Hormone Therapy

Hormone Therapy

“Hormone therapy remains first-line therapy
for management of bothersome vasomotor symptoms,
and the benefits typically outweigh the risks for…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Hormone (Replacement) Therapy H(R)T
  • Hormone Medicines
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Hormones
  • Medicines for Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  • Menopause Hormone Medicines
  • Menopause Medicines

Date

What can it be important to be clear about with hormone therapy (HT) information?

It can be important to be clear about the date of all information including the date of HT information, because this information may have been updated.

Symptoms or Chronic Conditions

What can it also be important to be clear about with HT information?

It can also be important to be clear about whether HT information is about the use of HT for the management of menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness or for the prevention of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Definition

What is hormone therapy (HT) of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)?

DotS the definition of HT may vary.

In Glossary of Terms: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)/ Hormone Therapy (HT), updated April 2026, the Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:

“MHT also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or hormone therapy (HT) refers to hormones prescribed to help oestrogen deficiency. This is most commonly prescribed for women around the time of menopause to relieve menopausal symptoms and to prevent osteoporosis. Women with other causes of oestrogen deficiency (such as pituitary gland problems) may also be prescribed hormone therapy”.2

In Hormone Therapy the (United States) Menopause Society’s (formerly the North American Menopause Society) definition is:

“Hormone therapies (HT), sometimes mistakenly called hormone replacement therapy, are the prescription drugs used most often to treat menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), which includes vaginal dryness after menopause”.3

Hormone TherapyOn page four of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 2. What Is MHT? the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024, the IMS’s definition is:

“MHT supplements the hormones your body stops making after menopause. These hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, are crucial for managing menopause symptoms and protecting your health.

  • Estrogen: The main hormone used in MHT. It helps reduce hot flushes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness
  • Progesterone: This is given to women who still have a uterus (womb). It helps protect the womb lining from growing too much when taking estrogen”.4

Contraceptive or Not

Is HT a contraceptive?

No. On page five in Contraception for Woman Over 40: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) the (British) Women’s Health Concern (WHC) note:

“It is important to realise that HRT is not a method of contraception”.5

Effective or Not

How effective is HT?

In International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause: 4a. Vasomotor Symptoms/Menopause Hormone Therapy, dated 23 December 2025, the authors include:

  • “MHT is the most effective treatment for VMS. Where available, it should therefore be offered to women with bothersome VMS who do not have significant contraindications or are not MHT averse. ⨁⨁⨁⨁ A
  • When used for the treatment of VMS, MHT is typically recommended to women younger than 60 years old or within 10 years of menopause after a full evaluation of benefits and risks. ⨁⨁⨁⨁ A”.6

Types

Are there many types of HT or hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

On page one in HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens, reviewed May 2026, the Women’s Health Concern (the patient arm of the British Menopause Society) explain:

“Many types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) are available and there is no one type, dose or regimen that suits all women. It is important to understand which hormones are used, and why and how they are used, so that for each woman who chooses to take HRT, the treatment is individualised to best suit her needs. This should take into account symptoms, medical history, period pattern (if present) and current national and international recommendations and guidelines”.7

Benefits and Risks

What are the benefits and risks of HT?

What does the (United States) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) note about deciding to use HT?

In Menopause: Hormone Therapy – What Is Hormone Therapy for Menopause? the FDA note:

“Menopause hormone therapy is not for everyone. Like all medicines, hormone therapy has benefits and risks. Talk with your health care provider about hormone therapy. If you decide to use hormone therapy, use it at the lowest dose that helps. Also use hormones for the shortest time that you need them”.8

In Hormone Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions – Who Should Not Use Hormone Therapy? the Menopause Society also note:

“Hormone therapy is not a good choice for every woman. For some, the risks outweigh the benefits, so careful consideration with a healthcare professional is advised. In general, women who have breast cancer, uterine cancer, unexplained uterine bleeding, liver disease, a history of blood clots, and cardiovascular disease should not use hormone therapy”.9

U.S. Menopausal Hormone Therapy Labeling To Be Updated, November 2025

In the United States (U.S.) is menopausal hormone therapy labeling to be updated?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release HHS Advances Women’s Health, Removes Misleading FDA Warnings on Hormone Replacement Therapy, dated 10 November 2025, elaborates on:

“The FDA is initiating removal of the boxed warnings following a comprehensive review of the scientific literature, an expert panel in July, and a public comment period. The agency is working with companies to update language in product labeling to remove references to risks of cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and probable dementia. The FDA is not seeking to remove the boxed warning for endometrial cancer for systemic estrogen-alone products”.10

Where may I find Links related to U.S. menopausal hormone therapy labeling to be updated?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

U.S. Menopausal Hormone Therapy Labeling To Be Updated, 10 November 2025

Health Care Provider

What if I to choose to use HT?

