Many women in menopause are confused and even reject the hormone therapy recommended by their doctors. Today, let’s understand why we need hormone supplementation and what is the relationship between this hormone and our menopausal symptoms? Estrogen has a profound impact on women’s bodies. First of all, we should clarify that this hormone is not another hormone. If we compare women to flowers, then estrogen is like rain, which is necessary for the flowers to bloom. Estrogen not only promotes the development of the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, but also stimulates the endometrium to thicken and produce menstruation; at the same time, estrogen also affects the endocrine system and cardiovascular system of the human body, participates in lipid metabolism and glucose metabolism, and even promotes the growth and maturation of bones. Women’s charming and graceful body and smooth and tender skin are all related to estrogen (Figure 1). It can be said that the influence of estrogen in the female body is profound. (Figure 1) Most of the estrogen in women’s bodies is secreted by the follicles in the ovaries. When women enter menopause, their follicles are either exhausted or they lose their response to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH, a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, which allows follicles to develop and mature normally, allowing mature follicles to secrete estrogen and achieve normal ovulation) and no longer develop and secrete estrogen. As a result, the level of estrogen in women’s body decreases and the flowers begin to wither, resulting in menopausal symptoms: (1) menstrual changes, which in the early stage are manifested as prolonged menstrual cycles, sometimes more and sometimes less menstruation, and finally menopause; (2) vasodilatory symptoms, which are manifested as hot flashes, flushing and sweating; (3) genitourinary tract symptoms, which are manifested as vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, etc.; (4) in the distant stage, which also cause osteoporosis and fractures, increased blood lipids, cardiovascular diseases, and aging, (4) in the long term, it can also cause osteoporosis and fractures, elevated blood lipids and cardiovascular disease, dementia, etc. This is the most simple truth. After menopausal women use hormone therapy, they can effectively improve their symptoms, improve their quality of life, and prevent some diseases related to the distant postmenopausal period. But can hormone therapy make you fat or get breast cancer? Please see the next article “Correcting the prejudices and misconceptions about hormone replacement therapy during menopause”.