Hormone therapy (HT) is widely recognized for its effectiveness in alleviating menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, but its benefits extend far beyond symptom relief. Hormone therapy offers secondary advantages that many may not be aware of—advantages that can significantly impact a patient’s long-term health and promote overall wellness during menopause.
One of the most remarkable secondary benefits of hormone therapy is its ability to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. This is critical for women navigating the menopausal transition because menopause accelerates bone density loss, increasing the risk of fractures in the spine and hips. Hormone therapy has been shown to reduce this risk, offering a proactive way to preserve bone strength and prevent debilitating fractures.
In women who are prescribed continuous-combined hormone therapy containing both estrogen and progestogen–specifically synthetic progestins–there is evidence of a reduced risk of endometrial cancer.
Struggling with weight gain and belly fat is a common issue during menopause, but hormone therapy may offer some relief. Studies suggest that women on HT are less likely to accumulate belly fat and may even gain less overall weight than those not on therapy. Additionally, hormone therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by improving insulin and glucose metabolism, offering another compelling reason to consider HT for appropriate patients.
Understanding your patients’ hormone levels is crucial to optimizing hormone therapy and unlocking these secondary benefits. Access Medical Labs’ advancedHormone testing panels measure key hormones like estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and cortisol, providing valuable insights into each patient’s unique hormonal profile. By regularly monitoring hormone levels, you can make precise adjustments to design the most effective and personalized hormone therapy plan. Our fast and accurate results allow you to fine-tune treatments and maximize patient outcomes, ensuring the therapy delivers all its potential benefits.