Personal stories about deciding to use estrogen replacement therapy
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Personal stories about deciding to use estrogen replacement therapy
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
Josie, age 35: Since having my uterus and ovaries removed, I've been taking ERT. This makes a lot of sense to me, because my ovaries would be producing estrogen until I hit menopause. When I'm the age I'd expect to be menopausal, around age 50, I expect I'll stop or reduce the estrogen I'm taking. That'll depend on what experts recommend by then.
Carla, age 28: I started taking ERT after a radical hysterectomy and spent a number of months struggling with moodiness and feeling depressed. It was probably because of the big changes in hormones after my ovaries were removed. I worked closely with my doctor to make adjustments to my hormone replacement. She replaced the oral estrogen with a patch. Now, I've been doing well for more than 5 years.
Anna, age 64: I took ERT for many years after having my uterus and ovaries removed in my 30s. I figured I'd take it for the rest of my life, since that is what my doctor said I should do. However, I recently heard about the latest research on the risks of taking hormones, and my doctor and I decided that I really don't need to take ERT. If I had risks for osteoporosis and needed the estrogen to keep my bones strong, I'd take a low dose, but I don't have any worries about weak bones.
Estella, age 58: I had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy in my early 40s, but I didn't take ERT because my family has a history of breast cancer that's linked to estrogen. The sudden menopause after having my ovaries removed was pretty bad, but I took really good care of myself with exercise, a good diet, and a lot of tricks for handling hot flashes, and I got through it after a while.
Credits
| Author | Kathe Gallagher, MSW |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Associate Editor | Terrina Vail |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH - Internal Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 26, 2006 |
| Last updated: | May 26, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW |
| Reviewed By: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine, Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH - Internal Medicine |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Terrina Vail |
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