Hormone replacement therapy - Essay Example

Hormone replacement therapy Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was once regularly used to control symptoms of menopause and safeguard long-term health. Specifically, HRT involves administering medications which are rich in female hormones to substitute the natural ones whose production no longer takes place in the body after menopause. HRT is principally used as normal cure in women suffering from hot flashes, night sweating, and itchiness of the female reproductive system especially during intercourse in their menopause. HRT was also believed to have the permanent benefits of reducing the risks to heart disease and dementia. The benefits of Hormone Therapy The advantages of hormone therapy are dictated, in part, by the mode of administering the medicines: whether it is systemic or low-dose use of estrogen. On the one hand, systemic hormone therapy pills containing estrogen, vaginal gel, balm or spray, and skin patch continues to be the most appropriate treatment for symptomatic hot flashes and over-sweating at night among women who have reached menopause (Kaygusuz, Simavli, Eser, Inegöl, Yüksel, Iltemir, Zehra, & Kafali, 2014). Estrogen hormones can also treat vaginal complications that come with menopause, such as desiccation, irritating or burning during intercourse. On the other hand, low-dose vaginal medicines of estrogen, coming in the form of cream, pills or a ring can properly control vaginal symptoms and a number of urinary complications, while limiting body absorption. Low-dose vaginal medications do not prevent hot flashes, osteoporosis or night sweats. Long-term use of systemic hormone therapy for the inhibition of postmenopausal complications is no longer regularly advisable. But some research findings show that estrogen reduces the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases when administered early in menopause (Kaygusuz et al, 2014). For cases of early menopause in women, estrogen is essentially prescribed together with progesterone-rich medications. The need to balance estrogen concentration levels with progesterone is because the former hormone alone can stimulate the thickening of the uterine walls, thus increase the prevalence of cancer of the uterus (Kaygusuz et al, 2014). Any woman whose uterus has been removed does not need to take hormone replacement therapy, because it would be meaningless. Demerits of hormone therapy Despite the advantages of hormone replacement therapy, it carries with it several risks. The use of estrogen-progestin drugs in known to soar the prevalence of certain grave complications, including: cardiovascular diseases, stroke, breast cancer, and blood clots (Kaygusuz et al, 2014). A blend of estrogen and progestin as HRT can make a woman’s breasts look thicker than usual on mammograms, thus complicating attempts to diagnose breast cancer. In addition, overreliance on hormone therapy for several years exposes the user to breast cancer. Although the risks of HRT may be inconsistent as to whether estrogen is administered alone or as a combination with progestin, and depending on the age of the woman in question and the menopausal age, the benefits generally outweigh the risks if administered correctly. As Kaygusuz et al (2014) said, the therapy should be administered to a healthy woman who has: a) experiences of moderate to serious menopausal symptoms; b) reduced bone mass and has unsuccessfully tried other treatment options in vain; and c) stopped having the normal menstruation at 40. Otherwise, the risks could outweigh the benefits. Statement #3 Abortion has been subject to politics, religion, social issues and technology since modern times. Firstly, political factors on abortion debate remains controversial but broadly encompass the right of women to make independent reproductive health choices. Some findings suggest that the political elite have continued to infringe on the fundamental rights of unborn children by raising issues as to when the fetus actually should be regarded as a whole human being and by acknowledging the mother’s rights to reproductive care as superior to the child’s right to life. Some political thoughts hold that the administrative authority should have limited authority as a way of protecting the life of the unborn (Sadati, Tabei, Salehzadeh, Hemmati, & Varzandeh, 2014). Religious perceptions on abortion also differ from society to society and within any particular country. In the United States, for instance, the Christian community comprising a whopping four-fifths of the population subscribe to the Biblical teachings against taking the life of an innocent life. Christians believe that conception is the beginning of human life; every human life is placed far higher than that of other animals or plants according to the story of Creation in Genesis. With strong arguments that human beings were created in God’s likeness, any attempt to take the life of an unborn baby through abortion is regarded as the height of sinful killing (Sadati et al, 2014). The holiness of human life extends beyond birth. In the social environment, there as many grounds for abortions depending on the acceptable values adopted by a particular society. A number of pregnancies are the outcome of non-consensual intercourse or incest, which if left intact could result in outcasts within the social community. As such, the victims often choose abortion over life of the children. Nonetheless, majority of women decide to procure an abortion because the condition would create a social problem that would haunt them in the rest of their lives. Sadati et al (2014) noted that some women who have been impregnated in this way feel mentally unprepared to become a parent and rear a child whom they cannot cater their needs due to young motherhood age or irresponsible father. Many schooling women in secondary and tertiary education facilities, for instance, may conceive and must decide between proceeding with the studies so that they would have better economic outcomes in the future by a good job or abandoning the school to bring up a baby. Yet, young couples who start a family and might want to create a solid financial base before having a baby may opt for abortion. As such, any pregnancy early in such a life is viewed as unwanted due to the emotional and financial demands they might trigger on the couple and may be terminated for purposes of long-term goals. Sometimes individuals may have baby from a casual intercourse by someone they know very little about and have no marriage or long-term relationship agenda on the table. Abortion would then come in to end the casual affair (Sadati et al, 2014). However, even in more stable relationships, the women may seek abortion because the woman believes her social status is incompatible with that of the man. Lastly, technology is increasingly enabling more women to access abortion services virtually, especially though video conferencing with physicians who can advise when abortion is necessary and the available options and dispatch them online. In addition, abnormality screening devices may increase abortion where it diagnoses conditions which cannot be corrected on the baby such as mental retardation or material injury to the spine (Sadati et al, 2014). However, positive outcomes of the screenings of unborn baby may reduce chances of abortion, especially among married couples. References Kaygusuz, I., Simavli, S.A., Eser, A., Inegöl, G. I., Yüksel, S., Iltemir, D., Zehra, C., & Kafali, H., (2014). Effects of oral hormone replacement therapy on mean platelet volume in postmenopausal women. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, 44(6), 980-984. Sadati, K.A., Tabei, S.Z., Salehzadeh, H., Hemmati, S., & Varzandeh, S., (2014). Psychosocial and demographic factors influencing induced abortion. Journal of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, 11, 4. Read More