Hormone Replacement Therapy: Exploring the Options for Women

Hormone replacement therapy involves restoring estrogen (female hormone) to body when levels are diminished. Menopause is the most common cause of low estrogen levels. During menopause ovaries (glands that produce eggs and hormones) stop producing estrogen and body no longer menstruate. Women who have had their ovaries surgically removed have decreased levels of estrogen and experience the same symptoms and physical changes associated with menopause. With a marked increase in longevity, women now spend one-third of their lives in the post –menopausal period. Therefore, they would have to cope with the post –menopausal syndrome and face the consequences. Again, women are now asking for a quality life after menopause. So, Hormone Replacement Therapy is a hot topic in this era it is no more for symptomatic management for post –menopausal syndrome, but for the total management from prophylactic to curative. This article reviews benefits, risks and various different approaches, including novel approaches available for Hormone Replacement Therapy, nowadays.