Hormone Therapy and Systemic Therapy

Hormone Therapy and Systemic Therapy

“Systemic therapy: When hormones are delivered
throughout the body via pills, patches, sprays, gels,
or a vaginal ring, this is known as systemic therapy”.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 Treatments for Menopause: 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

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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. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  4. Bleeding on HRT Explained | Dr Louise Newson Live
  5. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  6. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
  7. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  8. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  9. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  10. Does Every Woman NEED Systemic HRT
  11. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  12. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  13. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  14. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  15. HRT Questions Answered
  16. HRT Types and Doses | Dr Louise Newson
  17. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  18. HRT: How To Find the Right Dose & Type | Dr Louise Newson
  19. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  20. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): A Summary
  21. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks
  22. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  23. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  24. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy
  25. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  26. Hot Flashes
  27. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  28. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  29. Menopausal Symptom Treatments
  30. Menopause
  31. Menopause
  32. Menopause
  33. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  34. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  35. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  36. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
    Hormone Therapy and Systemic Therapy
  37. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  38. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Hormone Therapy and Systemic Therapy
  39. Types of Hormone Therapy
  40. Updated 2024 NICE Menopause Guidance Summary
  41. Updated BMS Guidelines on Unscheduled Bleeding on HRT [Video]
  42. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  43. Hormone Therapy and Systemic Therapy World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 09 February 2026
  2. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 09 February 2026
  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: 09 February 2026
  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: 09 February 2026
  5. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 09 February 2026
  6. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 09 February 2026
  7. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 09 February 2026
  8. Treatments for Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? Last Updated: 13 May 2025 | Last Reviewed: 22 April 2025. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management#menopausal-hormone-therapy-mht Accessed: 09 February 2026
Topic Last Updated: 28 July 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 09 February 2026

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