Does HRT lift depression? (2023)

How long does HRT take to work for depression?

Several weeks to feel the initial benefits of HRT. Up to three months before the effects are fully realized.

The main benefit of HRT is that it can help relieve most menopause and perimenopause symptoms, including hot flushes, brain fog, joint pains, mood swings and vaginal dryness.

Many women find that they feel calmer, have more energy, are more motivated and generally much happier when they take HRT. Some women also need to take the hormone testosterone which is usually given as a gel but can also be given as an implant.

Depressive and anxiety symptoms also improved with HRT, which is safer and more effective than antidepressants. Even premenopausal younger women with cyclical depression can effectively be treated with HRT as well, provided the determination has been made that the causation is due to hormonal imbalance.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

If your mood changes are related to the perimenopause and menopause, evidence indicates that HRT is better at improving your mood and anxiety than antidepressants. It may be worth a try, even for a short period of time, to see if it helps.

“Falling estrogen and progesterone levels can trigger mood swings that make you less able to cope with things you'd normally let roll off your back,” says Payne. “For some women, these hormonal dips can set off a depressive episode, especially for those who've gone through major depression in the past.”

It is better to start with hormonal treatments such as HRT before antidepressants due to the non-withdrawal aspect.

It may take a few weeks to feel the effects of treatment and there may be some side effects at first. A GP will usually recommend trying treatment for 3 months to see if it helps. If it does not, they may suggest changing your dose, or changing the type of HRT you're taking.

A scientific review of HRT showed it often had the effect of significantly reducing depression, anxiety, and sensitivity, along with feelings of hostility. Additionally, HRT often has the effect of increasing self-esteem and feelings of attractiveness.

By supplementing your body's natural hormone levels, HRT can help you maintain a more youthful body composition. While this effect is particularly evident in men, research suggests that women can also benefit. HRT is also known to help women maintain softer, smoother skin, resulting in a younger look.

Does HRT help mental health?

Hormone Replacement Therapy has been shown to help women who experience depression, anxiety and irritability, combat these symptoms. This is through reinstating hormone levels that are closer to equilibrium, helping to level-out the chemical changes in your brain.

The main benefit of HRT is that it can help relieve most menopausal symptoms, such as: hot flushes. night sweats. mood swings.

Low estrogen levels during this time are likely responsible for many menopause symptoms, like hot flashes and mood changes. Many believe estrogen also plays a role in anxiety during menopause. Many women notice their anxiety symptoms get better after beginning HRT with estrogen for their menopause symptoms.

Its guidance says that oral HRT (but not patches or gels) is linked to a higher risk of developing a blood clot. Women already at higher risk of blood clots (e.g. those who are obese) who are considering HRT may therefore be offered patches or gel rather than tablets.

T3 is the most broadly used thyroid hormone for treatment of depression, in contrast to in endocrine patients where T4 is routinely used for thyroid replacement therapy¹⁷ In early studies, T3 was used as monotherapy for the treatment of depressed patients.

Estrogen is superior to placebo for reproductive-related mood disorders, including postpartum depression and mild depressive disorders during perimenopause. Replication is necessary, especially in moderate to severe levels of major depression. Estrogen may augment antidepressant treatment.

Progesterone: Often called the “relaxation hormone,” progesterone has a calming effect when it is produced in optimal levels. When hormones are off-kilter or when the relaxation hormone is in low supply, it can lead to depression, as well as irritability, anxiety, sleepless nights, and brain fog.

Low dopamine levels make people and animal models less likely to work toward achieving a goal. People with clinical depression often have increased levels of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), an enzyme that breaks down key neurotransmitters, resulting in very low levels of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.

Neurotransmitters in the brain — specifically serotonin, dopamine, or norepinephrine — affect feelings of happiness and pleasure and may be out of balance in people with depression. Antidepressants work to balance these neurotransmitters, mainly serotonin.

“When women are on conventional HRT, which contains a synthetic progestogen, it can cause mood changes, high cholesterol and depression”, says Dr Jan Toledano of The London Hormone Clinic.

Do the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks?

For the majority of women who use HRT for the short-term treatment of symptoms of the menopause, the benefits of treatment are considered to outweigh the risks. The lowest effective HRT dose should be taken, with duration of use depending on the clinical reasons for use.

