How to Get the Most Out of Your HRT

Did you know that women’s use of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) is on the increase?

According to the UK government, around 15% of women aged 45 to 64 in England are now taking the drug to ease their symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, up from 11% two years previously.

However, the subject of HRT is somewhat controversial, with some saying that the potential health risks outweigh the benefits.

In this article, I’d like to give you a brief overview of HRT, explain the types of HRT available then tell you how you can support your body and get the most benefit from your HRT, if you do choose to take it.

What is HRT and how does it work?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a hormone treatment that replaces those hormones that are in decline during the perimenopause and menopausal years, usually oestrogen and progesterone.

Many women consider taking it to gain some relief from their symptoms including hot flushes, mood swings, low energy levels, low libido, anxiety and vaginal dryness while reducing their risk of suffering from osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) and bowel cancer.

There are two main types of HRT- oestrogen only and oestrogen with progesterone as well as bioidentical HRT and body-identical HRT.

Oestrogen only

Oestrogen is the core ingredient in all types of HRT. It primarily helps relieve your symptoms and can help keep your bones healthy. It’s available in different strengths and forms including tablets, patches, sprays and gels.

This type of HRT is usually given to women who have had a hysterectomy.

Oestrogen with Progesterone

Also known as ‘combined HRT’, this type of HRT includes both oestrogen and progesterone to help ease those symptoms while protecting the lining of your womb.

This is usually given to women who still have their wombs or have had a partial hysterectomy.

Traditional vs bioidentical vs body identical HRT

It’s also worth mentioning that there are three different ‘types’ of HRT that you can take.

Traditional HRT is made from synthetic hormones, whereas bioidentical HRT is natural and behaves in the same way as your own hormones would.

Body-identical HRT provides an exact duplicate of the natural hormone, progesterone, works better and has fewer side effects and a lower risk of breast cancer than the traditional type.

Many people believe that this makes bioidentical HRT a more effective, safer and gentler alternative to traditional HRT. According to recent studies, body-identical HRT is better still.

If you’d like to know more, I recommend that you speak to your doctor.

The side effects and risks of HRT

If you’ve been following the news over the last few years, you may have heard stories about the increased cancer risk associated with HRT. Research has found that around 2% of women taking combined HRT for five years will get breast cancer as a result and that the risk remains high years after taking it. It can also increase your risk of blood clots and strokes.

This can, quite understandably, deter women from taking it at all, preferring to simply deal with their symptoms or take a more natural, holistic, lifestyle-based approach.

I believe that some women do need to take HRT because they don’t have ‘anything left in the tank’, for example, stress has burned out their adrenal glands.

Having said that, I don’t believe that HRT should be the first thing women turn to because the endocrine system (hormonal system of the body) is so complex and there are many other factors that could be at play.

Instead, we need to start by taking a whole body approach, taking time to understand what is happening in your unique body then focusing on optimising your gut and liver health and giving your body and mind some much-needed TLC.

I understand that many women can experience real benefits from HRT, especially if their symptoms are severe. That’s why it's important to remember that there are always side effects and risks when we take any kind of medication, not only HRT.

If you choose to take HRT, I suggest that you monitor any side effects closely and speak to your GP if you are concerned, bearing in mind that it’s normal to experience certain side effects such as breast tenderness, nausea, leg cramps and bloating during the first few months. For certain groups of women, HRT may lead to the re-growth of fibroids which can cause huge health implications. 

How to help HRT work better for you

Whether you choose to try HRT depends on your unique circumstances, medical history and, of course, how challenging your symptoms feel. If you do decide to go ahead, there are several ways you can ensure it is as effective as possible. Here are five tips that will make a difference.

1. Visit your GP

Your first step should always be visiting your doctor. He or she will ask you a series of questions to assess whether HRT is right for you, which type is best, discuss the risks and answer your questions. I recommend that you prepare yourself with a list of questions before you attend your appointment and take it along with you so you don’t forget anything.

2. Consider whether HRT is right for you

Once you’ve consulted with your doctor, I recommend that you take time to weigh up your options and decide whether you do indeed want to take it.

Bear in mind that your GP won’t have much time and may not be able to ask you certain vital questions about your lifestyle. This includes:

•  How often do you drink alcohol, smoke or use drugs
•  Are you exposed to chemicals regularly in your workplace
•  What your diet is like and how much sugar and processed food you eat
•  Whether you have regular bowel movements or struggle with diarrhoea or IBS-type symptoms
•  What your self-care habits are
•  Whether you sleep well and have a good bedtime routine
•  What traumas you haven’t overcome
•  If you are in an abusive relationship
•  If you are over-exercising or not moving enough
•  If you’ve been dieting for years and avoiding essential fats
•  If you have PCOS, endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, or histamine intolerance

It’s worth considering these other factors before you start taking HRT (and while you take it too!)

3. Manage your lifestyle

Your lifestyle choices can affect how well HRT works for you, your overall health and how vibrant you feel. Here are some quick tips to help guide you in the right direction:

•  Eat a healthy balanced diet that is rich in veggies, lean proteins, healthy fats, legumes and some fruit if you can tolerate it. Reduce or avoid processed foods and sugar as much as possible.
•  Stay active so you can manage your weight, mood and health while reducing your risk of osteoporosis, heart and brain disease.
•  Manage your stress. Your stress levels can affect your hormonal balance and overall health. Try relaxation, visualisation, meditation or yoga and see if it helps.
•  Quit smoking and reduce alcohol. These can interfere with your hormone balance and slow down the natural detoxifying process that keeps you healthy.

4. Monitor your symptoms

Keep track of how you’re feeling, benefits and any symptoms of HRT by keeping a journal. Write down how you feel and any changes you notice so you can check whether it's working and whether you need to visit your GP again or make any lifestyle changes.

5. Be patient

HRT doesn’t provide immediate relief and can take weeks or even months to be effective. So be patient and give it time to work. If you still don’t see an improvement after 4-6 months, consider speaking to your GP about trying something different. Remember that side effects are likely within the first few weeks but should disappear within 6-8.

Conclusion

To summarise, HRT can help alleviate the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause so you feel more like your usual self again.

However, it can have certain side effects and even risks that you should consider before you decide to go ahead. If you also take care of your lifestyle by eating well, exercising, and reducing stress while monitoring your symptoms, you can get the most out of your HRT.

Want to know more about easing your perimenopause or menopause symptoms? Book your free call today.