Estrogen therapy after menopause can provide relief from troublesome symptoms and reduce the risks of certain long-term health problems for some women. When estrogen levels decline during perimenopause and after menopause, many women experience symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, insomnia, and mood changes. Estrogen therapy helps relieve these symptoms.
However, estrogen therapy may increase the risks of blood clots, stroke, dementia, and certain cancers. It also often leads to breakthrough bleeding. The decision about whether or not to use estrogen therapy is complex and personal. You should carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks with your healthcare provider.
Key factors to consider:
- Age and time since menopause - The risks and benefits can vary substantially depending on your age and when you start therapy. The therapy may have more benefits and lower risks when started at younger ages closer to the onset of menopause.
- Severity of menopause symptoms - If your symptoms significantly disrupt your quality of life, estrogen therapy may provide worthwhile symptom relief. For milder symptoms, the risks may outweigh benefits.
- Risk factors for health problems - Risks factors like history of blood clots, heart disease, breast cancer and other factors affect the risk-benefit assessment.
Types of Estrogen Therapy
There are different types of estrogen therapy:
- Estrogen alone - Estrogen alone is an option mainly for women who've had hysterectomies.
- Estrogen plus progestin - For women with uteruses, progestin is combined with estrogen to prevent overgrowth of uterine lining which can lead to cancer. However, progestin may increase risks like breast cancer and dementia.
- Local, low-dose vaginal estrogen - Vaginal estrogen in creams, tablets or rings help relieve vaginal and urinary issues with less systemic risks. However, small amounts are still absorbed.
- Alternative therapies - Some women use natural supplements instead, but effectiveness and long-term safety data is limited.
Key Questions to Discuss with Your Healthcare Provider
When deciding about estrogen therapy after menopause, key questions to discuss with your healthcare provider include:
- What are my specific risks based on health history and risk factors?
- When did I start menopause?
- How severe are my menopausal symptoms? Are they significantly disrupting my quality of life?
- What are my options besides estrogen therapy to manage symptoms?
- What dose, formulation and duration of estrogen therapy would be appropriate for me?
- What are the benefits I can reasonably expect? What ongoing monitoring would be required?
- What local estrogen options are available if I'm mostly concerned about vaginal issues?
Rest assured,
there are solutions available to provide relief whether or not you decide estrogen therapy is right for you after weighing the pros and cons. The compassionate providers at
Renewal Hormone Clinic have 30 years experience helping women address hormonal issues during menopause and beyond.
We take time to listen and develop personalized treatment plans based on your needs, health status and goals. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