In Menopausal Symptom Treatments: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:

“When using MHT, your doctor will probably suggest you:

  • ‘Start low’ (start with a low dose)
  • ‘Go slow’ (take some time to let the medicine work before increasing the dose)
  • ‘Review often’ (review your dose with your doctor once each year)”.11

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hormone Therapy?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. ACOG Expands Recommendations for Management of Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  2. Bleeding on HRT: What’s Normal and What’s Not
  3. Busting Brain Myths: The Evolving Story of Menopause Hormone Therapy and Cognitive Health
  4. Can HRT Stop Your Periods?
  5. Can You Have HRT If You Are Overweight?
  6. Can You Have HRT If You Have Had A Clot?
  7. Can You Have HRT With Uterine Fibroids
  8. Can You Start HRT After 60? What the Evidence Shows
  9. Can’t Get Your HRT Patches? What To Do and What To Avoid
  10. Celebrating the Removal But Cautioning the Removal of All Warnings on HRT
  11. Compounded Hormone Treatments: Separating the Myths From the Evidence | Dr Louise Newson Live Q&A
  12. Contraception for the Woman Over the Age of 40: Hormone Replacement Therapy
  13. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  14. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  15. Does HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) Increase Breast Cancer Risk?
  16. Does MHT Prevent or Treat Cognitive Decline? Recent Data Converge on An Answer
  17. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: FDA Decision on MHT Warnings – A Live EMAS Roundtable
  18. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Management
  19. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Menopause In Cancer Survivors: Managing Complex Care
  20. Epilepsy, the Menopause and HRT
  21. Estrogen: Separating Fear From Fact: Dr Avrum Bluming
  22. FDA Grand Rounds: FDA Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Labeling: Historical Context & Recent Changes
  23. FDA Removes Black Box Warning on HRT- What Does That Mean for the UK
  24. Fact Sheet: FDA Initiates Removal of “Black Box” Warnings From Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy Products
  25. Find A Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  26. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  27. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  28. Finding the Right Hormone Treatments (HRT): Types, Doses and What Works
  29. HHS Advances Women’s Health, Removes Misleading FDA Warnings on Hormone Replacement Therapy
  30. HRT Questions Answered
  31. HRT Types and Doses | Dr Louise Newson
  32. HRT and the Likelihood of Some Medical Conditions. A Discussion Aid for GPs and Patients. Menopause: Identification and Management (NICE Guideline NG23)
  33. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  34. HRT, Breast Cancer and the Real Risks of Not Taking Hormones
  35. HRT, Misinformation and Navigating the Menopause Media Minefield With Kaye Adams
  36. HRT: How To Find the Right Dose & Type | Dr Louise Newson
  37. Healthy Menopause: EMAS 2026 Framework for Precision, Digital, and Interdisciplinary Midlife Health
    Menopause News 2026 What’s Hot
  38. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  39. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): A Summary
  40. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks
  41. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  42. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen
  43. Hormone Therapy
  44. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  45. Hormone Therapy Myths: Muscle, Bone Health & Aging After 40
  46. Hormone Therapy SafetyHormone Therapy
  47. Hormone Therapy Use for Menopause Declines Despite Proven Benefits, Study Finds
  48. How India Is Waking Up To Hormone Health Sanjith Shetty
  49. How Misread WHI Data Reshaped Menopause Care and Training
  50. How Should You Come Off Your HRT?
  51. How To Use Gel – Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  52. How To Use Patches – Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  53. How To Use Vaginal Oestrogen Cream – Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  54. How To Use Vaginal Pessaries – Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  55. How Vaginal Hormones Can Transform the Health of Women
  56. IMS Statement: US HHS Revises Black Box Warning for Menopause Hormone Therapy [International Menopause Society]
  57. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  58. Initiation of Hormone Therapy After Age 65 Remains Risky but Still Works for Some Women
  59. Let’s Break It Down: What Does “Evidence-Based” Actually Mean?
  60. Management of Unscheduled Bleeding on HRT
  61. Management of Unscheduled Bleeding on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  62. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  63. Menopause Care After Breast Cancer | Dr Louise Newson
