If you’re about to go through menopause, which typically occurs around the age of 51, you may already be dreading the common side effects such as mood swings and hot flashes. Along with these common side effects, you may also experience issues with your bones and joints.

While problems with your bones and joints may not be as apparent, going through menopause will definitely have an impact on them. These issues are due to the fact that you tend to lose a lot of estrogen during that period of time. This is especially dangerous for someone who is at high risk of osteoporosis.

If you are about to go through menopause, there’s a treatment option for you: estrogen hormone replacement therapy. This treatment can help prevent osteoporosis as a whole or treat it if it does develop.

If you are interested in the hormone replacement therapy, you must first qualify as a good candidate. Estrogen replacement therapy is typically fine for most women, but if you have breast or uterine cancer, history of blood clots, or liver disease you should avoid it. Estrogen replacement therapy isn’t good for anyone who is pre-menopausal, nor should it be an option for hormone therapy for men.

Typically when someone takes estrogen as a form of hormone replacement therapy, they will also be administered progesterone. If someone were to take estrogen alone, they would have a greater risk of developing uterine cancer. This is why both progesterone and estrogen must be taken together. However, if you have had your uterus removed or were born without one you can take estrogen without progesterone.

Hormone replacement therapy should be started during early menopause. However, many doctors believe that estrogen can be taken more than a decade after menopause because they feel that the bone-preserving benefits are still accessible. The therapy will usually be administered as estrogen supplements or as a skin patch, so there’s no need to worry about surgeries. The hormone supplements are typically taken daily, but ask your doctor for specific dosage information.