Winona provides cream with estrogen, progesterone, or estrogen + progesterone. Your unique needs will dictate which cream your physician will prescribe. Most women taking estrogen are also prescribed progesterone. If you have a uterus, it's important to take progesterone alongside estrogen to mitigate the risk of overgrowth of uterine cells, which can lead to cancer. If you no longer have a uterus, it’s generally considered safe to take estrogen alone. If you need DHEA, you’ll be prescribed a capsule, as Winona does not offer DHEA in cream form.
On average, women reach menopause at 51 years old, and perimenopause symptoms can manifest 7-10 years prior. Patients are encouraged to start HRT as soon as they begin to experience uncomfortable symptoms. That way, they’ll benefit from symptom relief before their quality of life is compromised. It's recommended that women start HRT within 10 years of having gone through menopause and before they reach age 60. After age 60, the potential risks of HRT can start to outweigh the benefits. We take patient safety very seriously, so Winona does not prescribe HRT for women 60 and older.
On average, women experience menopause at 51 years old, and perimenopause symptoms can manifest 7-10 years prior. Patients are encouraged to start HRT as soon as they begin to experience uncomfortable symptoms.
For safety reasons, it's recommended that women start HRT within 10 years of having gone through menopause and before they reach age 60. We take patient safety very seriously, so Winona does not prescribe HRT for women 60 and older.DHEA is considered a "prohormone" or a hormone precursor and is used to increase the levels of estrogen and testosterone in the body that decline during the menopause transition. Because DHEA isn't water soluble and isn't absorbed well by the skin, it's most effective when taken orally. This is why Winona only prescribes DHEA in the form of 25 mg or 50 mg oral capsules.
For appropriately screened patients that start HRT before age 60, but after reaching menopause, HRT can improve both short-term and long-term health. Short-term benefits can include a reduction of hot flashes and night sweats, improvement in mood and sleep, decreased joint pain, less brain fog, and overall feelings of well-being. Long-term benefits can include a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and some forms of cancer. HRT is also beneficial for vaginal and urinary health, as it helps to prevent dryness, painful sex, incontinence, and the incidence of urinary tract infections.
Smoking is not a contraindication to using HRT, but we strongly recommend that you stop smoking to significantly improve your overall health.
As long as you don't have any other contraindications or underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, people who smoke can safely take HRT.
There is often confusion surrounding the use of HRT in people who smoke, because combination birth control pills are contraindicated for smokers over 35 years old. Smoking cigarettes while using hormonal birth control raises the risk of adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. Using HRT to control menopause-related symptoms is acceptable because of the types of hormones used and the relative low dose of the hormones. Choosing a transdermal option for administering HRT, such as creams and patches on the skin, decreases the risk even further.