LAPLACE – River Parishes Hospital recently held a dinner and seminar on Hormone Replacement Therapy at Bull’s Corner Restaurant.

The seminar was presentedby Jacob Oommen, M.D., an OB/GYN on staff at the hospital. Dr. Oommen discussed the pros and cons of taking different types of hormones during menopause- estrogen alone, or estrogen and progesterone.

He explained that, when a woman goes through menapause, her body goes into shock, “It’s like keeping a plant indoors at a temperature of 60-70 degrees; then, putting it outside in 90-degree or 30-degree weather. It will go into shock,” Oommen said.

The lack of estrogen production during menapause causes many women to experience hot flashes, mood swings and severe headaches. Hormones are used to replace some of the estrogen and help stop these conditions.

There are many different types of hormones, and not all hormones are right for each person. Studies have shown that, if women do not take hormones after menapause, their skin, muscles, central nervous system and bones will progressively be affected. Taking hormones is proven to slow down the rate of progression. Potential benefits of taking hormones include, but are not limited to: reducing skin aging and macular degeneration, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, colon cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. It has also been proven to prevent osteoporosis, and tickening of the inner lining of blood vessels causing cardiovascular disease.

For more information about the benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy, call Dr. Oommen at 985-652-8657. River Parishes Hospital is offering several additional seminars for women through their Women’s Services series. To learn about upcoming seminars, call the hospital’s marketing department at 985-653-4247.