Menopause is among the most common of hormonal problems for women. As menopause approaches, the estrogen levels start to fall significantly. It should be noted that along with progesterone, estrogen is perhaps the most vital of female hormones. It has a pronounced effect of the sexual, metabolic, physical and reproductive health of a lady apart from ensuring that she is psychologically fit. Estrogen levels usually start to dip a few years prior to menopause. This is the period of perimenopause, i.e. leading towards or before menopause. This is also the best time when estrogen replacement can be most effective. If estrogen levels are boosted during this time, the progression towards menopause and the intensity of its symptoms, including conditions like infertility and lowered libido, can be arrested. The most common form of estrogen replacement is Estrogen Hormone Replacement Therapy. This approach is offered via natural aids and synthetic formulations. The approach might be different but it has a common goal, i.e. to restore estrogen levels and avert the effects of menopause.
Understand Estrogen Replacement Therapy
Estrogen Replacement Therapy is also referred to as menopause or anti-menopause therapy. This therapy uses a rather simple approach. This includes direct administration of estrogen formulations. This can be done via skin patches, injections, tablets or estrogen creams. Please note that the compounds used here are not the actual estrogen hormone found in human body. These are essentially synthetic or chemical formulations that have an estrogen-like effect—they mimic the effect of estrogen. Some of these can be referred to as estrogenic compounds, i.e. they also help to stimulate the production of natural estrogen in the body.
Before starting Estrogen Replacement Therapy, the progesterone and estrogen levels are checked. This is vital since progesterone and estrogen should always be present in a basic ratio. If this harmony is disturbed, serious disorders can arise. For instance, if too much estrogen is administered, Estrogen Dominance can happen. This can further lead to PCOS which is a leading cause of infertility among women. Estrogen replacement therapy or ERT seeks to increase the estrogen levels gradually in the body so that this delicate hormonal equation is not disturbed.
Estrogen tends to affect many other, metabolic activities of the body apart from defining the sexual health and reproductive capacity of women. Thus, if Estrogen Therapy is not properly regulated, many serious health problems can arise. Estrogen affects the manner in which calcium is used for regenerating bone tissue and the overall immunity of the skin against aging-causing free radicals. Thus, estrogen levels need to be constantly monitored with ERT is prescribed.
Methods of Delivering Estrogen via ERT
ERT can be administered through Estrogen Patches. These are essentially skin patches and are commonly used for delivering many other types of hormones. However, the introduction of hormones into the body via the skin means that some of the active estrogen compounds are lost. However, this is very useful for treating skin-related conditions caused by lowered estrogen levels, such as dry vaginal tissue that makes copulation rather painful. This also helps to restore the skin’s natural anti-aging capabilities, helping to retain the youthful appearance.
Another way of providing estrogen replacement is vaginal ring. The easiest medium is perhaps the use of gel or skin cream. From most of these estrogen-delivering mediums, the hormone is directly routed into the bloodstream. Some of the hormone is lost as a part of the body’s metabolic activities, such as being processed through the liver. Estrogen pills are commonly used and widely recommended by women who seek faster, easier estrogen replacement therapy.
Herbal estroven or natural estrogen supplementation compounds are preferred by some since they don’t pose the risks associated with stronger, more potent but synthetically-produced estrogen supplements.