Learn about hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of menopausal disorders

Posted by Doctor Vu Thi Hong Chinh - Obstetrics Department, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

Menopause can cause vasomotor disorders: hot flashes, sweating, psycho-physiological changes, urinary and genital disorders... woman's life.
Menopause is inevitable and medical treatment is only available when disorders affect a woman's health and quality of life. Instead, treatment focuses on relieving disorders, preventing, managing and preventing possible chronic conditions.
There are many effective methods of menopause treatment, from lifestyle modification, nutrition, exercise, non-hormonal therapy ... to hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone replacement therapy is the addition of estrogen with or without progesterone to compensate for the lack of endogenous estrogen.

Benefits of estrogen supplement therapy are to relieve vasomotor symptoms, reverse skin aging, reduce symptoms of genital atrophy, benefit the skeletal system, reduce spongy and bone resorption , limit and reduce the rate of bone fractures, beneficial to the cardiovascular system and atherosclerotic status... Supplementing with estrogen also has other benefits such as increasing sex drive, increasing cerebral perfusion, increasing intelligence Remember, reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease ...
Besides the benefits that hormone replacement therapy brings, it also poses many risks if used improperly, poorly monitored and prolonged treatment (over 5 years) can lead to dangerous consequences such as: endometrial cancer, breast cancer, high blood pressure, increased venous thrombosis...
Therefore, hormone replacement therapy is necessary. are considered, selected when the benefits outweigh the risks. The benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweigh the risks when:
Indicated early, around the time of menopause. Indicated in the window period: menopausal women, 50-59 years old or under 60 years old, just under 10 years of menopause, preferably under 6 years. Women over 60: risks outweigh benefits.

Transdermal, vaginal: may bring benefits compared to oral because it is not metabolized by the liver, less likely to create the risk of thrombosis, risk of coronary heart disease. Oral: potentially creates thrombotic risk, coronary risk...

Estrogen therapy (ET): Supplemental estrogen alone: ​​systemic supplementation when women have had a hysterectomy. Low-dose topical supplement for women presenting with vaginal atrophy.
Estrogen-progesteron therapy: Progesteron is combined with estrogen to protect the endometrium in women with a uterus.
Bio - identical hormone therapy: includes hormones that are chemically or very similar to the hormones made in the body.

Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is providing pre-menopausal health examination and counseling package. When registering for an examination package, customers will be examined and consulted with a specialist in Gynecology; Perform tests to assess hormone status. When registering for the premenopausal health care package and consultation, customers will receive:
Gynecological specialist examination Gynecological examination, breast examination Transabdominal ultrasound of uterus and ovaries Take specimens as a smear Cervical-vaginal cytology Mammogram (2 sides) Osteoporosis Measure other tests to detect pre-menopausal conditions, if any.