HRT Creams Help You Live the Dream

Dream Cream: What are the Benefits of HRT Creams?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to be a sort of scary, hit-or-miss treatment. Today women can have their HRT custom formulated and designed to suit their body, needs and goals. 

What is HRT?

HRT replaces the hormones the body no longer makes after menopause or when the body decreases production of estrogen and other hormones for other medical reasons. HRT is used to treat common menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, fatigue, vaginal dryness and mood swings. HRT also helps prevent osteoporosis, which is a bone-thinning disease related to low estrogen levels.  

Why Choose Topical HRT Creams?  

HRT creams offer customization, flexibility and simple, easy application of hormones that are then absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. HRT cream allows the right dose of hormones to be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream to help relieve hot flashes, night sweats, depression and other symptoms of menopause. 

Other types of HRT, such as pellets, don’t offer the same flexibility. In the case of pellets, if your dose is too strong, too weak or causes unpleasant side effects, you have to have another procedure in the doctor’s office to try another formulation, and another, until you get it right. Because HRT creams are applied daily, it’s easy to adjust the application or change the formula if there are any adverse effects.  

Hormone creams are absorbed differently by each individual, and the amount of hormones that enter the bloodstream depends on the method by which the cream was prepared and the amount applied to the skin. Because hormone creams are applied in small doses, levels remain steady throughout the application cycle. And, since the estrogen is absorbed through the skin and directly into the bloodstream, it can be healthier than oral estrogen for people who have liver or gallbladder health issues that could be exacerbated by oral estrogen delivery.  

How do I know if I need HRT Cream? 

If you are suffering from the symptoms of menopause or have signs of a hormonal imbalance, your doctor will test your hormone levels to determine your specific needs. After testing, a woman can use a customized cream with enough estrogen to relieve the symptoms of menopause, perimenopause or low estrogen. 

How do I use HRT Cream? 

Your provider will give you specific instructions, but using HRT creams is not any more difficult than applying a daily moisturizer. HRT cream is typically applied to the arms or legs once or twice a day after a bath or shower and should be allowed to dry before you get dressed. Always apply it after you bathe or shower. 

What are the Risks of HRT? 

Your provider will discuss your full medical history and assess your possible risks from HRT. Treatment has been shown to increase the risks of heart disease, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer in some women. These risks vary by age, time since menopause and by the length of time a woman has been using HRT. If HRT is started before the age of 60 or within ten years of menopause, the benefits appear to outweigh the risks. Your cream may include just estrogen, or more likely it will be balanced by progestin, which can help decrease the risk of uterine cancer. 

Women who reach menopause prematurely or who have had their ovaries removed also usually find that the benefits of an HRT cream outweigh the risks. Your doctor will prescribe the lowest effective dose that will treat your symptoms and safeguard your health. Women younger than age 45 may need longer courses of treatment to protect against the long-term health risks associated with low estrogen. 

Do you have questions about hormone replacement therapy, menopause or hormonal imbalance? We can help. At Coyle Institute our expert team can determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend the right custom HRT and delivery for you. Contact us today to set up your consultation!