Hormone Therapy: MHT or HRT

💭 Menopause at 44 – Is Hormone Therapy Safe?

This is a common question I get asked, and here’s what I want to address:

1️⃣ The word "safe" - nothing in life is 100% safe, even hormone therapy. Our decisions—big or small—are always about balancing risks and benefits. Not taking hormones is a choice too, and it comes with its own set of pros and cons.

2️⃣ Early Menopause (40-45) - Research shows that for women who don’t have any contraindications, hormone therapy often has more benefits than risks. However, it’s important to remember that each woman is different, and hormone therapy needs to be personalized based on individual needs.

3️⃣ Understanding Hormone Therapy - As gynecologists, we only get a chapter on menopause during our MD exams, and hormone therapy is just a small part of it. That’s why it’s important to consult with specialists who have dedicated time…

What's the difference between MHT HRT?

MHT and HRT are essentially different names for the same thing

• HRT = Hormone Replacement Therapy

• MHT = Menopausal Hormone Therapy

The term HRT has recently been replaced in certain parts of the world with MHT

The main idea behind hormone replacement therapy is to restore hormone levels that were once present in the body, similar to how someone with a thyroid deficiency receives thyroid hormone to maintain normal levels. However, the goal with hormone therapy at menopause is different. Unlike thyroid hormone replacement, menopause-related hormone therapy is primarily used to manage symptoms like hot flashes and to prevent conditions like osteoporosis. These effects are achieved with hormone levels that are much lower than what we had before menopause. I hope this helps clarify the confusion.

HINGLISH TRANSLATION:

Mujhe 42 saal hain aur main perimenopause ke kai symptoms experience kar rahi hoon. Main nutrition ka khayal rakh rahi hoon aur pichle kuch saalon se strength training bhi kar rahi hoon. Main samajh sakti hoon ki aap kya mehsoos kar rahe hain.

Lekin menopause ki reality yeh hai: aap sab kuch sahi kar rahe ho sakte hain, lekin hormonal fluctuations aap par asar kar sakte hain, chahe aap kitna bhi kyu na kyu kyu kyu. Isliye, khud ko blame karna band kijiye aur kisi aur ko bhi yeh mehsoos nahi karne dijiye ki aap kuch nahi kar rahe hain.

Dusri taraf, main yeh nahi keh rahi ki lifestyle modifications koshish nahi karni chahiye—hum sabko apni lifestyle behtar banane par dhyan dena chahiye—chahe hum menopause se guzar rahe ho ya nahi. Lekin sochiye, agar main aapke khane se salt hata doon aur keh doon ki aap ise spices…

HINGLISH TRANSLATION:

Menopausal hormone therapy ke kya benefits hain? Hormone therapy kai tarike ke fayde de sakti hai.

Sabse pehle, yeh hot flashes aur night sweats se relief deti hai—yeh symptoms aapki zindagi ko bilkul disrupt kar sakte hain. Lekin agar aap keh rahe hain ki aap hot flashes se deal karne mein khush hain, toh yeh samajh lijiye: hot flash sirf ek symptom hai—menopausal transition aur post-menopause ke dauran aapke body mein bahut kuch ho raha hai, aur hormone therapy kai tarike ke benefits de sakti hai. Ismein osteoporosis aur fractures ki prevention shamil hai, jo kabhi-kabhi menopause ke baad kuch saalon ya dasakon baad dikhai dete hain. Yeh sleep quality ko bhi improve kar sakti hai, jo kuch auraton ke liye brain fog ka underlying reason ho sakta hai. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause ke vaginal dryness aur urinary symptoms ko kam karna bhi iska ek fayda hai. Research…