You\’ve probably heard such terms as perimenopause and post menopause floated around. These are menopausal terms that refer to the transition into, and out of menopause. It\’s a normal part of life, one that is experienced by every woman, at some point. Menopause is characterized by permanent ovary cessation, resulting in changing levels of estrogen and progesterone. There are certain obvious symptoms, hot flashes, depression, short temper-sufficed to say that these symptoms vary on a case by case basis, and may not occur in some women at all.

Perimenopause lays the ground work for menopause. The symptoms here may begin years before you experience your last menstrual period and may last a year after. Post-menopause is what you go through after a year without your period-and lasts for the rest of your life after that. The average age is still an object of debate. Some women go well past their 50\’s, while some barely get to their 40\’s. It all varies based on lifestyle choices, habits among other influencing factors. Some women opt to get their \’tubes tied\’ or their uterus removed, which does not guaranty a free pass from the symptoms. The ovaries still produce hormones, and they may influence these symptoms at some point.

The debate as to whether bio-identical hormone therapy trumps other forms of hormone therapies that seek to reverse the effects of menopause is still a raging debate. The key here is to find out if the risks outweigh the benefits, or vice versa. The hormones in bio-identical therapy are chemically identical your bodies hormones. Although estrogen and progesterone from this therapy are not known to increase the risk of breast cancer, other constituent components, the likes of synthetic progestins; medroxyprogesterone acetate heighten this risk. Although there are no guarantees that using hormone therapy will solves all the menopausal issues , there are some advantages to using bio-identical therapy. It is known to result in less bleeding, but like any hormone therapy, they are not for everyone. A family history of cancer, blood clots and other conditions are usually a red flag for bio-identical therapy and these woman should not use it. There are some women who do not respond to the therapy as they should, laying testament to the fact that hormone therapy is not recommended for everyone.

Lifestyle is another key aspect of hormonal therapy that is perennially downplayed. In the same way that pathological smoking and alcohol consumption may speed up your transition to menopause, these habits could as well cause an adverse reaction to any type of hormonal therapy. Note that there are a lot of variables here, and, as such, one should consult a physician before taking any irreversible steps. The efficacy of bio-identical therapy could be highly dependent on slight lifestyle changes that may make all the difference.

Finally, bio-identical components are run through a rigorous quality assurance process, are plant synthesized, and are fitted to suit individual hormonal needs. The efficacy, as compared to other common hormone therapy solutions, is still a raging debate. There are very strong advocates on both

sides of the debate. Consulting with your physician or a knowledgeable pharmacist to learn as much as you can is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It would also be smart to do this before the onset of menopause.

Haber’s Pharmacy is one of Toronto’s oldest pharmacies and specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (bhrt) and hormone therapy.

Haber’s Pharmacy is one of Toronto’s oldest pharmacies and specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (bhrt) and hormone therapy.
http://www.haberspharmacy.com

Author Bio: Haber’s Pharmacy is one of Toronto’s oldest pharmacies and specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (bhrt) and hormone therapy.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: Menopause,hormone therapy,BHRT,compounding pharmacy