Good Example Of Essay On The Limitations And Strengths For Hormone Replacement Therapy

Introduction

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) application in advanced nursing practice has raised controversies. Different opinions propose while others oppose the supplement of natural hormones. The HRT has limitations and strengths that require consideration before prescription. In reference to the scenario of a patient requesting the HRT at a community health clinic, as an advanced practice nurse, I have to weigh the limitations and strengths of HRT before the choice. The paper discusses the limitations and strengths of hormone replacement therapy in reference to the case study at hand in choosing the hormone replacement therapy or not.

Limitations of hormone replacement therapy

There are limitations in the prescription of the HRT to patients because of the underlying risks. Female using HRT have the danger of suffering from breast cancer. The combination of estrogen and progestin causes the breast of women in menopause to have dense mammograms (Arcangelo and Peterson, 2013). Dense mammograms raise the risks of breast cancer depending on the client’s age, dosage and the kind of estrogen used. Conversely, aging men also have health risks when they end up administered with testosterone supplements when treating sexual dysfunction. The testosterone supplement in men causes the stimulation of the growth of prostrate tissue that affects the normal urination. According to Holloway (2010), other adverse effects of HRT in male includes low sperm counts and sleep disorders. In accordance with the scenario of the patient requesting for an HRT prescription, as an advanced practice nurse, I have to consider the underlying risks before taking the treatment procedures.
Strengths of Hormonal replacement therapy The prescription of HRT in patients has some strength that will cause an advanced practice nurse to choose it. Firstly, in aging women suffering from menopause symptoms, systemic estrogen administration relieves the conditions of night sweats and hot flashes (Arcangelo and Peterson, 2013). Other symptoms that the systematic estrogen reduces are itching and dryness. As a nurse at a community health clinic, I will check on the severity of the symptoms. If the client’s menopausal symptoms pose threat to her life, the HRT will end up prescribed. In male suffering from erectile dysfunction, testosterone supplement will cause benefit of restoring the sexual function by increasing their sex drive. Erectile dysfunction increases with an increase in age and has a connection with the patient’s mental health. There are high chances for the health of males suffering from erectile dysfunction to deteriorate in their health condition. Holloway (2010) argues that it is of benefits to prescribe testosterone supplements to aging men to increase sexual arousal and improve mental health thus preventing dementia. Additionally, HRT prescription in male prevents bone loss and contributes to increase in energy levels.

Conclusion

Conclusively, I would support the patient’s request for the prescription of hormone replacement therapy. The strength for choosing HRT outweighs the limitations in improving the health of the patient. In female, the menopausal symptoms like itching and hot flashes will end up treated using systematic estrogen. Conversely, in aging males, the problem of erectile dysfunction will turn up dealt with by the administration of the testosterone supplements. Additionally, HRT in male will lead to increased energy levels and prevention of energy levels. In consideration of the patient’s age, dosage, gender and severity of the symptoms, I will choose HRT as a treatment procedure as an advanced practice nurse at a community health clinic.

References

Arcangelo, V. P., & Peterson, A. M. (Eds.). (2013). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (3rd ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Chapter 56, “Menopause and Menopausal Hormone Therapy” (pp. 884–895)
Holloway, D. (2010). Clinical update on hormone replacement therapy. British Journal of Nursing, 19(8), 496–504