Experiencing Hot Flashes and Night Sweats? How Hormone Replacement Therapy Can Help

If you're dealing with hot flashes and night sweats, you're far from alone. About 75% of women experience hot flashes, and as many as 80% of women experience night sweats during perimenopause. Considering that perimenopause can last for years, hot flashes and night sweats can seriously disrupt your daily life and sleep patterns. 

You can dress in layers, use personal fans, avoid hot flash triggers, and sleep in a cool room — all of these can help a little. However, lifestyle modifications don’t always give you the relief you need.

At Dr. Bamba's Health and Medical Center, Dr. N'Dama Bamba, MD, MPH, offers hormone replacement therapy for women struggling with menopause.

Read on to learn more about hormone replacement therapy and how it can help with hot flashes and night sweats.

Get the scoop on hot flashes and night sweats

Hot flashes and night sweats are sudden feelings of intense heat that often lead to sweating and discomfort. Your skin might redden, and once the hot flashes pass, your sweat-soaked shirt can leave you feeling chilled. 

They can occur at any time, but when they happen at night, they’re called night sweats. 

Hot flashes and night sweats aren’t minor inconveniences. They can disrupt you at work, make you feel uncomfortable, and contribute to feeling self-conscious. Night sweats can interrupt your sleep and leave you feeling exhausted. Chronic sleep interruptions can add to your sleep debt.

These symptoms are triggered by hormonal changes, particularly the decline in estrogen levels during perimenopause. However, certain foods and activities can also trigger them. These include eating spicy food, drinking hot beverages, experiencing hot weather, sleeping in a warm room, and experiencing stress. 

How hormone replacement therapy works

Hormone replacement therapy works by replenishing the estrogen your body is no longer producing. The goal of hormone replacement therapy is to restore this balance and reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes and night sweats. 

The best part is that hormone replacement therapy can also address other menopause symptoms like mood swings, vaginal dryness, and bone loss.

If you’re considering hormone replacement therapy, your first step is to meet with Dr. N'Dama Bamba. During your appointment, she reviews your symptoms, orders bloodwork to check your hormone levels, and takes your medical history.

Once she confirms that hormonal imbalances are the source of your hot flashes, she’ll recommend the right type of hormone replacement therapy for you. This may include creams, pills, oral medications, patches, or implants. 

Implants, which are about the size of a grain of rice, are particularly convenient because they release the just-right-for-you levels of hormones, so there’s no need to fuss with daily pills or creams. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it type of hormone replacement therapy.

As your hormone levels start to regulate, you should see a reduction in perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats.

Is hormone replacement therapy right for you?

Hormone replacement therapy isn’t suitable for everyone. However, for those who are eligible, it can mean relief. 

The bottom line is that, for many women, the benefits outweigh the risks, especially when starting close to the onset of menopause.

Get comprehensive care during this transition

As you transition into perimenopause and menopause, it can be a lot to manage on your own. The good news is that you’re not alone. Dr. Bamba can help you get the care you need, whether that’s hormone replacement therapy, managing chronic conditions, or weight loss plans to help you counter weight gain related to menopause.

Give us a call at 443-493-7760 to speak with our friendly team. You can also click here to schedule your hormone replacement therapy consultation.