What is Homone Therapy ?

Hormone therapy in cases of osteoporosis is treatment which supplements the hormones that ovaries have stopped making at menopause. It consists of either Oestrogen alone or in combiination with Progesterone.

Possible guidelines for the use of Hormone therapy
* As a preventive measure for women entering menopause with multiple risk factors.
Post menopausal osteoporosis is best prevented by starting hormonal therapy at the time of menopause and continued for a minimum of 10 years.
* Women who undergo early menopause or surgical menopause should start hormone therapy immediately and continue until at least upto the average age of menopause.
* Women with osteoporosis even if she is many years past menopause.
* Women in early 40, with signs of low bone density, especially with multiple risk factors and her bone density tests revealing low bone mass.

Types of Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy can be given in a number of ways. Oestrogen can be given alone or incombination with progesterone. When oestrogen is given alone chances of uterine cancer increases. To eliminate this risk progesterone can be added to oestrogen. Women who have had a hysterectomy may be treated with estrogen alone.

Common Hormone Regimens
I Estrogen and progesterone are both taken every day.
II Estrogen is taken every day for 31 days and progesterone is taken for the first 14 days.
III Women without a uterus can take estrogen alone ­ every day of the month or for 25 days followed by a five-day break, which can help control sore breasts.

Recently claims have been made that natural progesterone creams will prevent osteoporosis.

A dosage of 0.625 mg of oral estrogen per day (or its equivalent) is the minimum dose required to protect against osteoporotic fractures. Lower doses of estrogen (0.3 mg per day) combined with calcium supplements (1,500 mg per day) may also protect bones.

Side effects of Hormone therapy : depression, headaches, breast tenderness, skin irritation and weight gain.

Conditions when Hormone therapy is to be Avoided

• history of unexplained vaginal bleeding
• active liver disease or Chronic Liver disease
• breast cancer
• active vascular thrombosis
• migraines
• history of thromboembolism (blood clots which break up, travel and form other blockages)
• history of hypertriglyceridemia in your family (elevated blood lipids)
• uterine fibroids
• endometriosis
• past history of uterine cancer — effectively treated
• gall bladder disease
• strong family history of breast cancer

To be on Guard when on Hormone therapy
To report any Irregular Vaginal Bleeding
Regular checkup for Breast Health. Fequent self examination of Breasts. Regular Mamograms advisible.

Other benefits of Hormone Therapy

Researchers believe it helps to prevent heart disease; and it may provide protection against colon cancer, Alzheimer's disease and stroke.

Risks of Hormone therapy

Most researchers believe that hormone therapy is safe for short term - 10 years. Even for longer use the risks are mininmal and the benifits outweigh the risks. Results of various studies suggest that over a lifetime approximately 10 in 100 women on hormone therapy will develop breast cancer.

	Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy