Where to Go for Hormone Replacement Therapy and Testing
When you go to a spa, your aesthetician may suggest hormone testing to see if you have a hormonal imbalance. They may convince you that hormone replacement therapy is the answer to problems you are experiencing due to hormonal changes caused by perimenopause or menopause. But before you agree to spa-based tests, know that the physicians at Athens ObGyn encourage you to talk with our physicians first.
Hormone replacement therapy, as well as perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, are medical issues and best handled by an experienced physician. Hormone analysis from an ObGyn will provide you with the medical answers you need to cope with your body’s changes.
Hormone replacement therapy isn’t right for everyone
Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, helps treat perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. Not everyone who is going through hormonal changes should have HRT. Your physician can talk to you about lifestyle changes and options other than hormone therapy. It’s important to talk to your physician about your family history and personal medical history to determine whether HRT is right for you.
You shouldn’t have this systemic hormone therapy if you have any of the following conditions.
- Heart attack or stroke
- Blood clots
- Breast cancer
- Endometrial cancer
- Liver disease
Local estrogen therapy is available for women who suffer from vaginal dryness. Vaginal tablets, creams or rings release estrogen directly into the vaginal tissue.
There are different types of HRT
One type of hormone replacement therapy provides estrogen only, and another provides estrogen plus the hormone progestin. Each delivers hormones to your body in different ways.
- Systemic hormone therapy delivers hormones directly to your bloodstream. Estrogen-only therapy comes in the form of pills, gels, sprays and skin patches. Combined estrogen and progestin come in pill or patch form. Certain IUDs also release progestin only and are options for some women.
- Local hormone therapy delivers hormones directly to the vaginal tissue via creams, tablets or vaginal rings. Combinations of progestin and estrogen are available in vaginal tablets or gels.
Only a physician can determine which type of HRT is safest and best for you.
Why you should consider hormone analysis from an ObGyn
Hormone replacement therapy does come with certain risks. If you have hormone testing or treatment at a spa or other facility, the staff doesn’t usually have the medical training necessary to understand your risk factors or treat the side effects of HRT. If you are coping with perimenopausal and menopausal hormones and the symptoms they cause, get your hormone analysis from an ObGyn. It’s the safest, most effective way to diagnose and treat problems caused by hormones. Contact us for an appointment.
