Your hormone therapy cheat sheet

Confused about hormone therapy? Understandable. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) isn’t one treatment — it can include different hormones, forms, and formulations. Here’s your cheat sheet to some of the options you may hear about:

• Estradiol: The main type of estrogen used in hormone therapy can help treat symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disruptions. It comes in several forms, including patches, creams, and gels, and your clinician can help determine whether estrogen — and which form — is right for you.

• Progesterone: If you have a uterus and use estrogen, progesterone is typically added to your Care Plan to help protect the uterine lining. It can also be prescribed to help with sleep. 

• Vaginal estrogen: For symptoms like vaginal dryness, painful sex, or urinary changes, vaginal estrogen may be an option. It delivers estrogen directly to the vaginal area and can be used on its own or alongside other treatments.

• Testosterone: For some women experiencing persistent low sexual desire, testosterone* may be worth discussing with a clinician.

The best treatment is the one that works for you. A Midi clinician will consider your symptoms, medical history, and goals to determine if HRT is appropriate for you, find the right fit, and fine-tune your treatment over time.

About a year ago, I started feeling constantly exhausted, even after a full night’s sleep. I was also sweating all the time, no matter the temperature, and struggled to keep my emotions in check.

On top of that, I couldn’t stop eating. I had recently lost 35 pounds for my wedding and was starting to put the weight back on. My primary care physician told me there wasn’t much he could do and recommended eating apples. Not exactly helpful!

When I shared my symptoms with my OB/GYN, she suggested hormone replacement therapy and medication for hot flashes. This helped with my mood and temperature regulation, but I was still constantly hungry. That’s when I decided to reach out to Midi.

My clinician took the time to really listen to me and prescribed semaglutide. Now, I’ve lost almost all the weight I gained after the wedding, and my cravings are finally under control. I feel like I’m 15 years younger!