One report says hormone replacement is necessary and safe, but a conflicting one says it is dangerous. Which way do you turn when it seems that unbalanced or declining hormones are creating havoc in your life?
There is excellent news about hormone therapy and sexual wellness in women. The concerns stemming from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) have been, for the most part, put to rest. The issues in that report that scared women and their doctors away from hormone therapy had to do with one particular form of treatment – estrogen and synthetic progestin. Hormone specialists today use bioidentical progesterone rather than synthetic progestin for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
Pros and Cons of Hormone Replacement
First and foremost is the fact that women’s hormone therapy is not a one size fits all treatment. Just because your best friend is receiving estrogen replacement therapy does not mean it is right for you. Many different treatments can improve sexual wellness for women, including:
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
- Human growth hormone
Each of these treatments can be used alone or in combination with another form of therapy. How do you know which one you need? The hormone specialist will run diagnostic blood tests to determine which hormone or hormones are in decline in your body.
In some cases, the use of one hormone therapy may help stimulate others to increase naturally. Only the doctor can make this determination.
Hormone Replacement Benefits
- Increased vaginal lubrication
- Enhanced sexual desire
- Quicker arousal
- More pleasurable intercourse
- Ability to engage in longer durations of intercourse without feelings of discomfort
- Stronger orgasms
- Increased pleasure
Are there cons to using HRT? Some forms of treatment are contraindicated for certain women. For example, females with preexisting concerns for breast cancer should not use estrogen. The other hormones can provide safe relief from menopausal symptoms. In fact, many women are turning to testosterone therapy as a safe, viable alternative.
What Can Hormone Decline Cause?
There are many reasons why we prescribe hormone therapy for women here at Hormone Replacement Clinic. Each one goes back to the same basic fact – hormonal decline can cause widespread health issues. Sexual dysfunction is just one of the many problems we see stemming from hormonal imbalance.
Estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and human growth hormone all impact sexual functions. Each one can decrease vaginal lubrication which makes intercourse painful and unenjoyable. All four hormones can also lower libido and make it so that a woman does not feel amorous.
One of the biggest reasons to look at hormone therapy and sexual wellness in women is hysterectomy and oophorectomy. When a woman undergoes surgical removal of her uterus and ovaries, rapid changes occur in the body. Surgically induced menopause can significantly increase the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Rather than a slow decline in libido that naturally occurs with menopause, a female can lose interest almost at once as she experiences a rapid decrease in vital hormones. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all rely on the ovaries for production. Only a small amount of each hormone comes from the adrenal glands.
For aging women, hormone replacement therapy can mean the difference between a robust sex life, strong bones, and better heart health in the future.
What to Expect From Hormone Replacement Therapy
The use of hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women typically results in more fulfilling sex lives.
An active sex life does more than just improve a relationship. Sex provides the following health benefits to the body:
- Improves bladder control by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles
- May lower systolic blood pressure
- Releases endorphins that block pain
- Increases prolactin release to aid in sleep
- Enhances immune system responses
- Strengthens the heart – sex is excellent exercise
- Reduces stress
The more you know about bioidentical hormone therapy and sexual wellness in women, the better able you are to make an educated decision about your health. HRT helps to maintain strong bones and muscles, sharp brain functions, immune responses, metabolism, libido, and more.
