Hormone replacement therapy has gotten a bad rep for being unsafe and bad for your health, but in reality it is the complete opposite.
Dr. Diana Bitner, a recognized specialist in women's health from Spectrum Health, says that the pendulum is swinging back from no one using hormone replacement therapy to more women using it.
Hormone replacement therapy, now known as menstrual hormone therapy, is not to totally replace the hormones the ovary made but to give enough back to the body to treat symptoms and maintain physiology.
Dr. Bitner says there are many reasons to consider menstrual hormone therapy before it is too late past the 5-10 year window after a woman's last period.
Periods happen when the hormones estrogen and progesterone are made by the ovary upon signal from the brain. The estrogen makes the lining of the uterus grow whereas progesterone keeps the lining from getting too thick. So after menopause, there is no hormonal stimulation to the uterus and therefore no periods.
Menstrual hormone therapy isn't for everyone, so women should consult their doctors to find out if this treatment is right for them.
To learn about the benefits and risk of treatment, listen to Dr. Bitner in the video above.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Bitner, call (616) 267-8225.
