Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms

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 Use: Potential Benefits, published February 2025, the Menopause Society (formerly the North American 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, as well as some urinary symptoms such as increased urinary frequency, urgency. 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 Menopause Society 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 Menopause Society 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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Links

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New or Updated

  1. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  2. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  3. BMS Statement on Testosterone
  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. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  9. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  10. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  11. Can You Have HRT If You Are Overweight? [Video]
  12. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit [13 January 2024]
  14. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  15. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  16. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  17. FDA Expert Panel on Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women
  18. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  19. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  20. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  21. First Symptoms of Menopause
  22. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  23. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  24. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  25. HRT, Misinformation and Navigating the Menopause Media Minefield With Kaye Adams [16 June 2025]
  26. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  27. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  28. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  29. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  30. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Continuous Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Tablets, Capsules and Patches
  31. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Oestrogen Tablets, Patches, Gel and Spray
  32. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Sequential Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Tablets and Patches
  33. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  34. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Tibolone
  35. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  36. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Utrogestan (Micronised Progesterone)
  37. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen
  38. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen – About Vaginal Oestrogen
  39. 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]
  40. Hot Flashes
  41. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  42. How Vaginal Hormones Can Transform Lives | The Dr Louise Newson Podcast
  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. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  46. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  47. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  48. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  49. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  50. Menopause
  51. Menopause
  52. Menopause
    Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms
  53. Menopause & Hormones: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
  54. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  55. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  56. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  57. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  58. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  59. Menopause Signs and Symptoms
  60. Menopause Symptoms and Relief
  61. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  62. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  63. Menopause and HRT [Re: Breast Cancer Risk]
  64. Menopause and HRT: Fact and Fiction
  65. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms
  66. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] [07 November 2024]
  67. Monitoring Menopause Symptoms
  68. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  69. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  70. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
  71. Perimenopause
    Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms
  72. Perimenopause
  73. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  74. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  75. Q&A: At 20 Years, WHI Emphasizes Personalized Postmenopausal Care, Shared Decision-Making
  76. Shedding Light on the Menopause Experience and Demystifying Treatment
  77. Summary of BMS Response To NICE Menopause Guidance
  78. Surprising Menopause Symptoms | Dr Louise Newson Live
  79. Surprising Menopause Symptoms Q&A | Dr Louise Newson
  80. Surprising Menopause Symptoms Revisited | Dr Louise Newson
  81. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  82. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
    Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms
  83. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  84. Tibolone As Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  85. Types of Hormone Therapy
  86. Updated 2024 NICE Menopause Guidance Summary
  87. Updated BMS Guidelines on Unscheduled Bleeding on HRT
  88. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It?
  89. Webinars: Symposia – What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  90. Webinars: The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  91. What Types of Vaginal Oestrogens Are There?
  92. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  93. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  94. What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Menopause? And Which Can Hormone Therapy Treat?
  95. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  96. Which Type of HRT Is Recommended If You Are Overweight?
  97. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  98. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women – The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  99. Hormone Therapy and Menopause Symptoms 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. 2025:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/MenoNote-Deciding-About-HT-2025.pdf Accessed: 03 October 2025
  2. World Menopause Day 2024. 2024. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day-2024/?v=7885444af42e Accessed: 03 October 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: 03 October 2025
  4. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2025:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/MenoNote-Deciding-About-HT-2025.pdf Accessed: 03 October 2025
  5. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks. 2025:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/MenoNote-Deciding-About-HT-2025.pdf Accessed: 03 October 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: 03 October 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: 03 October 2025
  8. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use. 2025:1. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/default-document-library/MenoNote-Deciding-About-HT-2025.pdf Accessed: 03 October 2025
Topic Last Updated: 03 October 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 03 October 2025

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