Hrt when does it work

The core ingredient of all forms of HRT is oestrogen. Oestrogen relieves hot flushes, prevents vaginal symptoms and maintains bone strength.

The best HRT for women who have had a total hysterectomy, where the whole womb including its neck cervix has been removed, is oestrogen alone. Oestrogen alone can be taken as a daily tablet, a weekly or twice weekly patch, a daily gel or an implant. Varying doses of oestrogen are available. The new lower dose varieties aim to reduce the incidence of side effects while maintaining symptom relief and bone strength.

Oestrogen-alone HRT can stimulate the lining of the womb endometrium , leading to excess growth and possibly cancer. Therefore for women who have not had a hysterectomy, a second hormone is also prescribed progestogen to counteract the effects of oestrogen and protect the endometrium.

In women who have had a partial hysterectomy with cervix intact , some womb lining endometrium may still remain, so progestogen may be required with the oestrogen. For women who are known to have endometriosis a continuous combined HRT is recommended see below. Women who have had an endometrial ablation an operation to remove the lining of the womb which is often performed for very heavy periods should also receive progestogen in case any part of the endometrium is left. Combined HRT is available in the form of either a tablet or a patch.

It summarises the results of studies regarding its safety and addresses the controversy that still surrounds it, together with current thinking about its suitability. It is written specifically for women wishing to know about HRT.

Our medical advisory panel strongly recommends that you should discuss with your doctor both the benefits and the risks of HRT on an individual basis. The types of HRT available are listed below. HRT was first available in the s but became more widely used in the s, creating a revolution in the management of the menopause. HRT was prescribed commonly to menopausal women for the relief of their symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, psychological and genito-urinary problems — urinary frequency and vaginal dryness — and for the prevention of osteoporosis.

The published results of these two studies during and raised concerns regarding the safety of HRT. These safety concerns revolved around two main issues: 1 that the extended use of HRT may increase the risk of breast cancer and 2 that the use of HRT may increase the risk of heart disease.

The results of the studies received wide publicity, creating panic amongst some users and new guidance for doctors on prescribing. After the results were published, the UK regulatory authorities issued an urgent safety restriction about HRT, recommending that doctors should prescribe the lowest effective dose for symptom relief, should use it only as a second line treatment for the prevention of osteoporosis, and advised against its use in asymptomatic postmenopausal women.

There remains widespread confusion and uncertainty amongst both doctors and HRT users. Many doctors stopped prescribing HRT and many women abandoned HRT immediately, with a return of their menopausal symptoms.

The women studied in the WHI were North American women in their mid-sixties, often overweight and thus totally unrepresentative of women in the UK for whom HRT might be considered suitable.

After all, the physical and emotional toll of these phenomena can be significant and severely compromise your comfort, your functionality, and even your long-term health. Today, hormone replacement therapy HRT is widely recognized as the best treatment for a wide range of hormone-related issues, from menopause symptoms to the effects of low testosterone. So how long does HRT take to work? While some patients notice the effects of treatment relatively quickly, improvements typically happen over the course of weeks and months.

And when you work with an HRT specialist, its impact can last a lifetime. There is likely no single moment of transformation when you suddenly feel like your hormones are in balance. Think of it more like the lapping tide or the slow arrival of dawn; it is gradual—until it is everywhere.

But while the timeline can be somewhat nebulous, the process of recovering from the symptoms of hormonal imbalance and fluctuation is not. For the majority of patients, it can be broken down into three distinct phases:. If you are feeling the symptoms of hormonal change or imbalance, whether from something predictable as menopause or for unknown reasons, you need to get checked out. The BodyLogicMD Hormone Balance Quiz can help you assess if your symptoms may be hormone related, but you should always seek the advice of an expert to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

By connecting with a practitioner who specializes in hormone health , you can discover the root cause of your symptoms and create a comprehensive plan for moving forward. When you become a patient of a BodyLogicMD-affiliated practitioner, this process begins with the following:. After you have stopped HRT, you may still need help to manage vaginal dryness and to prevent osteoporosis. Read about the best ways to prevent osteoporosis.

Cream, lubricants and local oestrogen preparations are available for vaginal dryness and discomfort. You don't need to suffer from vaginal dryness and discomfort without treatment. If you decide that you do not wish to take HRT, there are a number of alternative treatments to manage your menopause symptoms.

Further information about treating menopause symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy HRT. The aim of HRT is to restore female hormone levels, which can bring relief to many women. Find your local services Search for a service near you by entering your postcode below. Please input your postcode in the following format: A12 1BC. NHS inform has more information on this condition. Read more. You said:.

Based on the information you gave us, we made the following recommendation:. Types of HRT There are two main types of HRT: Combined HRT oestrogen and progestogen — for women who still have their womb Oestrogen-only HRT — for women who have had their womb removed in a hysterectomy There are several ways that oestrogen can be taken, including: tablets — which can be taken by mouth a patch that you stick on your skin an implant — under local anaesthetic oestrogen gel — which is applied to the skin and absorbed oestrogen spray—which is applied to the forearm When required to protect the womb lining from being stimulated by oestrogen, progestogen is available as: combined with oestrogen in tablets combined with oestrogen in patches separately as tablets or a progestogen releasing coil Choosing the right HRT for you It is important to find the correct HRT to help your symptoms.