Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) was Right for Sheryl

A patient success story on HRT treatment for retired history teacher, Sheryl Mobley-Brown 

“Women are uniquely made,” says Dr. Sarah Bartlett, gynecologist at the Christ Hospital Health Network, who focuses on women outside of pregnancy. “From their individual chemistry, to their family history, all of this falls into play.”

And this certainly rings true for retired history teacher, Sheryl Mobley-Brown, who is one of Dr. Bartlett’s patients and member of her fan club. 

As a part of her postmenopausal gynecological care, Sheryl receives hormone replacement therapy (HRT), from Dr. Bartlett. HRT can help treat the symptoms and side effects of menopause, perimenopause and postmenopause by using supplemental doses of hormones that have a chemical structure identical to the hormones produced by humans naturally. 

Related: Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Right For Me?

For Sheryl, her family medical history played a large part in her journey with HRT. Her own mother, Sharon Mobley, was on HRT since Sheryl was in college, and she saw and heard first-hand the benefits of this treatment. For her own mom, who had a hysterectomy when she was just 36 years-old, HRT helped her combat symptoms of arthritis as well as keep her cognitive function sharp. 

So when Sheryl became perimenopausal in her early forties and started having trouble keeping up with her daily tasks, she began seeking care. After some trials, Sheryl was prescribed Estrotest (hormone) and Zoloft (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). It didn’t take long for Sheryl to start feeling like herself again. 

In fact, she says, “Upon receiving hormone therapy in my forties, I immediately started sleeping better, hot flashes ended, my cognitive function was so much better, my emotional place was positive again. And with the Estrotest having a small amount of testosterone, it gave me energy and increased my sexual libido.”

These are known as vasomotor symptoms, according to Dr. Bartlett, but HRT can help even further. 

Dr. Bartlett says, “It can also be significantly helpful for bone health, preventing osteoporosis, later in life. Almost all women are at risk for this, when they lose their normal estrogen at the time of menopause.” She goes on to say, “There is also some data which indicates it’s helpful for heart disease and dementia, which is less clear-cut but something to consider.”

As the years have gone on, Sheryl's hormone medications and amounts have changed. She ended up having a hysterectomy and needing additional help with lichens issues and dryness. Dr. Bartlett prescribed her topicals and suppositories, and began to decrease the amount of oral hormones. 

Sheryl is an advocate for her medical well-being, and talks highly and openly of HRT because she believes some women don’t know the helpful options available to them. Simply put, she believes women deserve more. 

“As women, as teachers, we should share information with each other, what works, what doesn't work.” Sheryl feels, “lucky enough to have a doctor who understands my needs and is willing to treat my health as a team approach, while she tries to work within the confines of a male misogynistic medical system.”

If you’d like to know if you are a candidate for HRT, or want to learn more, Dr. Bartlett recommends talking with your doctor or OBGYN. Or, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Bartlett and team at The Christ Hospital, connect with The Christ Hospital ezCare Concierge here.

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