For several decades, women convinced that hormone therapy, which is usually a combination of estrogen and progestin, is used both during and after menopause. However, this changed in 2002 after the results of a study of the Women Health Initiative, which showed that hormone therapy increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer.

Given this controversy, many women stopped wearing them. However, several recent studies, including the up date of the previous studies, showed that hormone therapy also had a protective benefit in women in early menopause. If used properly, hormone therapy can also relieve some symptoms of the most disturbing.

When using properly
Hormone therapy or sometimes referred to as hormone replacement therapy, to help women who experience hot turmoil also help prevent a decrease of bone. If used regularly can also overcome the symptoms of vaginal dryness and menopause symptoms gejal the other disturbing.

This therapy is not used to prevent heart attacks, stroke, or a memory weakening of Alzheimer's disease.

There are many types of hormone therapy, consult with your doctor to choose the best for you. Like other types of treatment, hormone therapy has a positive impact and the risk of side effects. Consult on the pros and cons with your doctor. If you decide to use hormone therapy, use the lowest dose that could help in the shortest time needed. Check the doctor every 6 months to see if you still need hormone therapy.

Benefits of hormone therapy
Hormone therapy can help:

• Reduce heat shocks
• Overcoming the vaginal dryness
• Slow the decline in bone mass
• Improves sleep, which can affect mood changes

Studies show that hormone therapy can also:

• Prevent the decrease of bone mass that can lead to osteoporosis
• Reducing the risk of macular decline, the visibility is reduced because part of the retina at the back of the eye that provides sharpness of vision, central vision to deteriorate with age.

Risks of hormone therapy
Hormone therapy may help menopausal women but can also lead to the following risks:

• Increase the risk of endometrial cancer in women who have a uterus and only use estrogen therapy.
• Increase the risk of clotting / coagulation of blood
• Increases the risk of stroke
• Increases the risk of gallbladder disease
• Raises blood pressure

Who should avoid hormone therapy
If you experience the following conditions, doctors recommend you not to do hormone therapy:

• Pregnant
• Smoking habit
• Having trouble without cause bleeding in the vagina
• Suffering from certain cancers, like breast cancer and endometrial cancer
• Blood clotting
• Having a blood fat (triglyserida) high
• Liver disease

Common side effects :

• Vaginal bleeding in
• Abnormal vision
• Vomiting
• Firming or breast Sagging
• Headache
• Mood changes
• Nausea

Consult a doctor immediately if you experience these side effects during hormone therapy.

Side effects are unusual Although rare, some women have reported some of the following complaints:

• Fluid retention
• Migraine
• Dizziness / headache
• Skin color changes, such as brown or black patches
• Tightening the breast that a mammogram interpretation more difficult
• Skin irritation

Side effects most often, clotting / coagulation of blood and stroke, also cause health problems the most serious.

Can I reduce these side effects?
Adjust the dose and form of the drug normally used to reduce side effects caused by hormone therapy. You should never change your medication dosage, or stop using it, without first consulting with your doctor.