Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe?

If you’re a woman transitioning to menopause, you might be familiar with some of the less-than-pleasant side effects your changing hormones can bring. Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and other frustrating symptoms are often caused by changes or imbalances in your hormone levels. 

The good news is there are things you can do to combat these unpleasant symptoms. For example, regular exercise, a diet with more whole, plant-based foods, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol can reduce some problematic side effects. 

But for many women, lifestyle changes and natural therapies may not do enough to address the underlying imbalance causing the symptoms. At her private practice in Santa Monica, California, board-certified OB/GYN Shamsah Amersi, MD, helps women across the Greater Los Angeles area find relief from hormone imbalances. 

For some women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) offers an effective way to address the side effects of menopause. But many patients wonder if HRT is safe. Keep reading to learn what you need to know.   

Understanding changing hormones

Hormones play a crucial role in many critical body functions. From your metabolism to your mood, hormones help keep everything in balance. They even play a part in how your bones grow and develop.

As you approach menopause, the production of your reproductive hormones declines. This transitional stage is referred to as perimenopause. Perimenopause is a natural part of life, not an illness to be cured. 

However, that doesn’t mean it can’t cause problematic side effects for some women. The underlying hormonal imbalances that result during this period can lead to different unpleasant symptoms, including: 

• Mood swings
• Vaginal dryness
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Decreased libido
• Brain fog, confusion, or forgetfulness
• Insomnia
• Pain during intercourse
• Depression
• Anxiety 

Some women may only have mild symptoms or none at all. But for other women, these symptoms interfere with their quality of life, making getting through the day difficult. 

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) helps balance your changing hormone levels. As a result, it can reduce and sometimes stop these frustrating symptoms. 

Bioidentical HRT: A safe and effective choice

There’s a myth that hormone replacement therapy isn’t safe. But the truth is that no evidence-based research study has ever found traditional or bioidentical HRT to be unsafe. 

One analysis found traditional HRT seemed to correlate with an increased risk of heart disease and cancer. However, since the participants were in poor health before starting traditional HRT, scientists question the link to HRT. 

Dr. Amersi most often prescribes bioidentical hormones, synthesized from plant sources. These hormones mimic the structure of your natural hormones, making them “bioidentical” and easier for most women to tolerate. 

Unlike traditional HRT, FDA-approved bioidentical HRT dosing is customized based on your unique biology. In other words, Dr. Amersi doesn’t write a one-size-fits-all prescription. She uses lab tests and other medical information to prescribe the specific BHRT doses to address the imbalances causing your symptoms. 

Hormone replacement therapy isn’t for every woman. Dr. Amersi carefully evaluates your medical history, current symptoms, and lifestyle factors to create a personalized hormone imbalance treatment plan which may include bioidentical HRT, lifestyle changes, or synthetic hormones.

To learn more about hormone replacement therapy and whether it’s right for you, schedule an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Amersi in Santa Monica, California. Our practice also offers virtual visits.