Sexual Health
Hormone replacement therapy (medicines that contain female hormones to replace those the body no longer produces after menopause) is often used to treat common menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal discomfort, prevent bone loss, and reduce the risk of fractures in postmenopausal women.
In what forms is estrogen and progesterone available?
Estrogen is available as a gel, pill, skin patch, cream, orspray. These forms remain the most effective treatment to relieve symptoms.
What benefits does hormone therapy provide?
Estrogen can also relieve vaginal symptoms ofmenopause, such as dryness, itching, burning, and discomfort during intercourse.Combined estrogen and progesterone therapy may reduce the risk of colon cancer. Estrogen can lower the risk of heart disease when taken during the early postmenopausal years.
Systemic estrogen helps protect against osteoporosis. Low-dose vaginal products. Low -dose estrogen vaginal preparations (available as creams, tablets, or rings) can effectively treat vaginal symptoms and some urinary symptoms, as they minimize absorption into the body.
What are the risks of hormone therapy?
In the largest clinical study to date, a combination of estrogen-progestin pills (Prempro) was used where it increased the risk of certain serious disorders, including:
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Heart disease
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Stroke
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Blood clots
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Breast cancer
Subsequent studies have shown that These risks vary, depending on age. For example, women who start hormone therapy more than 10 or 20 years after the onset of menopause or at age 60 orolder are at increased risk for these disorders. However , if hormone therapy is started before age 60 or within
10 years after menopause, the benefits appear to outweigh the risks. Also, the risks of hormone therapy may vary depending on whether estrogen is given alone or with a progestin, the dose and type of estrogen, and other health-related factors such as the risks of either cardiovascular disease, cancer, and
family medical history. All of these risks should be considered when deciding whether hormone therapy might be an option for you.
Who should consider hormone therapy?
Despite the health risks, systemic estrogen is still the
most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms. The benefits of
hormone therapy may outweigh the risks if you are healthy and if
:
You have hot flashes or other moderate to
severe menopausal symptoms
You have lost bone mass, cannot tolerate or are not benefiting from
other treatments
You no longer you have menstruation before the age of 40 (menopause
premature) or if the normal function of the ovaries was impaired before age
40 (premature ovarian failure)
Risk of not using Estrogen:
Women who have premature menopause, especially those who have
had their ovaries removed and are not receiving estrogen therapy until
at least age 45, are at increased risk of:
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Osteoporosis
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Heart disease
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Earlier death
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Symptoms similar to those of Parkinson's disease (parkinsonism)
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Anxiety or depression
For women who reach menopause early, the protective benefits of hormone therapy usually outweigh the risks. Age, type of menopause, and time since menopause play an important role in the risks associated with hormone therapy.
Who should avoid hormone therapy?
Women with a current or past history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, thrombosis (blood clots) in the legs or lungs, stroke,
liver disease, or unexplained vaginal bleeding usually do not must undergo hormonal therapy. Erectile dysfunction This is a very common problem among men due to medical or psychological conditions. This occurs when a man cannot achieve or maintain an erection that is firm enough during sexual intercourse. Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men. During a boy's puberty, testosterone causes growth of body hair, muscle development, and deepening of the voice. In adult men, it controls sexual desire, maintains muscle mass, and helps produce sperm. Women also have testosterone in their
bodies, but in much lower amounts. This test measures the levels of testosterone in the blood. Most of the testosterone in the blood is bound to proteins. Testosterone that is not bound to a protein is called free testosterone.
There are two main types of testosterone tests:
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Total Testosterone: Measures bound and free testosterone
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Free Testosterone: Measures only free testosterone. Free Testosterone
May Give More Information About Certain Medical Conditions
Testosterone levels that are too low (low t) or too high (high t) can
cause health problems in both men and women.
Other Names: Serum Testosterone, Total Testosterone,
Free Testosterone, Bioavailable Testosterone
What is Testosterone used for?
Testing for testosterone levels can be used to diagnose a number of problems, including:
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Decreased sexual desire in men and women
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Infertility in men and women
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Erectile dysfunction in men
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Tumors of the testicles in men
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Early or delayed puberty in boys
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Excessive growth of body hair and development of masculine features in women
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Irregular menstrual periods
Why do I need a testosterone test?
You may need this test if you have symptoms of abnormal testosterone levels. In adult men, it is primarily ordered if there are symptoms of low testosterone. In women, it is mainly ordered if there are symptoms of high testosterone levels.
Symptoms of low testosterone levels in men include:
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Low sexual desire
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Difficulty having an erection
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Development of breast tissue
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Fertility problems
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Hair loss
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Weak bones
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Muscle loss
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Symptoms of high testosterone levels in women include:
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Excessive growth of body and facial hair
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Deepening of the voice
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Menstrual irregularities
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Acne
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Weight gain
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Children may also need to have their
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testosterone levels tested. In boys, late puberty can be a symptom of
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low testosterone, while early puberty can be a
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symptom of high t.
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Vaginal dryness is common but treatable and can occur at any age. Symptoms may include burning, pain, or swelling in the intimate area or lower area.
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Itching, burning, or swelling around the entrance to the vagina.
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Pain during sexual intercourse, sometimes accompanied by
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light bleeding.
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Recurrent urinary tract infections.
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Frequent need or urgency to urinate.