Hormone Therapy and Systemic Therapy

“Estrogen is released into the bloodstream
and travels to the organs and tissues where it is needed.
Examples include pills, skin patches, gels, and sprays”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy and Systemic Therapy Umbrella include?

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

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  • Systemic Hormone Therapy
  • Systemic Hormones
  • Systemic Therapy

Definition

What is systemic therapy?

DotS the definition of systemic therapy may vary. In Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy the (United States) Menopause Society’s (formerly the North American Menopause Society) definition is:

  • “Systemic therapy: When hormones are delivered throughout the body via pills, patches, sprays, gels, or a vaginal ring, this is known as systemic therapy. Systemic doses are absorbed into the bloodstream at high-enough levels to have significant effects in widespread areas, which is needed to treat symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes”.2

In Hormone Therapy: Overview – Ways To Take Hormone Therapy? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic’s definition is:

  • “Systemic hormone therapy: Systemic therapy means the product gets into your bloodstream and then travels to the organs and tissues it needs to get to. Examples of systemic products include pills, patches, sprays and gels. These products tend to work for hot flashes, night sweats and most of the common symptoms of menopause”.3

In Menopause Hormone Therapy: Is it Right for You? What Are the Main Types of Menopause Hormone Therapy? the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

  • Whole-body hormone therapy, also called systemic therapy. Systemic estrogen comes as a pill, skin patch, ring, gel, cream or spray. It typically has more estrogen than other hormone therapies. Systemic estrogen is absorbed by the whole body and can be used to treat many common symptoms of menopause”.4

Systemic Hormones

What do systemic hormones include?

In Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy the Menopause Society explain:

“Systemic hormones include estrogens, either the same or similar to the estrogens the body produces naturally, and progestogens, which include progesterone — the progestogen the body produces naturally — or a similar compound”.5

Benefits and Risks

What are some benefits and risks of systemic therapy?

In Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy the Menopause Society note:

“Systemic hormones—very effective for hot flashes—have other benefits, such as protecting bones. They also carry risks, such as blood clots and breast cancer. The breast cancer risk usually doesn’t rise until after about 5 years with estrogen plus progestogen therapy (EPT) or after 7 years with estrogen alone”.6

Health Care Provider

What if I choose to use systemic therapy?

In Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:

“It’s important to review the MHT with your doctor each year”.7

Health Topics A-Z

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

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy and Systemic Hormone 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. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  2. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  3. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  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 Hormones: Are They Safer?
  9. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  10. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
  11. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  12. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  13. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  14. Does Every Woman NEED Systemic HRT
  15. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  16. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  17. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  18. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  19. HRT Questions Answered
  20. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  21. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  22. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  23. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  24. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  25. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  26. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy
  27. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  28. Hot Flashes
  29. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  30. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  31. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  32. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  33. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  34. Menopause
  35. Menopause
  36. Menopause
  37. Menopause
  38. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  39. Menopause Management Options: Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  40. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  41. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  42. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  43. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    Hormone Therapy and Systemic Therapy
  44. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] [07 November 2024]
  45. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  46. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  47. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  48. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  49. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  50. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
  51. Updated 2024 NICE Menopause Guidance Summary
  52. Updated BMS Guidelines on Unscheduled Bleeding on HRT [Video]
  53. Types of Hormone Therapy
  54. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  55. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  56. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  57. Hormone Therapy and Systemic TherapyWorld Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]
  58. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause – How Does Hormone Therapy Work? Last Updated: October 2021. Last Reviewed: February 2024. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/hormone-therapy-for-menopause Accessed: 28 April 2025
  2. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 28 April 2025
  3. Hormone Therapy: Overview – Ways To Take Hormone Therapy? 12 March 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15245-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 28 April 2025
  4. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Is it Right for You? What Are the Main Types of Menopause Hormone Therapy? 18 April 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372 Accessed: 28 April 2025
  5. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 28 April 2025
  6. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 28 April 2025
  7. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 28 April 2025
  8. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? Last Updated: 24 April 2025 | Last Reviewed: 22 April 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 28 April 2025
Topic Last Updated: 28 April 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 28 April 2025

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