Explain how estrogen replacement is a common choice for treating menopause.
January 27, 2020 Comments Off on Explain how estrogen replacement is a common choice for treating menopause. Nursing Assignment helpN.M. is a 46-year-old female with a history of hypertension and a family history of breast cancer. The patient started feeling unwell about one month ago with symptoms of hot flushing, night sweats, and genitourinary symptoms. N.M. reports regular periods, last one month ago, and normal PAPs, except five years ago, where atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) was found. N.M. is reporting symptoms that indicate the beginning of menopause. Hot flushes or flashes, night sweats, and genitourinary symptoms are considered vasomotor instability (Roberts & Hickey, 2016). N.M. appears to be overweight, which can contribute to her hypertension. If N.M. is starting menopause, which typically begins in the mid-forties, considerations need to happen when prescribing medications. Having a family history of breast cancer is an essential factor. Going through menopause means a lesser production of hormones, estrogen, and progesterone. Estrogen replacement is a common choice for treating menopause. A risk factor for developing breast cancer is prolonged exposure to estrogen. On average, a woman experiences menopause for five to eight years (Roberts et al., 2016). Choosing a medication regime that can help prevent breast cancer would be a better option. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are drugs that activate estrogen receptors in some tissues and block them in others. The benefits include protection against osteoporosis, maintenance of the urogenital tract, reduction of LDL cholesterol while avoiding the promotion of breast cancer, uterine cancer, and thromboembolism (Rosenthal, & Burchum, 2018). Serrano et al. found concerning menopausal symptoms, low-dose tamoxifen exhibits a good safety profile and tolerability in pre/perimenopausal women, which is thus reassuring regarding the use of this agent for breast cancer risk reduction (Serrano et al., 2018).