Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): What Every Woman Should Know

Hormone replacement therapy is having a resurgence—but HRT isn’t one medication, one dose or the right choice for every woman.

In this episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist and women’s health expert Jessica Valant breaks down what hormone replacement therapy actually is, what it can—and can’t—do, and the important factors to consider when deciding whether HRT might be right for you.

Jessica walks you through the three hormones you hear about most in the menopause conversation—estrogen, progesterone and testosterone—including why each might be prescribed and the different ways they can be taken.

You’ll learn:

What HRT is and who might be a good candidate

The differences between estrogen, progesterone, progestins and testosterone

Pills, patches, gels, creams and vaginal estrogen—and why the route of administration matters

What changes after a hysterectomy or removal of the ovaries

Special considerations for women with a history of breast cancer or endometriosis

What “bioidentical” hormones actually means

Why the timing of starting HRT matters

The proven benefits of HRT