Do I Need Hormones?

Whether or not to initiate hormone therapy as you approach and move into menopause is first determined by the degree to which the symptoms of menopause are affecting your quality of life. Common symptoms that are effectively managed with hormone therapy are hot flashes, night sweats, low sex drive, fatigue, insomnia, and mood swings.

Studies also show that secondary benefits of certain types of hormone therapy, when used early in menopause and in appropriate patients, include a reduction in cardiovascular disease, dementia, and osteoporosis later in life. You can think of it as an investment account, using hormone therapy in the first 5 years of menopause may pay dividends in your health decades later.