Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms

“Treatment of bothersome hot flashes and night sweats
is the principal reason women use HT. Hormone therapy
also treats vaginal dryness and painful sex associated…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms Umbrella include?

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

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Hot Flushes
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  • Menopausal/Menopause Symptoms
  • Night Sweats
  • Osteoporosis
  • Perimenopausal/Perimenopause Symptoms
  • Vaginal Dryness

5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy

What is the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy?

Hormone Therapy and Menopause SymptomsIn World Menopause Day 2024: The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) the IMS elaborate on:

  1. “Who is MHT for?
  2. What is MHT?
  3. When should MHT be started and stopped?
  4. Why is MHT important?
  5. Where can you get MHT?”2

Effective or Not

How effective is hormone therapy (HT) or menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) for the treatment of menopause symptoms?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Considerations for All Women At Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy, published online 30 October 2023, the authors note:

“The most robust menopause Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) support MHT as the most effective treatment to alleviate VMS”.3

What is VMS?

VMS can be an abbreviation for Vasomotor Symptoms or hot flushes and night sweats.

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy: Potential Benefits, published July 2022, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) (now the Menopause Society) elaborate on:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats. If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your daily activities and sleep, HT may improve sleep and fatigue, mood, ability to concentrate, and overall quality of life. Treatment of bothersome hot flashes and night sweats is the principal reason women use HT. Hormone therapy also treats vaginal dryness and painful sex associated with menopause. Hormone therapy keeps your bones strong by preserving bone density and decreasing your risk of osteoporosis and fractures. If preserving bone density is your only concern, and you do not have bothersome hot flashes, other treatments may be recommended instead of HT”.4

Benefits and Risks

Can HT benefits and risks differ for different women?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy: Potential Risks the NAMS also note:

“As with all medications, HT is associated with some potential risks. For healthy women with bothersome hot flashes aged younger than 60 years or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits of HT generally outweigh the risks”.5

Hormone Therapy and Menopause SymptomsOn page seven of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 4. Why Is MHT Important? What Are the Risks? the IMS’s Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024, the IMS explain:

“While MHT offers many benefits, there are some small risks:

  • Breast cancer: There is a slight increase in risk, especially with long-term use
  • Blood clots: This risk is higher with certain forms of MHT, like tablets
  • Stroke: Older women or those with certain health conditions may be at higher risk

It’s important to have a personalized discussion with your healthcare professional to understand how these risks apply to you”.6

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 one of the recommendations is:


Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms

  • “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. Discussions with women should also cover aspects such as when to consider stopping HRT and how this can be done (by gradually reducing the dose of HRT). No arbitrary limits should be set on age or duration of HRT intake”.7

Health Care Provider

What if I choose to use HT for my menopause symptoms?

If you choose to use HT for your menopause symptoms, it may be in your best interest to also choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy the NAMS explain:

“Every woman is different, and you will decide about whether to use HT based on the severity of your symptoms, your personal and family health history, and your own beliefs about menopause treatments. Your healthcare professional will be able to help you with your decision”.8

Health Topics A-Z

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

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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New or Updated

  1. 8 Myths and Truths About Menopausal Hot Flashes
  2. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  3. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  4. BMS Statement on Testosterone
  5. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  6. BMS TV: HRT and Bleeding
  7. BMS TV: HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits
  8. BMS TV: HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer
  9. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  10. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  11. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  12. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  13. Can You Have HRT If You Are Overweight?
  14. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  15. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  16. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  17. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit [13 January 2024]
  18. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  19. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  20. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Impact of Estrogen Deficiency on Quality of Life In Asia and the Role of Continuous Combined MHT In Treatment (EN)
  21. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  22. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  23. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  24. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  25. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  26. First Symptoms of Menopause
  27. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  28. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  29. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  30. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  31. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Continuous Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Tablets, Capsules and Patches
  32. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Oestrogen Tablets, Patches, Gel and Spray
  33. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Sequential Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Tablets and Patches
  34. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  35. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Tibolone
  36. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  37. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Utrogestan (Micronised Progesterone)
  38. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen
  39. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen – About Vaginal Oestrogen
  40. 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]
  41. Hot Flashes
  42. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  43. 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
  44. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP] [Other Languages and Formats]
  45. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  46. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  47. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  48. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  49. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  50. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  51. Menopause
  52. Menopause
  53. Menopause
  54. Menopause
    Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms
  55. Menopause & Hormones: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
  56. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  57. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  58. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  59. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  60. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  61. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  62. Menopause Signs and Symptoms
  63. Menopause Symptoms and Relief
  64. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  65. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  66. Menopause and HRT [Re: Breast Cancer Risk]
  67. Menopause and HRT: Fact and Fiction
  68. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms
  69. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] [07 November 2024]
  70. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  71. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  73. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  74. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  75. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  76. Perimenopause
    Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms
  77. Perimenopause
  78. Perimenopause
  79. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  80. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  81. Q&A: At 20 Years, WHI Emphasizes Personalized Postmenopausal Care, Shared Decision-Making
  82. Shedding Light on the Menopause Experience and Demystifying Treatment
  83. Summary of BMS Response To NICE Menopause Guidance
  84. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  85. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
    Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms
  86. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  87. Tibolone As Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  88. Types of Hormone Therapy
  89. Vaginal Dryness
  90. Updated 2024 NICE Menopause Guidance Summary
  91. Updated BMS Guidelines on Unscheduled Bleeding on HRT
  92. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It?
  93. Vaginal Dryness: What To Do About It
  94. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  95. What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Menopause? And Which Can Hormone Therapy Treat?
  96. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  97. Which Type of HRT Is Recommended If You Are Overweight?
  98. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]
  99. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women
  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. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 09 March 2025
  2. World Menopause Day 2024. 2024. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 09 March 2025
  3. 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 First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 09 March 2025
  4. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 09 March 2025
  5. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 09 March 2025
  6. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 4. Why Is MHT Important? What Are the Risks? 2024:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 09 March 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 2022:2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 09 March 2025
  8. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 09 March 2025
Topic Last Updated: 09 March 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 09 March 2025

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