For women of a certain age, there comes a moment of truth. The moment arrives after sleepless nights, a lot of sweat and maybe even some tears.
Inevitably, though, virtually all women must make a decision: Can I endure the symptoms of menopause or should I undertake hormone replacement therapy?
Oddly enough, there is no single — or simple — answer for all women. Your best friend may have the same symptoms or none. The same goes for your sister, and even your mother’s experience is of no help because menopause is a highly personalized condition. Treatments also vary depending on the severity of the symptoms and the person — some need a single hormone, others combinations of two hormones. Other medications also can help, including birth control pills, anti-anxiety drugs and even natural remedies.
“We have to talk about it,” said Dr. Nigel Delahunty of Greer Ob/Gyn. “We inform them of all the potential risks and see what they need and want.”
Delahunty has been practicing medicine for 17 years, and during that time the way to help women get through their menopausal years — in terms of the use and popularity of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — has changed dramatically.
“It has fluctuated over time,” said Dr. Margery Gass, executive director of The North American Menopause Society based in Cleveland. “But what has remained the same is that estrogen has been effective in treating symptoms for more than 30 years.”
