How to Start Estrogen Replacement Therapy

You may have been expecting this moment for many years, or even decades. Like millions of women before you, the symptoms of menopause have taken hold. This is the time to ask how to start estrogen replacement therapy to reverse the changes taking effect in your body.

There is a natural order to all things in the world, and the body experiences a decline in hormone production as it ages. This is to be expected, although serious physiological, mental, or emotional breakdowns do not have to be a part of this equation. Hormone replacement therapy can replenish dwindling hormone levels to bring balance back into the body.

There is no secret when it comes to how to start estrogen therapy or any other type of hormone replacement. The first step should be finding an experienced HRT doctor. Many women naturally turn to their gynecologists for help with menopause, but if these specialists focus the majority of their practice on obstetrics, rather than the aging female, they may not be up to date on the latest developments in hormone replacement therapy for older individuals.

Here is how to tell if your doctor is prescribing personalized, targeted treatment:

Blood testing of a variety of hormone levels is performed, including:

Estradiol (estrogen)
Testosterone
Progesterone
IGF-1 (for growth hormone deficiency)

CBC, lipid panel, CMP, TSH, and DHEA-S are also performed
Physical examination is a requirement to ensure that no other pre-existing conditions are contributing to the symptoms

Many of the hormone deficiencies listed above carry similar symptoms to low estrogen levels, and determining the best form of treatment is the goal of the HRT specialist.

When to Start Estrogen Replacement Therapy

Women are often confused about when to start estrogen therapy. Should it begin at the first signs of symptoms, when a menstrual period cycle changes for the first time, when the last period was more than one year ago, or at a specific age? There is no right or wrong answer, as each woman’s body is as unique as her personal circumstance. This is where the advice and guidance of an experienced HRT specialist are invaluable.

Knowing when to start estrogen replacement therapy is as important as receiving the proper type of HRT treatment for one’s individual needs. Hormone deficiency can lead to the following problems and health concerns:

Obesity
Osteoporosis
Diabetes
Dementia
Heart disease
Depression
And more

That is why protecting the body and the mind with the corresponding hormone replacement therapy to correct whichever chemical or chemicals are in short supply is crucial.

The majority of women who still have their ovaries and uterus intact will often be instructed to wait until symptoms of menopause become disturbing. Females who have had surgery to remove either the uterus or both ovaries may be prescribed treatment at that time. Once again, this is where the guidance of the doctor comes into effect.

Get Started

Where to Get Estrogen Replacement Therapy

Choosing a provider for any type of hormone replacement, including estrogen therapy is a personal decision. If you decide to go the route of your own OB/GYN, please remember to ask for blood analysis of the levels mentioned in the first section. This will help you be certain that the treatment being provided to you is exactly what will be best for your body. HRT is not a generic, one-size-fits-all type of therapy.

Safety is also important when looking to begin estrogen replacement therapy. Many women shy away from HRT due to the negative press and risk factors that accompany this treatment. The studies that warned of adverse reactions such as heart attack, breast cancer, and blood clots were most typically associated with the use of added progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone. Hormone replacement specialists know that natural, bioidentical progesterone therapy is the best choice when this type of treatment is required.

Many women who are not candidates for estrogen therapy will find that testosterone is the ideal option for their hormone replacement. That is why turning to an HRT specialist is often the best choice for treatment.

Here at Kingsberg Medical, our doctors, and medical advisors treat women in all fifty states. We offer local blood testing, affordable treatment options, and superior customer service. Contact us for a no-cost consultation today.

Brian Leeber