Forty-four percent of woman that have gone through menopause have admitted to seeking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as a means of helping reduce the symptoms they get from menopause. If you're thinking about undergoing HRT, you'll be happy to know there are HRT lab tests for women that will help determine if it's the right treatment for you.
Before we jump into everything you need to know about lab tests for HRT, we're going to educate you about the symptoms of menopause and how they can affect your long-term health.
Symptoms of Menopause
The paragraph above noted the transition to education on the symptoms of menopause. Some of the symptoms include hot flashes that seemingly come out of nowhere.
Menopause also causes women to experience mood changes and increased irritability no matter the situation. These frequent changes can also lead to depression and increased anxiety.
Some other symptoms include, but aren't limited to:
- Irregular menstrual period
- Issues with the sleep cycle
- Sweating at night
- Urinary tract issues
- Problems concentrating
- Changes to the skin
- Increased heart rate
Menopause has also been known to cause issues in the sexual department because it can cause a woman to experience discomfort or vaginal dryness.
What is HRT?
HRT, otherwise known as hormone replacement therapy, is a form of therapy that uses medication to adjust hormone levels and treat symptoms associated with menopause. When a woman goes through menopause, there is a drop in their estrogen levels.
HRT medication is used to replace these levels and can help to reduce and control symptoms that come with menopause. There are several types of hormone therapy that a woman might undergo, including:
- Low-does vaginal
- Systemic hormone therapies
Low-dose vaginal medications are typically creams or tablets that lower the amount of estrogen the body absorbs. This form of treatment is commonly used to treat symptoms caused by menopause that influence things like vaginal dryness and urinary tract symptoms.
Systemic hormone therapy is a type of treatment that comes in various forms, including pills and sprays. This form of treatment can help with several of the symptoms caused by menopause.
Risk Factors for Women's HRT
While there are several benefits of undergoing hormone replacement therapy, there are also some important risks to know about. For every 1,000 women over 50 that used HRT, approximately 83 got breast cancer.
Breast cancer is one of the risks of HRT; although researchers are still studying it, there is little known about how it causes breast cancer. It's believed that the estrogen in the body stimulates the growth of certain types of cancer cells.
Other risks for women that are using HRT to treat menopausal symptoms include:
- Increase in blood clots
- Heart disease
- Potential stroke
Some risks are higher for some and lower for others because of several variants, including a woman's age, past health history, and type of HRT treatment.
Side Effects of HRT in Women
One side effect that you might experience when getting hormone replacement therapy is tenderness around your breast. This is usually because of the increase in hormones flowing through your body, much like what happens when you're on your period.
Another side effect you might experience is feeling sick, which can also be chalked up to the increase in your hormone levels. Eventually, the side effects you feel will begin to go away, but if they don't, you must speak with your doctor about what you're going through.
We do have some tips that can help to ease your side effects. Before you take your HRT dose, it's best if you don't take it on an empty stomach. Eating before taking your medication will help to reduce indigestion and the likelihood of becoming sick.
If you're having cramps, you could reduce them by engaging in regular activity. These are the side effects of estrogen, which are mostly the same that would be experienced when taking progesterone.
When taking progesterone, you might experience issues with acne and mood swings.
HRT Lab Tests for Women
As mentioned before, there are HRT tests for women that have proven to be beneficial. These tests are useful because they help you monitor your health and identify risk factors or other pertinent information that could change the course of the treatment you're receiving.
23 Key lab tests to monitor your health when on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT):
- DHEA Sulfate, Immunoassay
- Estradiol
- Estrogen, Total, Serum
- Estrone, LC/MS/MS
- FSH and LH
- IGF-I, LC/MS
- Pregnenolone, LC/MS/MS
- Progesterone, Immunoassay
- Prolactin
- Testosterone, Total And Free And Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
- CBC (includes Differential and Platelets)
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Hemoglobin A1c with eAG
- Homocysteine
- hs-CRP
- IGF-I, LC/MS
- Insulin
- Lipid Panel with Ratios
- QuestAssureD™ 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (D2, D3), LC/MS/MS
- T3, Free
- T4, Free
- Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb)
- TSH
These key lab tests can be used to monitor the impact of HRT on your health so that you and your doctor can take the right steps and implement the proper changes in your life. Selecting Ulta Lab Tests to get tested will provide you with quick and private access to your results.
Not to mention it allows you to play an active role in your health and the care you receive. Another reason you should seek lab testing from Ulta Lab Tests is that you don't need clearance from your insurance company or obtain a referral to have the testing completed.
What We Offer
We offer women the following four Hormone Health panels to make it easier and quicker to select and order lab tests needed to monitor their health while on HRT:
- The Hormone Health, Women - Basic panel contains 5 tests with 7 biomarkers
- The Hormone Health, Women - Basic Plus panel contains 9 tests with 14 biomarkers
- The Hormone Health, Women - Advanced panel contains 11 tests with 18 biomarkers
- The Hormone Health, Women - Comprehensive panel contains 18 tests with 28 biomarkers
We ensure that our customers have options they need to ensure they get the right type of test.
Frequently Asked Questions About Women's HRT
Now that you've got the information you need, we're sure there are several questions you might have. Below you can find the answers to the most asked questions.
By having these answers, you'll have what you need to move forward with getting the testing you need to help you decide whether hormone replacement therapy is right for you.
Who Shouldn't Have HRT?
If you've had a medical history of blood clots seeking HRT might not be the best form of treatment for you. Another reason that HRT won't work for some women is if they're not experiencing menopausal symptoms.
Also, if you've had a history of breast cancer, it would be more useful to speak with your primary care physician about other ways to treat it.
What if HRT Isn't an Option?
In some cases, HRT won't be the right option for all women. However, even if it's not something that will work for you, it doesn't mean you've got to continue having issues with the menopause symptoms you're experiencing.
Your doctor can recommend changes you can make in your lifestyle that can help to improve your overall symptoms.
Are There Benefits of HRT?
Yes, there are several benefits for women that undergo HRT, with the main benefit being relief from menopausal symptoms. HRT can help prevent bone loss, which can lead to several injuries related to Osteoporosis.
HRT can also make painful intercourse more enjoyable because one of the symptoms of menopause is vaginal dryness.
Order your Women's HRT Test with Confidence Today from Ulta Lab Tests
Ulta Lab Tests offers highly accurate and reliable tests so you can make informed decisions about your health.
- Secure and confidential results
- No insurance referral is needed
- Affordable pricing
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
You can take charge of your health by understanding your own body's needs.
Women undergoing hormone replacement therapy can see many benefits, but they must first know what is needed. Getting accurate lab results and frequent testing, and tracking your biomarkers are vital steps in successful HRT.
Order your women's hormone replacement lab tests today, and your results will be provided to you securely and confidentially online in 24 to 48 hours for most tests.
Take control of your health today with Ulta Lab Tests.
