What Effect Does Age Have on Hormone Replacement Therapy?

While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) offers many benefits to sufferers of the symptoms of low-t or low estrogen, it’s important for men and women to understand its age-related risks. If you are over the age of 45 and are thinking about or currently prescribed hormone therapy, there may come a time when the risks begin to outweigh the benefits.

Hormone replacement therapy for women

For women, hormone replacement therapy is commonly used to help replace female-specific hormones the body no longer makes. It is often used for older women who are going through menopause to help alleviate symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Post-menopausal women, however, should avoid hormone replacement therapy because their risk of breast cancer, stroke and heart disease is much higher.

Age, type of menopause and time since menopause each play a weighty role in the risks associated with hormone replacement therapy. It’s important to talk to your doctor about your personal risks to find out if hormone replacement therapy is the right choice for you.

Hormone replacement therapy for men

For men, hormone replacement therapy is commonly used to treat hypogonadism, which can cause unnaturally low levels of testosterone (low-t). Men can experience this condition at any age, so hormone replacement therapy can help correct these levels and support reproductive health, muscle mass and bone density. Older men, however, should speak to their doctor to find out if hormone replacement therapy is right for them. This treatment carries potential health risks, including benign prostate disease, heart attacks, stroke and other heart problems. 

If you would like to know more about the benefits or age-related side effects of hormone replacement therapy, call SynergenX at 888-219-7259. Our skilled physicians can help you determine if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.

SynergenX low-t clinics are located in seven Houston-area cities including Galleria, Katy, Kingwood, The Woodlands, Sugarland and Vintage Park; two Dallas locations including McKinney and Northpark; or look them up in Northwest San Antonio or Sonterra. Experiencing the symptoms of low-t in Chicago? Get more information about hormone replacement therapy for men at their Burr Ridge office.