Doses of estrogen

Sequential transdermal HRT is only available in a medium dose of estrogen and appropriate progestogen. Tablet form continuous combined preparations are available in a range of doses of estrogen; ultra low, low, medium and high, all with appropriate progestogen included.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is medicine used to treat the symptoms of the menopause. It is common to have side effects in the first few months of taking HRT. These usually settle on their own within 6 to 8 weeks. Side effects include weight gain, irregular bleeding, feeling sick (nausea) and skin irritation.

When starting HRT, it's very common to experience some initial side effects or start-up symptoms such as breast tenderness or breast size increase. Some women describe slight nausea, headaches or abdominal bloating. Light erratic bleeding is also quite usual.

Answer. Hormone therapy can be extremely beneficial for bone health purposes for women up to the age of 60 years, and in some circumstances women may continue hormone therapy after this age, depending on their general health, family history and bone density / history of fracture.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can affect weight loss in women. In addition to having less abdominal fat, the same study found that women undergoing HRT were almost one whole point lower on the body mass index (BMI) scale, and they had nearly 3 pounds less of fat mass.

You can usually begin HRT as soon as you start experiencing menopausal symptoms and will not usually need to have any tests first. However, a blood test to measure your hormone levels may be carried out if you're aged 40 to 45.

New research shows that women who have higher levels of the hormone estrogen not only look and feel more beautiful, but they behave more sexually aggressive, too. Estrogen greatly impacts a woman's fertility and has been shown to make women dress and behave more provocatively.

Fortunately, the right type and dose of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (with testosterone for those who need it) can improve brain fog and help you think more clearly.

HRT with estrogen will help to raise serotonin which will likely improve mood, sleep, appetite, and sex drive according to Dr. Gottfried. Estrogen therapy will help with the emotional and physical depressive and/or anxiety problems you may be experiencing.

What are the cons of taking HRT?

Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy

The following risks are associated with HRT: Blood clots in the legs and lungs (similar to the risks associated with taking hormonal birth control) that could result in a stroke. Endometrial cancer if you are taking estrogen-only replacement therapy and you still have your uterus.

Some women find that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) helps with their fatigue. HRT is an effective way of managing menopause symptoms and can improve the overall quality of your life, energy levels and sleep.

Unless you have specific health issues that make extended HRT unadvisable, this is a safe treatment plan that can be continued indefinitely. There are even certain medical conditions that can be prevented with long-term hormone replacement. If in doubt, ask your doctor.

Skin health, sexual and bladder function will all be impacted by lack of estrogen. The skin will become drier and so will the lining of the vagina. The impaired blood supply in these tissues of the vagina, for example, impacts on cell repair, nutrition and sexual response.

It's a feeling of constantly feeling drained, zapping your energy and motivation, and causing issues with concentration and your overall quality of life. Fatigue at this level impacts your emotional and psychological well-being, too. Many women experience symptoms like these while they're going through menopause.

It usually takes a few weeks before you feel the benefits of HRT. It can take up to 3 months to feel the full effects. If you have not felt the benefit of HRT after 4 to 6 months, it may help to try a different type. It can take your body time to get used to HRT.

By supplementing your body's natural hormone levels, HRT can help you maintain a more youthful body composition. While this effect is particularly evident in men, research suggests that women can also benefit. HRT is also known to help women maintain softer, smoother skin, resulting in a younger look.

Some women find that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) helps with their fatigue. HRT is an effective way of managing menopause symptoms and can improve the overall quality of your life, energy levels and sleep.

As with any drug, there are known short-term and usually mild side effects from HRT which may trouble some women, especially in the first few months of use. These may include breast tenderness, leg cramps, nausea, bloating, irritability and depression.

Why do I feel awful on HRT?

Estrogen can give side effects of headache, breast tenderness and mild nausea. These tend to be common when you first start hormone replacement or increase the dose but often settle after a few weeks.

If you are unlucky, you may even find that HRT can make you feel worse before you feel better. Common side effects of oestrogen include bloating, nausea, indigestion, tender breasts, vaginal bleeding and headaches.

"A return of night sweats, flushes, not sleeping and so on is very indicative that your hormones are not quite in balance. I recommend all my patients have a blood test once a year as part of an annual review to see where their oestrogen is at and whether an HRT adjustment is required."

Women wishing to start HRT should carefully discuss the benefits and risks of treatment with their doctor to see what is right for them, taking into account their age, medical history, risk factors and personal preferences.