Karen Talks About HRT:
A Holistic Perspective on Hormone Replacement Therapy

Another Game-Changing Strategy for Coaches Corner Athletes

Introduction

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause and other hormonal imbalances, involves the supplementation of hormones that the body is no longer able to produce in sufficient amounts (Santoro et al., 2016). While HRT has proven beneficial for many, it’s important to approach this treatment with a holistic mindset, respecting the uniqueness of each body and situation. Herein, Karen Rogers, a seasoned Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, shares her insightful thoughts on HRT.

Understanding HRT

HRT primarily uses estrogen and progestogen to alleviate common menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness (Vinogradova et al., 2019). It can also be utilized to manage conditions such as premature ovarian insufficiency and to prevent osteoporosis. However, like any other medication, HRT is not without its side effects. These can range from breast tenderness and headaches to more serious risks such as blood clots and certain types of cancers (Santoro et al., 2016).

The Root Cause Approach

Karen’s functional mindset prompts her to ask the crucial question: Why are hormones not functioning properly? While HRT can alleviate the symptoms, it often does not address the root causes of hormonal imbalances. In many cases, lifestyle factors, such as stress, poor sleep, and improper diet, create these imbalances over time (Kalmbach et al., 2015). Addressing these factors is essential to achieving long-term hormonal balance and health. Yet, as Karen points out, for some individuals, the idea of making significant lifestyle changes can be overwhelming, making a quicker intervention like HRT a desirable option.

HRT and Lifestyle Changes: A Balancing Act

While treating symptoms with HRT, it can be helpful to concurrently make lifestyle changes to improve overall health. As Karen notes, HRT can be a stepping stone to get the body functioning again. However, a common caveat of HRT, like many other medications, is that the body tends to down-regulate over time, relying on the medication and leading to increasing doses.

A Personalized Approach

In Karen’s view, HRT is very individualized. Both the benefits of symptom relief and the “side effects” of living with hormonal imbalances must be considered. If HRT helps a body function and feel better, then it can be worth it. Ultimately, the decision to use HRT should be a personalized one, made after carefully weighing the potential benefits and risks, and in consultation with a healthcare provider.

Conclusion

Understanding and managing hormonal imbalances is a complex journey. With her holistic and personalized approach, Karen sheds light on the role of HRT and the importance of addressing underlying lifestyle factors that often contribute to these imbalances.

Furthermore, having a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) can provide significant support in the decision-making process related to HRT. By identifying nutritional deficiencies, mineral imbalances, and signs of metabolic distress, HTMA can offer profound insights into an individual’s hormonal health. It may reveal factors that contribute to hormonal imbalances and could therefore be addressed before considering HRT. Understanding one’s body in this depth can pave the way for more informed, individualized decisions on treatments like HRT.

At Coaches Corner, we understand that optimal athletic performance is closely tied to overall health and hormonal balance. That’s why we offer comprehensive guidance that includes HTMA, helping our athletes make wise, individually tailored decisions on matters like HRT. We believe that by supporting our athletes in this way, we empower them to achieve their performance goals while maintaining their health and wellbeing.

References

Kalmbach, D. A., Pillai, V., Cheng, P., Arnedt, J. T., & Drake, C. L. (2015). Shift work disorder, depression, and anxiety in the transition to rotating shifts: the role of sleep reactivity. Sleep Medicine, 16(12), 1532-1538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2015.09.007

Santoro, N., Epperson, C. N., & Mathews, S. B. (2015). Menopausal Symptoms and Their Management. Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics, 44(3), 497–515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecl.2015.05.001

Vinogradova, Y., Coupland, C., Hippisley-Cox, J. (2019). Use of hormone replacement therapy and risk of venous thromboembolism: nested case-control studies using the QResearch and CPRD databases. The BMJ, 364, k4810. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k4810