Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is the administration of estrogen, the main female sex hormone, often along with a synthetic progestin for women who have reached or passed menopause, the natural cessation of menstruation as a normal part of aging. Estrogen level tends to become lower near menopause; this may cause vaginal dryness and discomfort, leading to pain during sexual intercourse or urination. The goal of HRT is to ameliorate the symptoms of menopause and reduce the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, HRT has certain side effects, including loss of vision, speech problems, dizziness and weakness.
Nausea
In the first few weeks of hormone replacement therapy, some women develop slight nausea. Nausea is a queasy feeling that leads to stomach distress accompanied by an urge to vomit. Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of the stomach through esophagus and out of the mouth.
Fluid Retention
The term "fluid retention" refers to the severe, widespread accumulation of fluid in the circulatory system or within the tissues or cavities of the body. Capillaries, the thin-walled blood vessels, are the points of exchange between the blood and surrounding tissues. The walls of blood capillaries have many tiny openings. The interstitial fluid or tissue fluid, found between the cells of the body, continuously leaks out of the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues of the body. Interstitial fluid is rich in nutrients, vitamins and oxygen that help in the nourishment of the body cells. Water retention can occur from hormone deficiency or reduced prostaglandin--hormone-like substances--levels in the body.
Headache/Migraines
Some women tend to get headaches or migraines when they undergo HRT. Migraine is a neurological syndrome characterized by recurrent severe headache often with nausea and vomiting. Low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter/chemical messenger in the brain, can cause migraine headaches. Serotonin is a body chemical produced in the brain. Women may have lower brain levels of serotonin when estrogen level drops.
