.
Hormonal Replacement Therapy isn’t for everyone, and it’s not approved for women who have a various medical condition, it is important for you to have a conversation with your own doctor as to whether it will benefit you.
Understanding HRT medications
There are many different HRT treatment options available in the UK, a popular treatment option is Evorel patches.
What are Evorel Patches?
The active ingredient in Evorel patches is estradiol. This is one of the naturally occurring version of the primary female sex hormone, oestrogen. These patches come in different dosages, each Evorel Patch comes in three size or levels of estradiol that includes;
Evorel 25
Evorel 50
Evorel 75
Evorel 100.
How do these patches work?
The production of oestrogens by the ovaries decreases leading upto the age of the menopause and then ceases altogether. Oestrogen deficiency may result in uncomfortable symptoms including irregular cycles, hot flushes, night sweats, mood fluctuations, and vaginal dryness or discomfort.
Oestrogen supplements can help women reduce bone weakening and fracturing post menopause. Evorel patches are an oestrogen-only source. The patches are intended to be replaced two times a week which makes them very convenient. These patches release estradiol at a steady rate through the skin into the blood.
How to use these patches?
Change twice a week:
Apply onto a clean, dry, undisturbed, non-irritated area of ski. Always place it below the waist, on the lower back.
Wear for three to four days:
The patch can be worn for three or four days before being changed. To avoid irritating the skin, each new patch should be added to a different region. Allow at least a week between patches on the same area.
Don’t apply anything on skin:
Powders, creams, lotions, and other sticky ingredients cannot be used, this may reduce the effectiveness of the patch as it will interfere with skin absorption.
Take care when showering:
Without removing the patch, you can shower and bathe. You should replace a patch if it comes off before it is supposed to be changed, for example, if you have been performing physical exercise, sweating heavily, or wearing clothing that rub the patch. Wait until the skin has cooled off before adding a fresh patch if one comes off in the water. Replace the old patch with the latest one.
Nancy Bonney is a health blogger and the founder of her own blog about fitness. She has been blogging for three years now and loves to share what she learns with others. Nancy enjoys reading, cooking, and staying active outdoors.
