You have probably noticed in life that every silver lining has a cloud! In the case of HRT, the cloud is called progestogen (a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone).
Up to now it has all looked pretty good: whether you have hot flushes, vaginal and bladder problems, mood changes, or even feelings of insects crawling over your skin, replacing oestrogen gives you a good chance of ending these troublesome symptoms of the menopause. HRT even protects you against osteoporosis, and reduces your chance of having a heart attack. It all sounds too good to be true.
If you have had a hysterectomy, you can skip this slightly depressing chapter, because progestogen is not a word that need bother you. But if you still have a uterus (womb) and are considering taking HRT.
Progesterone is produced in the ovaries after the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle, and in pregnancy. Its main function is to prepare the womb for a fertilised egg, and to maintain the pregnancy. It also thickens the lining of the womb, reduces secretions from the cervix (the neck of the womb), prevents ovulation, contributes to the retention of water and salt, and works with oestrogen to stimulate milk cells in the breasts. During a menstrual cycle that doesn't result in pregnancy, it is the production of progesterone that contributes to the pre-menstrual feelings of bloatedness, breast tenderness, and general irritability. So although it has an important role to play in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, progesterone is not exactly an unmixed blessing, and its presence in HRT causes the single most important reason why women who have not had a hysterectomy either don't want this form of treatment at all, or don't stay on it for more than a few months.
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Tags: Hormonal
Tags: Hormonal