“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 FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause – How Does Hormone Therapy Work? the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ definition is:

  • Systemic estrogen 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”.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

Systemic Hormones

What do systemic hormones include?

In Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy the (United States) Menopause Society (formerly the North American 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”.4

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”.5

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 can take around six months to find the right MHT. Once you’ve found an MHT that works for you, it’s important to review it with your doctor each year”.6

Health Topics A-Z

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In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

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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: 11 December 2024
  2. 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: 11 December 2024
  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: 11 December 2024
  4. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 11 December 2024
  5. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 11 December 2024
  6. Hormone Therapy: Types of Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 11 December 2024
  7. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? