HRT for Women

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HRT for Women

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a treatment that can regulate a woman’s hormone levels as they age or experience menopause. HRT in women most commonly entails replenishing estrogen to reduce the severity of conditions caused by the onset of menopause. It can minimize the effects of hot flashes, brain fog, and weight changes, allowing an increase in quality of life as women get older.

Dr. Mustafa Ahmed, a board-certified bariatric surgeon at Southern Nevada Bariatrics located in Las Vegas, offers bariatric surgery and other treatments that help women stay healthy and happy. As an expert physician, he uses customized treatment plans to regulate his patients’ hormonal deficiencies before, during, and after the onset of menopause. 

If you are searching for solutions to hormonal imbalances, schedule a private appointment with him today by calling our facility at (702) 626-0499 or by filling out this form.

All About HRT for Women

As women age, they experience many changes due to a lack of estrogen production. Estrogen is a woman’s main and most abundant sex hormone, regulating her reproductive system. Progesterone is commonly known as the pregnancy hormone, and plays an important role in the development and maintenance of the menstrual cycle. HRT can incorporate both hormones in a patient’s treatment plan if necessary. (1)

Hysterectomy Patients

If you have had a hysterectomy procedure and no longer have a uterus and ovaries, it is likely you will be prescribed HRT treatment that contains only estradiol, a type of estrogen that is most prominent during puberty. This type of hormone replacement works well for these patients because without a uterus and ovaries, the body doesn’t produce enough estradiol on its own, leading to menopausal symptoms that can often be hard to manage. 

Too much estradiol by itself can cause the endometrial wall to thicken, leading to potential problems. Without a uterus, this risk is reduced. This type of hormone replacement can be found in most popular types of application, but is commonly available in the form of patches, pills, and creams. (1)

Benefits of HRT for Women

HRT treatment can benefit women in many different ways. It can:

  • Increase libido
  • Help with vaginal dryness and sexual arousal
  • Regulate sleep patterns
  • Increase energy levels
  • Protect against cardiovascular disease (2)
  • Protect against development of osteoporosis (3)
  • Increase muscle mass (with the inclusion of exercise) (4)

Menopause can come with many challenges and bodily changes. With HRT, you can mitigate these issues by managing the symptoms in a natural and effective way with a customized hormone replacement plan that fits you just right.

Am I an Ideal Candidate for HRT?

If you a woman that has the following symptoms, you could be the ideal candidate for HRT treatment:

For patients experiencing perimenopause in their 30s/40s:

  • Trouble sleeping
  • Memory issues and brain fog
  • Fatigue
  • Changes in weight
  • Changes in mood
  • Anxiety and depression

For patients in their 50s, deeper into menopause process:

  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Joint pain

For patients in late menopause (60s)

  • Pain during sex
  • Vaginal dryness or irritation
  • Urinary issues

You may not be an ideal candidate for this treatment if you are at high risk for cardiovascular disease or have a history of breast cancer and are over 60 years old. Studies have shown that an increase in estrogen too late in your life could potentially increase your chances of developing these diseases. (5)

Personal Consultation

Dr. Ahmed will guide you through the HRT treatment process during your private consultation. He will ask you about your symptoms, whether or not you have had a hysterectomy, and what you hope to achieve with HRT. This information will determine what your treatment plan will look like. Dr. Ahmed will customize your treatment to fit into your daily habits, medical history, and expectations.

Since there are many ways to participate in hormone replacement therapy, the consultation will provide plenty of time to ask any questions you may have.

Preparation

To properly prepare for HRT treatments, Dr. Ahmed will first perform a blood test to assess your health. He will also perform a physical exam to make sure treatment is suitable for you. 

Here are some guidelines to follow to get the most of this treatment:

  • Maintain a nutritious diet
  • Create a healthy sleep schedule
  • Exercise regularly

It’s imperative that you schedule your follow-up appointments with Dr. Ahmed during your first consultation in order to stay on track with your treatments. These will likely be necessary every three to six months. Make sure to keep up with any other regular appointments and meetings with your other health care providers to maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

HRT Treatment Process

There are multiple ways HRT can be administered. During your consultation, Dr. Ahmed will determine which method will be the most effective for your specific situation.

