Hormone Replacement Therapy – Benefits, Side Effects for Men & Women
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone Replacement Therapy is a classification of medication given to women and men who experience a sudden drop of either progesterone, testosterone and estrogen hormones, usually experienced during menopausal or andropausal stages. Menopause or andropause is a stage in a person’s life where he or she experiences infertility. Hence, to correct it, hormone replacement therapy puts the hormonal level back within normal range. In addition to that, hormone replacement therapy can either be a combination of progesterone and estrogen or singly estrogen or progesterone. The intake of hormone replacement therapy drugs can prevent health problems and discomfort associated with menopausal and andropausal stages.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Indications
The hormone replacement therapy can be used by either men or women:
For men
Normally, the hormone associated with men is testosterone. Men generally have a high amount of testosterone in their body. This is one of the reasons why men are men in the first place. Testosterone is needed to maintain bulk in the muscular area, bone density, reproductive and sexual function, as well as adequate levels of red blood cells. Testosterone has also been shown to sharpens one’s memory and pump up libido. However, when a man reaches 80 years and above, he will experience a sudden decline of the testosterone, indicating that he is about to enter or is in the menopausal stage of development, which is called andropause for men. Hence, hormone replacement therapy for men is packed with testosterone to aid them in maintaining a normal level of the testosterone in their body and prevent andropause’s side effects.
For women
Normally, women suffer earlier menopause than men. When menopause happens, which occurs in everybody without exemption, there will be an imbalance in the hormones, particularly those dealing with estrogen and progesterone. In addition to that, women usually face a different situation during menopause compared to men. They are susceptible to illness during menopausal stage. Hence, there is a great need to correct imbalance hormones with hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Contraindications
Despite the fact that hormone replacement therapy may prove to be beneficial for people who are undergoing either andropause or menopause, there are still contraindications to consider before taking in kind of medical treatment therapy.
Men
The contraindications associated in hormone replacement therapy for men are as follows:
- Men with prostate cancer should not take hormone replacement therapy, for it may lead to enlargement of the prostate
- Men with coronary disease
- Men with high level of cholesterol
- Men suffering from heart disease or heart failure
- Men diagnosed with liver disease
- Men who are complaining of chest pain
- Diabetic men
- Men who are allergic to the component of testosterone injections known to have benzyl alcohol
These men will not benefit from hormone replacement therapy treatment management. Hence, they must discuss other alternative ways for treatment from their hormonal imbalance.
Women
The following are contraindications in the usage of hormone replacement therapy in women:
- Breast cancer in the family history
- Pregnancy
- Venous thrombosis
- Liver disease in the severe form
- Undiagnosed cause of vaginal bleeding
- Endometrial cancer
- Coronary artery disease
- Ovarian cancer in the family history
- Gallbladder disease
- Ductal hyperplasia of the breast
- Uterine fibroids in the medical history
Women who are either experiencing any of medical conditions mentioned above should consult a physician prior to taking hormonal replacement therapy.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Side Effects & Risks
Hormone replacement therapy is not a one hundred percent perfect solution. It also has side effects and risks that you should consider and keep in mind.
Men
- Sleep apnea
- Enlargement of the prostate gland
- Retention of fluids
- Acne
- Shrinking of the testicles
- Excessive red cell growth
- Possibility of sperm count reduction
- Blood clotting
- Strokes
- Heart attacks
- Prostate cancer
- Benign prostate hypertrophy
- Depression
- Aggression
- Breast enlargement
Women
- Nausea
- Mood swings
- Fluid retention
- Bloating
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Gallbladder disease
- Dementia
- Headaches
- Weight gain
- Darkening of the skin
- Uterine fibroids
- Worsening of already present endometriosis
- Pain in the breast region
- Breast density increases
- Endometrial cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Blood clots
- Osteoporosis
- Breast cancer
Hormone Replacement Therapy Benefits
Men
Men who reportedly take hormone replacement therapy will report the following benefits from the medication treatment:
- Memory improvement
- Moods consistency
- Increase in energy
- Increase in their muscular strength, size and weight
- Libido enhancement
- Lean body mass increases
- Reduction of body fat
Women
Generally speaking, the hormone replacement therapy for women has low testosterone and high estrogen and progesterone levels. The following are the benefits:
- Prevents osteoporosis
- Lowers the risk for colorectal cancer
- Decrease risk for heart disease
- Decrease depression
- Sleep quality is enhanced
- Slows the aging process
- Sexuality and libido is enhanced
- Preventative of tooth disease
- Weight loss
- Able to manage or alleviate the symptoms associated with menopause
- Quality of life is improved
- Mood elevation
- Muscular tone improvement
- Firmer breasts