Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is an option available to women going through menopause to help relieve symptoms associated with this natural body process. One such symptom is an increase in abdominal fat due to changes in the hormonal balance. Production of estrogen diminishes with age. Hormone replacement therapy using natural hormones may help some women manage their symptoms. However, hormone replacement therapy is not for everyone as it does carry health risks.
Expert Insight
HRT used to be a routinely practiced form of treatment for menopausal women. The theory was that estrogen provided some type of cardiovascular benefit to women to explain their longer lifespan. The differences between mortality in men and women diminish in post-menopausal women. This assumption led to the use of natural HRT as a means to improve the health of women, explains Mayo Clinic.
Benefits
Every woman is different in terms of how the physical and psychological symptoms of menopause manifest themselves. Some women may find their symptoms more difficult to manage. HRT offers some relief for women who entered menopause before age 40. For women who have begun to experience bone loss, HRT may reduce the risks associated with osteoporosis. This effect can help women continue exercising to control their weight despite hormonal changes.
Risks
Natural HRT may carry health risks due to the effects of the disruption of menopause. According to a 2010 study published in the "Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal," use of HRT increases a woman's risk of developing coronary heart disease. Age is responsible for some risk, yet the use of HRT increased it. These risks make exercise and weight control imperative in order to prevent the development of other chronic diseases such as diabetes.
Considerations
Short-term HRT may offer benefits to some women, while avoiding the risks of long-term use. To manage your symptoms, you can combine HRT with other lifestyle changes to help you control your weight. Exercise can improve your mood and reduce depression, according to a 2004 study in the Polish journal, "Psychiatria Polska." With regular exercise, you may relieve mood swings and decrease your reliance on HRT. In this way, you can realize the benefits while minimizing your risks of HRT. As an added bonus, regular activity will help you control your weight and reduce abdominal fat.
Prevention/Solution
While HRT may offer benefits, it may not be appropriate for use with women with other cardiovascular risk factors because of the increased risk of heart disease, according to the "Journal of the American Medical Association." If your family has a history of breast cancer, you may also want to reconsider the use of natural HRT. Lifestyle changes such as following a healthy diet and getting regular exercise may be safer options for controlling your weight and managing your symptoms.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Menopause - Symptoms
- Mayo Clinic: Hormone Replacement Therapy and Your Heart
- "Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal"; Where Do We Currently Stand with Advice on Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women?; B. Bozkurt; October 2010
- "Psychiatria Polska"; Effects of Exercise on Anxiety, Depression and Mood; M. Guszkowska; July 2004
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Postmenopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy: Scientific Review; H. Nelson et al; August 2002
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