HRT is the acronym for Hormone Replacement Therapy. It must be prescribed by a gynecologist, and consists of the administration of the amount of hormones that are no longer produced by the ovaries to make the transition into menopause smoother and more harmonious. The goal is to undo or minimize the nuisances and hazards derived from the sudden lack of estrogen hormone.  In women who have undergone surgical removal of the uterus (hysterectomy), HRT consists of estrogen alone (because it is the lack of estrogen that generates all the "issues"), while in other women, estrogen should also be associated with the progestin hormone (estrogen-progestin therapy) to protect the uterus from estrogen stimulation. Some women do not tolerate progestin very well.

In addition to the estrogen-progestin therapy, for years there has also existed a therapy known as tibolone, a synthetic drug that belongs to a class of molecules known as Selective Tissue Estrogenic Activity Regulators (STEAR). The tibolone acts as an estrogen selectively where needed. But research has gone one step further to offer women a more "comfortable therapy." The recent innovation in HRT is represented, in fact, by TSEC, Tissue Selective Estrogen Complex, a combination of estrogen with a molecule called SERM (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator), which is not a hormone and protects the uterus.

You are probably one of those women that recent research has defined as "eternal girls" and "high performance" who are active in finding solutions, even at this stage in their life, in order to slow down the aging process of the body and mind. They know they can't slip backwards to the teenage years, but they have no intention of accelerating the aging process. They want to use all the weapons that science and technology have to offer, using common sense, that can help them feel better about themselves and with others.  An innovative replacement therapy has recently been developed, ask your gynecologist for advice and further information.

You are probably one of those women who in the course of recent research have declared themselves "resigned" because can manage to tolerate menopause, or "serene" because they are living through it with apparent calm. In the Italian reality, only 26% of menopausal women seek help from a gynecologist to better manage the symptoms, and to date, only 4% of women are being treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the only therapy with scientifically proven efficacy. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Italian women opt for natural treatments of dubious efficacy.

Almost no one actively looks for solutions, despite the impact of the symptoms: 5% choose hormone replacement therapy, about 10% choose a dietary supplement, and 8% opt for natural/homeopathic products. When choosing hormone therapy, the advice of your gynecologist is (fortunately!) essential.

Among menopausal women, the resistance to this type of treatment are mainly related to the fear of taking hormones/medication to manage a condition that is considered physiological, the fear of getting fat, the fear of increasing the risk of cancer, and to a lesser extent, also to the resistance on the part of the doctor. Unfortunately, in many cases, this involves prejudices and lack of correct information. Recently, a new therapy was introduced, the TSEC (Tissue-Selective Estrogen Complex), that has met the needs of many women. THE TSEC has a good safety profile, and its use is very well tolerated by women, even at the level of the uterus and breast.  

For many years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) consisting of estrogen and progestin has been used to control and mitigate the effects of menopause. However, the safety profile and tolerability of this association are still under discussion and as is clear from the research, the reasons why it is not used are mainly two: some women do not want to take hormones and are against the use of drugs to treat the symptoms of menopause, considered to be a natural event that has to be accepted. One of the major factors that has thus far reduced the acceptance of women towards the use of HRT is the intolerance to progestin, as in your case. As you can see, you're not alone, but now a new complex has arrived that does not contain progestin. Ask your gynecologist for more info.

Menopause, in itself, is not a disease and therefore, does not require an a priori treatment. Only in the presence of problems or risks which adversely affect the quality of life it is justified, and beneficial, to resort to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT is an effective answer to your menopause problems. It is effective both for giving immediate relief for the most annoying problems and for your social and personal life, both for the prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, thus contributing to your future well-being. Keep in mind that if you have symptoms, you are more likely to develop osteoporosis and/or cardiovascular disease.  In regards to osteoporosis, have you done a​ BMD to accurately evaluate your mass and bone density?

"I read a lot about it," says Federica, "and I talked about it at length on many occasions with my gynecologist. I was already inclined to this choice, but I wanted it to be the most knowledgeable choice possible, and now I am convinced 100%! Especially since now we women have new therapies available that are safer and better tolerated. I travel a lot and I want to continue to live fully and in harmony with myself, even during this stage of my life, without giving up anything and without adding unnecessary burdens to the daily management of children, husband and parents. Hormone replacement therapy is without a doubt my choice."