mood changes

The conventional wisdom for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has swung dramatically over the past several decades. For a long time, it was seen as the fountain of youth – almost a supplement rather than a medication – something that every woman should be on to stay healthy. Then came the Women’s Health Initiative in 2002, which showed an increase risk in breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. Millions of women stopped hormone replacement or were reluctant to start, some of whom then experienced severe menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes. Over the ensuing years our philosophy has settled into one of moderation: Treat each woman and her symptoms as safely as we can. For some, hormone replacement therapy is a needed balm to menopausal suffering, for others the small risks are not worth it, or their minimal symptoms don’t require medications. Your doctors with Midwest Center for Women’s HealthCare can help you find your way through this sometimes-confusing topic. What is HRT? Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT is using estrogen (usually in combination with a progestin) to mitigate unpleasant symptoms of menopause. As we pass our reproductive years,