Hormone Therapy and Estrogen Therapy

“If you do not have a uterus,
you can take estrogen alone,
without a progestogen”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy and Estrogen Therapy Umbrella include?

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

  • Estrogen Alone
  • Estrogen Therapy (ET)
  • Estrogen-Alone HRT/MHT
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  • Oestrogen-Only HRT
  • Oestrogen-Only Therapy/Oestrogen Only Therapy
  • Systemic ET

Estrogen

What is estrogen?

On page four in 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 explain:

  • “Estrogen: The main hormone used in MHT. It helps reduce hot flushes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness”.2

Hormone Therapy and Estrogen Therapy

No Uterus

Who may choose to use estrogen therapy (ET)?

On page two in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Estrogen Alone or Estrogen Plus Progestogen, published July 2022, the North American Menopause Society (now the Menopause Society) note:

“If you do not have a uterus, you can take estrogen alone, without a progestogen”.3

On page one in HRT: Which HRT? Oestrogen Alone, published November 2021, the (British) Women’s Health Concern elaborate on:

“The core ingredient of all forms of HRT is oestrogen. Oestrogen relieves hot flushes and the other menopausal symptoms and maintains bone strength. This is suitable for women who have had a total hysterectomy, where the whole womb including its neck (cervix) has been removed. Oestrogen alone can be taken as a daily tablet, a weekly or twice weekly patch, a daily gel or an implant. Varying doses of oestrogen are available”.4

Formulations and Options

What are some ET formulations and options?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – MHT Formulations and Options: Estrogen Therapy, published online 30 October 2023, the authors elaborate on:

“Estrogen can be used systemically as oral conjugated equine estrogen, estradiol valerate, estrone sulfate or micronized estradiol; transdermal estradiol (patches, gels, spray); a vaginal estradiol ring; and implanted estradiol pellets (mostly not regulator-approved). Vaginal pessaries and creams are used to treat urogenital symptoms”.5

Venous Thromboembolic Disease

What is the association between venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) and ET?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Considerations for All Women At Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy the authors include:

  • “Oral estrogen is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE), although the absolute risk is small for women aged <60 years. The risk is lower/not at all with transdermal estradiol, which is preferred for women at increased risk of VTE (i.e. smokers, obese women and diabetic women)”.6

Health Care Provider

If I choose to use ET what are my risks?

Different women who choose to use ET can have different risks. It may therefore be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

If I choose to use estrogen plus progestogen (EPT) what are my risks?

Different women who choose to use EPT can have different risks. It may therefore be in your best interest to also choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

On page two in the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

  • “The decision whether to take HRT, the dose and duration of its use should be made on an individualised basis after discussing the benefits and risks with each patient. This should be considered in the context of the overall benefits obtained from using HRT including symptom control and improving quality of life as well as considering the bone and cardiovascular benefits associated with HRT use”.7

In Hormone Therapy: Is Hormone Therapy Safe? the Menopause Society explain:

“You and your healthcare professional need to balance your individual benefits and risks based on your medical history. For example, if you don’t have a uterus and can take ET alone, your risks are different from those women who still have a uterus and must use EPT to protect against uterine cancer”.8

On page three in Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 2. Who Is MHT For? Women With Existing Medical Conditions the IMS note:

“Women with certain medical histories such as breast cancer and blood clots should talk to their healthcare professional about whether MHT is safe for them. Deciding to use MHT is a personal choice and should involve discussions about the benefits and risks with a healthcare professional who knows your health history”.9

Health Topics A-Z

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

In Health Topics A-Z on you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy and Estrogen Therapy?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  2. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  3. BMS TV: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  4. BMS TV: HRT and Bleeding
  5. BMS TV: HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits
  6. BMS TV: HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer
  7. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  8. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  9. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  10. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit [13 January 2024]
  11. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  12. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: How To Handle the Daily Practice Challenges When Prescribing Oral MHT (EN)
  13. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens
  14. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens [Video]
  15. Estrogen Dependent Cancers
  16. Estrogen Therapy and Breast Cancer In Randomized Clinical Trials: A Narrative Review
  17. Estrogen: What It Does and 5 Benefits
  18. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  19. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  20. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  21. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  22. HRT
  23. HRT & Menopause Extra
  24. HRT Questions Answered
  25. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  26. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  27. Hormone Replacement Therapy
  28. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  29. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  30. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Oestrogen Tablets, Patches, Gel and Spray
  31. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  32. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  33. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen
  34. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: About Vaginal Oestrogen
  35. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: Common Questions About Vaginal Oestrogen
  36. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: Side Effects of Vaginal Estrogen
  37. Hormone Therapy
  38. Hormone Therapy: Four Things A Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Specialist Wants You To Know [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network. Name Super/CG: Taryn Smith, M.D./Internal Medicine/Mayo Clinic]
  39. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  40. Hot Flashes
  41. Hot Flashes
  42. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  43. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video]
  44. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  45. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?] [Other Languages and Formats]
  46. Management of Perimenopausal and Menopausal Symptoms
  47. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  48. Mayo Clinic Minute: Lifestyle Changes To Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  49. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  50. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  51. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  52. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Women’s Health: An Umbrella Review
  53. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  54. Menopause
  55. Menopause
  56. Menopause
  57. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  58. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  59. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Medication Tracker
    Hormone Therapy and Estrogen Therapy
  60. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  61. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  62. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  63. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  64. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  65. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  66. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  67. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    Hormone Therapy
  68. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] [07 November 2024]
  69. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  70. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  71. Ongoing Individualized Hormone Therapy Appears To Have No Age Limit
  72. Randomized Trials of Estrogen-Alone and Breast Cancer Incidence: A Meta-Analysis
  73. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  74. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  75. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
    Menopause
  76. The Role of Estrogen Therapy As A Protective Factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia In Postmenopausal Women: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature
  77. The Women’s Health Initiative Trials: Clinical Messages
  78. Time for A Balanced Conversation About Menopause
  79. Types of Hormone Therapy
  80. Updated 2024 NICE Menopause Guidance Summary
  81. Updated BMS Guidelines on Unscheduled Bleeding on HRT
  82. Vaginal Dryness
  83. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies [18 October 2024]
  84. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  85. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  86. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – The Women’s Health Initiative – What Can We Believe?
  87. What Are the Benefits and Risks of HRT?
  88. What Types of Vaginal Oestrogens Are There?
  89. Hormone Therapy and Estrogen Therapy World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  90. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women – The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted above?

You may find the Sources at:

Sources

  1. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Estrogen Alone or Estrogen Plus Progestogen. 2022:2. Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 19 April 2025
  2. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: What Is MHT? October 2024:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf?v=8bcc25c96aa5 Accessed: 19 April 2025
  3. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Estrogen Alone or Estrogen Plus Progestogen. 2022:2. Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 19 April 2025
  4. HRT: Which HRT? Oestrogen Alone. November 2021: 1. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/09-WHC-FACTSHEET-HRT-NOV2022-B.pdf Accessed: 19 April 2025
  5. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – MHT Formulations and Options: Estrogen Therapy. Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 19 April 2025
  6. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Considerations for All Women At Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy. Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 19 April 2025
  7. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 19 April 2025
  8. Hormone Therapy: Is Hormone Therapy Safe? Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 19 April 2025
  9. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: What Is MHT? October 2024:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf?v=8bcc25c96aa5 Accessed: 19 April 2025
Topic Last Updated: 19 April 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 19 April 2025

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
/by