Hormone replacement therapy was once medication containing female hormones to replace the ones that are no longer made after menopause. This is sometimes used to help relieve symptoms like hot flashes that many menopausal women face. Hormonal therapy has also been proven to prevent bone loss and reduce fracture in postmenopausal women.

If you are looking to get estrogen therapy, doctors usually suggest a low dosage of estrogen for women who have had hysterectomies. There are tons of methods to boost your estrogen, like patches, pills, gels, and even sprays. If you are looking for combination therapy however, this contains estrogen and progestin, doing combination therapy can lower the risk of cancer of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus). This is usually taken as a form of birth control, progestin is effective in reducing the symptoms that come with hot flashes.

Although hormonal therapy is effective and relatively safe, people with the following medical conditions should avoid hormonal therapy

• Blood clots
• Cancer (breast, uterine or endometrial) 
• Stroke
• Heart or Liver Disease 
• Prone to heart attacks
• Known or suspected pregnancy 

As with anything medical, there are always side effects and some side effects of hormonal therapy include bloating, headaches, mood changes or nausea. Just like with anything else, talk to your healthcare provider to weigh the pros and cons and decide together if this is right for you and your body.