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» Medications » Estrogen and Hormone Replacement Therapy
Estrogen and Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormones naturally produced in the body include the “sex hormones” estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. As a woman passes through menopause--either naturally or induced by surgery, drugs, or radiation—hormone levels drop, potentially leading to such symptoms hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, incontinence, and decreased interest in sex, as well as an increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. In many cases, hormone therapy is prescribed.
When estrogen is given, it is called “estrogen replacement therapy” (or ERT, for short). However, it is important to note that the amount of estrogen medication prescribed is not enough to truly be called “replacement”; in fact, it is only a small fraction of the amount of estrogen usually produced by the ovaries.
When the uterus is present for a menopausal woman, the natural progesterone that the body once produced must be replaced, sometimes with progesterone vaginal suppositories, but most often with tablets of “progestin,” a synthetic progesterone. Adding progesterone or progestin prevents any increase in the risk of uterine cancer from estrogen. When progesterone or progestin is added to estrogen, that is called “hormone replacement therapy” (or HRT, for short).
Under special circumstances and good medical supervision, some women take just estrogen alone. A woman who has had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) has no need to take progesterone or progestins.
Estrogen and hormone replacement therapy medications include:
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