Hormone Replacement
Therapy (HRT) dosage
is often varied cyclically, with
estrogens taken daily and progesterone or progestins taken for about two
weeks every month; a method called sequentially combined HRT or scHRT. An
alternate method, a constant dosage with both types of hormones taken
daily, is called continuous combined HRT or ccHRT. Sometimes an androgen,
generally testosterone, is added to help reduce osteoporosis and to treat
reduced energy and sexual desire (libido) after menopause.
HRT is seen as either a short-term relief
(often one or two years, usually less than five) from menopausal symptoms
(hot flashes, irregular menstruation, fat redistribution etc.) or as a
longer term treatment to reduce the risk of osteopenia leading to
osteoporosis.
Historically the most commonly prescribed forms of HRT has been
proprietary mixtures. These combinations have been composed of equine
estrogens rather than bio-identical human estrogens, and have favored the
use of progestins, rather than the human form of progesterone. With the
passage of time, an increasing number of studies have shown that certain
risks are associated with these combinations of progestins and equine
estrogens.
Full article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone_replacement_therapy |