  • Subdermal pellets: For this type of administration, you will be required to go visit Dr. Ahmed at least twice a year to get the treatment. He will inject a miniscule pellet containing your hormone formula into the skin near your hip. It will be long-lasting and slow-release, giving your body plenty of time to absorb it naturally. If this way is chosen, your hormone levels will have to be closely monitored by Dr. Ahmed and the staff at Southern Nevada Bariatrics.
  • Pills: Dr. Ahmed prescribes a hormone replacement in the form of a pill, which you typically take by mouth once a day.
  • Creams, vaginal inserts, and patches: this application allows the hormones to supply a smaller, localized area. This easily controls the amount absorbed. 
  • Injection: Dr. Ahmed will give you an injection every 3 to 6 months in a quick appointment after checking your hormone levels.

Results of HRT

During HRT, some patients can feel a difference in their mood and sex drive within the first 6 months. For others, it takes 18 to 24 months to witness the full effects of the treatment. Once your hormones are regulated, you will feel much more energized, alert and your memory capacity will increase. Some patients feel positive effects after just a few treatments, and some continue HRT for a couple of years. It all depends on how your body reacts to your dosage. 

Testosterone Hormone Therapy

Everyone produces testosterone hormones, including women. Testosterone hormone therapy pellets can not only help regulate hormone production, but also provides metabolic support to help you lose weight. Especially when going through menopause, hormone therapy that includes testosterone can help you get back to feeling like your normal self.Just like HRT with estrogen and progesterone, hormone therapy with testosterone can be injected weekly for patients that do not want to participate in pellet therapy. 

To find out more about treatments at Southern Nevada Bariatrics check out our blog. 

How Much Does HRT Treatment Cost in Las Vegas?

As every patient’s treatment plan differs from the next, after your private consultation, we will go over a complete cost breakdown to make sure you are entirely prepared for your treatment. Financing is available for qualified patients. If you have any questions, Dr. Ahmed will be happy to answer them at this time. 

To schedule your personal consultation, please fill out our online form or call Southern Nevada Bariatrics directly at (702) 626-0499.

FAQ

How does hormone therapy affect my risk of getting cancer?

If estrogen-only therapy is taken by the wrong sort of patient, like someone that still has a uterus, it will thicken the lining and increase your risk of endometrial cancers. You can prevent this by adding progesterone to your treatment.

What are bioidentical hormones?

Bioidentical hormones are made from plant-derived products and mimic exactly the hormones that the body produces naturally. They are used in BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy) to regulate hormone levels.

Should women under the age of 40 take HRT?

If you start going through menopause before you are 40, there are significant risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cognitive function loss. HRT treatment can help reduce these risks as long as you are closely monitored by a medical expert. Make sure to talk to your doctor(s) before starting any new treatments or medications. 

References

  1. Goldštajn MŠ, Mikuš M, Ferrari FA, et al. Effects of transdermal versus oral hormone replacement therapy in postmenopause: a systematic review. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2022;307(6). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-022-06647-5
  2. Naftolin F, Friedenthal J, Nachtigall R, Nachtigall L. Cardiovascular health and the menopausal woman: the role of estrogen and when to begin and end hormone treatment. F1000Research. 2019;8:1576. doi:https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.15548.1
  3. Abdi F, Mobedi H, Bayat F, Mosaffa N, Dolatian M, Ramezani Tehrani F. The Effects of Transdermal Estrogen Delivery on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women: A Meta-analysis. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research : IJPR. 2017;16(1):380-389. Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5423263/
  4. Chae H. THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF MENOPAUSE PAGES. Journal of Menopausal Medicine. Published online 2020. doi:https://doi.org/10.6118/jmm.20000
  5. Harper-Harrison G, Shanahan MM. Hormone replacement therapy. National Library of Medicine. Published May 30, 2019. Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493191/