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Marcia Frost

Marcia Frost is a writer covering topics such as travel, food, wine/spirits, health and fitness. She is the content editor for Cocktails and Joints and writes regularly for many on- and offline publications, including "Michigan Avenue," "Gotham," "Aspen Peak," "Los Angeles Confidential" and "Hamptons Magazines." She has a B.A. in journalism from Long Island University.

There has been much controversy in recent years about hormone replacement therapy. The treatment of women with hormones has been proven to dramatically reduce the symptoms of menopause. On the other hand, there have been studies that have shown an increase in conditions such as heart disease and breast cancer with hormone therapy.

Hormone replacement treatment, also known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT, is the administration of estrogen or a combination of estrogen or progesterone.

Women who go through hormone replacement treatment are usually looking for relief of severe symptoms from menopause. These can include hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, cognitive disturbances and anxiety.

A study by the NIH-sponsored Women's Health Initiative showed an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and breast cancer with long term use of hormone replacement treatment. Additional studies of HRT have not been totally conclusive.

In time, symptoms of menopause will naturally disappear without hormone replacement treatment. There are also a number of homeopathic remedies to treat the symptoms.

Hormone replacement treatment has proven useful in controlling women's symptoms and possibly protecting bones from osteoporosis. Its benefits and risks should be weighed carefully by patient and physician.

Menopause can be a very difficult transition for many women. Symptoms of menopause range from hot flashes and mood swings to sleep...

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Hormone Replacement Treatment | eHow