Forms of HRT

Hormone Replacement Therapy is available to women in a variety of forms, providing a certain degree of choice. In general, hormone replacement therapy either is derived from the urine of pregnant mares or it is synthetic and is not perfectly identical to the body's natural hormones. Non-bioidentical HRT comes in several forms. There are many more options to implement HRT as opposed to taking merely the pill form of bioidentical HRT. Below is a list of the different forms of non-bioidentical HRT.

Pills: The most common form of HRT treatment, they come in either estrogen alone or a combination of estrogen and progesterone.

Patches: Clear plastic patches are applied to the skin below the waste and allow estrogen to be gradually absorbed into the body.

Implants: Implants require a minor surgical operation in which a tiny device containing estrogen is implanted under the skin and must be changed about once every six months.

Gels or Creams: Rubbed on the skin and comes in either estrogen or progesterone.

Vaginal ring: A synthetic ring that is inserted into the vagina and left there which contains estrogen and is absorbed into the vaginal walls.

In addition, there are a number of hormone-specific forms of HRT.

With all of these forms of HRT, there are certain risks or side effects. It is wise to consult a health care professional if considering any of these options, in order to determine if HRT is a viable solution to hormone imbalance symptoms.

If the side effects outweigh the benefits, there are other options. Click on the following link to learn more about alternative treatments to HRT.

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