|
Estrogen is produced in more quantities in females than in males. It is therefore responsible for imparting feminine characteristics to the body. When a woman reaches menopause it results in a reduction of estrogen and this manifests itself through several symptoms.
What is estrogen?
Estrogen is responsible for the proper growth and development of the female body. It influences reproductive organs, sexual behavior and other characteristics of females. Estrogen is produced in the ovaries, fat tissues and adrenal glands. Estrogen is found in the bloodstream of females and attaches itself to specific tissues. This impacts the development of the uterus and breasts. It also plays a crucial role in the development of the liver, brain, heart, bones as well as several important tissues of the female body.
Reduced estrogen – symptoms
When estrogen levels reduce in a women it can result in several side effects. These include reduction of bone density, a condition commonly called osteoporosis. The bones become more brittle and susceptible to injury. The vaginal walls become drier because of their inability to secrete adequate lubrication. This can contribute to reduced libido as well because of the discomfort involved. Menopause also brings with it thinning of the urethra lining. Reduced estrogen levels in women can also result in more urinary tract infections or UTIs. Common symptoms, which indicate onset of menopause include frequency of hot flashes, tenderness in breast tissues, irregular menstruation, incontinence, migraines and headaches, mood swings and many other symptoms.
What are the treatments available?
The most common and popular treatment for menopause symptoms is called estrogen therapy. It is a hormone therapy using estrogen to supplement the reduced levels of hormone in the body. The estrogen therapy uses various administration forms such as oral medication, patches or injections to help restore original levels of estrogen in the woman’s body. Most doctors prescribe a combination of estrogen therapy and a progesterone hormone supplement. Using only estrogen therapy without progesterone can result in uterine cancer. If only estrogen therapy is being prescribed it is applicable for women who have had a hysterectomy. Depending on the kind of symptoms exhibited by a woman, a doctor will prescribe the appropriate form of estrogen therapy. For example, if a woman experiences vaginal dryness then vaginal creams, rings, tablets etc. can be used to combat this condition. Some estrogen pills may also be recommended to combat vaginal dryness. Conditions like severe depression and mood swings can be treated successfully with hormone replacement therapy or HRT. Women with migraines need to exercise caution as to the kind of estrogen therapy they take so that these medications do not aggravate existing migraines. At Ojas Medical Spa we use bioidentical estrogen, which is naturally similar to the estrogen manufactured by your body. This way, our hormone therapy has no side effects and is completely safe. In addition, our estrogen therapy solutions are customized according to your individual needs because we understand that no two women are the same. Thus, we recommend appropriate hormone therapy depending on specific conditions to be treated. |
|
