Estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves taking estrogen without progestogens. It is mainly used by women who have had a hysterectomy. The key benefits of estrogen-only HRT include:
- Relieving menopausal symptoms - Estrogen helps relieve common symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances and mood changes. It can significantly improve quality of life.
- Bone health - Estrogen helps prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis by slowing bone loss. Multiple studies show it reduces hip, spinal and other fracture risks by 30-50% during treatment.
- Heart health - Estrogen may lower heart disease risk in women who start HRT within 10 years of menopause. It helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
- Delaying skin aging - Estrogen improves skin thickness, collagen content, moisture and elasticity. It can make the skin look more youthful.
- Reduce colorectal cancer risk - Research indicates estrogen HRT for over 5-10 years can lower the risk of colorectal cancer by about 30%.
- Urinary health - Estrogen treatments can prevent urinary incontinence and UTIs post-menopause by maintaining the urethral lining.
- Mental health - There is evidence suggesting estrogen prevents mood disorders for perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women. It may improve depressive symptoms.
- Sexual health - By reducing vaginal atrophy and dryness, estrogen can help relieve dyspareunia (painful sex). It may enhance arousal, lubrication and overall sexual function.
Estrogen-only HRT isn't suitable for everyone though. Those with a
uterus need
progesterone to balance estrogen's effects on the uterine lining. Without it, estrogen raises
endometrial cancer risks.
Women with certain medical histories may also require alternative treatments, like:
- Personal or family history of hormone-sensitive cancers like breast cancer
- History of blood clots, stroke, heart attack or liver disease
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Uterine bleeding of unknown cause
At Balance & Renew Clinic, we offer customized estrogen hormone therapy for eligible patients after a thorough assessment. Our treatments use the latest bioidentical hormones and delivery methods to maximize safety and results. Contact us today to find out if estrogen HRT is right for you!
Here is a quick
comparison of different estrogen formulations:
| Formulation | Notes |
|-|-|
|
Oral estrogen | Convenient tablets but higher risk of blood clots |
|
Transdermal patches | Steady hormone release through skin |
|
Vaginal creams | Localized treatment for genitourinary symptoms |
|
Subcutaneous pellets | Lasts ~4-6 months per insertion |
|
Intramuscular injections | Injections every 1-2 weeks |
In summary, estrogen-only HRT offers a variety of benefits for postmenopausal women without a uterus. It can greatly improve quality of life and long-term health outcomes. But it also carries some risks, so consult your doctor to see if you are a suitable candidate. There are multiple estrogen formulations to suit different needs and preferences as well.
