Hormone Therapy

For years it was simply referred to as ‘the change’ and was a topic mostly discussed in the shadows. Fortunately, times have changed.

The production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone decrease significantly when a woman reaches menopause. While diet, exercise and sleep play an important role in alleviating menopausal symptoms caused by hormonal decreases, some patients suffer profoundly from individual symptoms which may range from hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, memory loss and other symptoms. A common method for managing the symptoms of menopause and preventing long-term disease is hormone therapy.

When considering hormone therapy, the most important thing is to keep an open mind and maintain a good relationship with your health care provider. People do a lot of reading, and that is great, but just because it is on the Web does not mean it is true or the best for you. Symptoms for each woman are unique and hormone therapy should be personalized and individualized to best meet an individual’s needs.

The information on hormone therapy can be overwhelming and at times even appear contradictory. In coordination with your health care provider, you can weigh the potential benefits with potential risks. Your health care professional is up to date on therapies from clinical trials and can be a valuable resource in the hormone therapy decision-making process.

The various hormone therapies are influenced by age, health, personal preference, severity of symptoms, risk factors for disease such as osteoporosis, heart disease and breast cancer. Your health provider can evaluate your health risks and work individually with you to choose the right strategy for symptom management.

Menopause can be one of the most emotional, stressful, psychologically draining times. We are here to help women transition into menopause and to help you make informed decisions and chart your own course through menopause. Through education you will be able to work in concert with your health care provider to make the right decisions for you. If you need to schedule a routine exam, have symptoms that are concerning or if you need to talk to a physician, please feel free to call my office at 208-232-6100.

About Kim Cox, MD

Dr. Cox is a board certified ob/gyn. He specializes in obstetrics and gynecology which include: normal and high risk obstetrics, ultrasound imaging, workup and treatment of urinary incontinence, annual (yearly or wellness) exams, infertility, and gynecological surgeries as well as being certified on the da Vinci surgical system.