To Use HRT or Not: That is the Question

Let’s face it, HRT is a controversial subject.

The medical community is mixed in its position on hormone replacement therapy.

Many doctors bitterly oppose synthetic HRT in favor of bio-identical hormones.

Other doctors will tell you that bio-identical hormone usage is too new to know whether it’s safe or not.

There is a physiological reason for hormone levels dropping as you get older.

As a woman’s body ages, it was not meant to be exposed to high levels of certain hormones.

Any form of hormone replacement, whether it is pills, creams, or shots, and whether you label them synthetic or bio-identical, is still not something your aging body is genetically adapted to.

Every woman has to decide for herself whether the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Potential benefits may include relief of menopausal symptoms and a reduction of osteoporosis.

Potential risks may include the increased risk of cancer, heart attack, stroke, and other serious conditions.

If you decide to use hormone replacement to relieve your menopausal symptoms, please remember to use the lowest dosage that works and for the shortest period of time.

Also remember that there are plenty of natural, proven methods for limiting your risks of age-related disease.

What are they?

Exercise, weight training, calcium, and vitamin D are a few good options for reducing the risk of osteoporosis and reducing your menopausal symptoms.

The risk of heart disease, stroke, and mental decline can be reduced through diet, exercise, lowering your stress, yoga, tai chi, getting good quality sleep, and by taking certain natural herbs and supplements.

It’s only been in the past few decades that doctors have been prescribing hormone replacement therapy to a large number of women.

If, a decade or two from now, research shows that bio-identical hormones are safe, more health care professionals will recommend that.

Until then, women who are using these hormones, particularly in high dosages and for prolonged periods, are gambling with the unknown.

I prefer to use natural proven methods for any menopausal symptoms that arise.

Extending my life and living out my years in tip-top health is really a matter of me making simple lifestyle choices.

Even if you are using HRT or bio-identical hormones, you will still benefit greatly from the natural proven lifestyle choices that I write about in my blog and weekly ezine.

As always, I look forward to your comments on these posts so please let me know which options have helped you.

shelii