“Are hormones right for me?
Why? What are the benefits?
What are the serious risks and common side effects?”1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy Questions To Ask Umbrella include?

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

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Questions To Ask
  • Hormone Therapy (HT) Questions To Ask
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Questions To Ask
  • Menopause and Hormones Common Questions
  • Menopause and Hormones Questions To Ask Your Doctor

5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)

What are the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) 5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) A Practical Guide?

Hormone Therapy Questions To AskOn page two of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: The 5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) A Practical Guide, the IMS’s Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024, the IMS elaborate on:

“In this leaflet, you will learn about the 5Ws, “Who, What, When, Why and Where”, of MHT to guide you no matter where you are in the world.

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

Questions

What are questions to ask about hormone therapy (HT)?

In Menopause: Medicines To Help You: Important Questions To Ask About Menopause Hormone Medicines the (United States) Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) include:

  • “Are hormones right for me? Why?
  • What are the benefits?
  • What are the serious risks and common side effects?
  • How long should I use hormone therapy?
  • What is the lowest dose that will work for me?
  • Are there any non-hormone medicines that I can take?”3

In Menopause Treatment: Questions For Your Healthcare Provider the (United States) Endocrine Society include:

  • “What do you think are possible triggers for my hot flashes?
  • Are there any lifestyle or dietary interventions that may diminish my symptoms?
  • Should I consider medication for treatment of my symptoms? Hormonal or non-hormonal?
  • If you are interested in hormonal therapy: Am I a good candidate for hormonal therapy, specifically are my cardiovascular and breast cancer risks low?
  • Which lifestyle changes can I make that will decrease my menopause symptoms without medicine?
  • Are there any alternative medicine treatments you would recommend I try for relief of my menopause symptoms?
  • Are there any alternative medicines I should not use because they could interfere with medicines I take?”4

Risk Questions

What are some questions to ask about HT risks?

In Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? If You Take Hormone Therapy, How Can You Reduce Risk? the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Talk to your healthcare professional about these strategies to reduce the risks of menopause hormone therapy:

  • Find the best product type for you. You can take estrogen as a pill or use a patch, gel, vaginal cream, or slow-releasing suppository or ring that you place in your vagina…
  • Reduce the amount of medicine you take…
  • Get regular follow-up care…
  • Make healthy lifestyle choices…

If you still have your uterus and are taking estrogen, you’ll also need to take a progestogen. Your healthcare professional can help you choose the best way to take these hormones based on what works for you and has the fewest side effects”.5

Vaginal Symptoms

Can HT options vary for vaginal symptoms?

In Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? If You Take Hormone Therapy, How Can You Reduce Risk? the Mayo Clinic also note:

“If you have only vaginal menopause symptoms, estrogen in a low-dose vaginal cream, tablet or ring is usually a better choice than an oral pill or a skin patch”.6

Long-Term Use

Hormone Therapy Questions To AskHow long can HT be used for?

On page six of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: The 5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) A Practical Guide – 3. When Should MHT Be Started and Stopped? Long-Term Use the IMS note:

“There is no strict limit on how long you can use MHT, but long-term use may carry certain small risks, such as increased chances of breast cancer or blood clots. Your healthcare professional will help weigh these risks against the benefits based on your personal health history, and you should have at least an annual discussion of this risk : benefit balance”.7

Health Care Provider

How important is it to review treatment options on a regular basis?

In Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? The Bottom Line: Hormone Therapy Isn’t All Good or All Bad the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“As researchers learn more about menopause hormone therapy and other menopause treatments, recommendations may change. But if you have menopause symptoms that disrupt your sleep or get in the way of daily life, it’s worthwhile to talk to your healthcare professional about treatment options.

If you’re already taking menopause hormone therapy, check in with your healthcare professional regularly to reassess your need for treatment”.8

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Sources

  1. Menopause: Medicines To Help You – Important Questions To Ask About Menopause Hormone Medicines. Content Current As of: 22 August 2019. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/ucm118627.htm Accessed: 19 April 2025
  2. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: The 5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) A Practical Guide. 2024: 2-9. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 19 April 2025
  3. Menopause: Medicines To Help You – Important Questions To Ask About Menopause Hormone Medicines. Content Current As of 22 August 2019. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/ucm118627.htm Accessed: 19 April 2025
  4. Menopause Treatment: Questions for Your Healthcare Provider. Last Updated: 24 January 2022. Endocrine Society https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/menopause-treatment Accessed: 19 April 2025
  5. Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? If You Take Hormone Therapy, How Can You Reduce Risk? 18 April 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372 Accessed: 19 April 2025
  6. Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? If You Take Hormone Therapy, How Can You Reduce Risk? 18 April 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372 Accessed: 19 April 2025
  7. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: The 5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) A Practical Guide – 3. When Should MHT Be Started and Stopped? Long-Term Use. 2024:6. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 19 April 2025
  8. Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? Hormone Therapy Isn’t All Good or All Bad. 28 April 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372 Accessed: 19 April 2025
Topic Last Updated: 19 April 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 19 April 2025