  64. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  65. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  66. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  67. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
    Hormone Therapy
  68. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Hormone Therapy
  69. New ACOG Menopause Guidelines 2026: What’s Changing, What Matters & What You Need to Know
  70. New Estradot Conti HRT Available
  71. News From the WHI Study. WHI Responds To FDA Removal of Black Box Warning on Hormonal Therapies
  72. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  73. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  74. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Evidence-Based Management of Vasomotor Symptoms
  75. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  76. Practical HRT Tips | Dr Louise Newson
  77. Progestin Sensitivity / Progesterone Intolerance
  78. Pros and Cons of HRT Patches
  79. Reactions To FDA’s Boxed Warning Removals for Menopausal Hormone Therapy [+ Videos]
  80. Testosterone Use In Menopausal Women
  81. The Hormone Confusion That’s Affecting Millions of Women – Sara Hover
  82. The Real Danger To Women Isn’t Hormone Therapy, It’s Bad Science
  83. The Removal of the Black Box on HT: Will Women’s Health Improve? [+ Video]
  84. The Role of Topical Vaginal Oestrogen
  85. The Women’s Health Initiative Trials: Clinical Messages
  86. Understanding Hormone Therapy for Menopausal Symptoms
  87. United States Menopausal Hormone Therapy Usage Trends
  88. Update on Menopause Hormone Therapy; Current Indications and Unanswered Questions
  89. Update – Subcutaneous Hormone Implant Therapy
  90. Updated Labeling for Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  91. Video: Hormone Therapy Protects Bone, Heart, Brain Health During Menopause
  92. What Is Low-Dose Estrogen Therapy?
  93. What NO ONE Tells You About Hormone Therapy With Dr. Kelly Casperson
  94. What Types of Vaginal Oestrogens Are There?
  95. When MS Meets Menopause: Is It Time To Rethink HRT?
  96. Why Building Muscle Gets Harder In Midlife (And What Women Need To Know)
  97. Why Understanding Your Hormones Changes Everything
  98. Why You Get An Itch or Thrush on Vaginal Estrogen and What To Do About It
  99. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  100. World Menopause Day 2024: The IMS White Paper: Menopause and MHT In 2024: Addressing the Key Controversies [Multiply Languages]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy: Indications for the Use of Hormone Therapy. 2024:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TMS-statement-on-HT-Misinformation.pdf Accessed: 24 September 2026
  2. HHS Advances Women’s Health, Removes Misleading FDA Warnings on Hormone Replacement Therapy. 10 November 2025. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-advances-womens-health-removes-misleading-fda-warnings-hormone-replacement-therapy.html Accessed: 24 September 2026
  3. Glossary of Terms: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)/ Hormone Therapy (HT). 22 April 2026. Australasian Menopause Society’s https://hub.menopause.org.au/Play?pId=b474d931-428c-4cf7-a80a-74ff4287b33d Accessed: 24 September 2026
  4. Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 24 September 2026
  5. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 2. What Is MHT? 2024:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 24 September 2026
  6. Contraception for Women Over the Age of 40: Hormone Replacement Therapy. Reviewed: December 2025:5. British Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/04-NEW-WHC-FACTSHEET-Contraception-for-women-over-the-age-of-40-DEC2025-A.pdf Accessed: 24 September 2026
  7. Panay, N., Fenton, A., Hamoda, H. et al. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause: 4a. Vasomotor Symptoms/Menopause Hormone Therapy. Dated 23 December 2025 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2025.2585487#abstractAccessed: 24 September 2026
  8. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens. Reviewed: May 2026:1. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt-types-doses-and-regimens/ Accessed: 24 September 2026
  9. Menopause: Hormone Therapy – What Is Hormone Therapy for Menopause? Content Current As of: 14 December 2023. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/WomensHealthTopics/ucm117978.htm Accessed: 24 September 2026
  10. Hormone Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions – Who Should Not Use Hormone Therapy? 2024. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 24 September 2026
  11. Menopausal Symptom Treatments: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT). Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/treatments-for-menopause/ Accessed: 24 September 2026
Topic Last Updated: 04 November 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 24 September 2026

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