As (((Stacey))) said, HRT means hormone replacement therapy and ERT means estrogen replacement therapy. So, ERT is also a type of HRT. Some women find that they do just fine on estrogen only after their surgery, while others find that their symptoms are only relieved once they also add in either progesterone, or testosterone, or both. In the
we often recommend that ladies try to start out just on estrogen, and see which dosage works best for them, before deciding on adding other hormones into the mix. The reason is that it's simpler to figure out whether a particular dosage is better or worse if you're only working with one variable. The exception would be women whose DRs want them on some form of progestin (natural progesterone or synthetic progestin) right from the start, usually because of a history of endo or some 'female' cancers.
There are many, many options when it comes to forms and dosages of HRT - or, for that matter, forms and dosages of estrogen. There are bio-identical HRT's, which are the exact same molecules our ovaries made but in convenient forms delivered either orally, through the skin, under the tongue, as a nasal spray (UK only at this point, I believe), as little pellets that are implanted under the skin, etc.. Then there are the synthetic HRT's, such as Premarin, Estratest, Cenestin and many others, which have been more commonly prescribed because they have been available for a much longer period of time.
My own personal bias is for the bio-identicals - it just makes sense to me that it should be healthier to use something my body is used to having around - and for the transdermal delivery method, because it's kinder to my liver than having to digest them. However, not everyone does best on the form of HRT they would like to use. It's largely a matter of trial and error. If your DR is open to suggestions, I like starting out with an average dose patch, like the Vivelle dot 0.5mg/day, because it's well tolerated by most women and easy to use. Some DRs are starting to get more interested in prescribing the compounded HRT's, and that's a great option, too... though, if you do go that way, I would suggest making sure that if your DR wants you on more than just estrogen, at first you get your hormones compounded in separate creams, capsules, drops or troches, so that you can potentially adjust one ingredient at a time. It may be less expensive to get a mixture, but if that mixture doesn't happen to be exactly right for you, you could end up throwing out the whole thing and starting over - potentially many times
I hope this helps get you thinking about your options... there is tons of great information over on the Hormone Jungle Articles page:
https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/hsl...s=&forumid=174
as well as in the Hormone Jungle section of our Resources directory:
https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/lin...o=browse&cid=3
and, of course, you're welcome to browse the threads in the Hormone Jungle forum to see how others are doing with their HRT's.
Good luck with your surgery!
s,
-Linda
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