Bone fractures can impede significantly on your daily life. Not only can your mobility be affected, but you may suffer a lot of pain and find yourself unable to work or care for yourself.
In older women, fractures are often associated with osteoporosis, the development of which has been linked to estrogen deficiencies. An experienced doctor who can provide estrogen replacement therapy for osteoporosis to Rhode Island patients might be able to help prevent that next minor bump or fall from becoming a break.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) describes osteoporosis as a disease that causes the bones to become porous, making them more fragile and prone to fracturing. Osteoporosis causes an imbalance in the bone reabsorption and creation process that naturally occurs in the body.
Roughly half of all women over age 50 and approximately one-quarter of all men will develop osteoporosis. Unfortunately, the first sign of osteoporosis is usually a fracture, especially in the wrist, hip, or spine. Osteoporosis can result in height loss, as well as a stooped posture.
While all women are potentially at risk for osteoporosis, the odds are higher for white and Asian women and those with smaller bones. The most vulnerable women may lose up to 20 percent of their bone density within five to seven years after menopause begins.
The NOF lists various diseases and conditions that may lead to bone density loss, and among them is premature menopause. That is because women who go through early menopause—either naturally or because of chemotherapy or a hysterectomy—lose estrogen sooner than women who experience menopause past age 50.
Estrogen promotes bone health in women by encouraging osteoblasts, a cell secretion that promotes bone formation. When the female body loses estrogen through menopause, osteoblasts do not perform as effectively.
While there are other osteoporosis medications on the market, estrogen replacement therapy was once the only such treatment approved by the FDA for female bone loss. Because it possesses so many other benefits for post-menopausal women, estrogen replacement therapy is still a primary choice for Rhode Island patients seeking osteoporosis treatment.
Estrogen replacements can come from two sources. The first and more commonly known source is a pregnant mare’s urine. However, this synthetic hormone replacement can increase the risk of breast cancer or heart disease, resulting in many women shying away from estrogen replacement therapy.
The other, more natural source for estrogen replacement is plant-based. This source allows doctors to use a bioidentical estrogen replacement, which the body recognizes as identical to estrogen produced by the woman’s own body. As a result, bioidentical estrogen replacements are much less likely to result in dangerous side effects.
It is important to mention that women with a history of breast cancer or cardiovascular disease are generally not candidates for estrogen replacement therapy. The same holds true for those with a history of blood clots or liver disease.
Bioidentical estrogen replacement therapy for osteoporosis is available in tablet, injectable, intradermal pellet, patch, and cream forms for patients in Rhode Island. Along with regular monitoring and dosage adjustment as needed, each patient may receive a custom-tailored diet and exercise plan to help build and maintain bone strength.
If you would like information on how bioidentical estrogen replacement therapy can reduce the risk of weakened bones, a Connecticut doctor who has experience with administering estrogen replacement therapy for osteoporosis to Rhode Island patients could help. Call us today or contact us online to arrange a consultation. In addition to osteoporosis prevention, Dr. Edward Jacobson could discuss the other benefits of bioidentical estrogen replacement therapy for menopausal women.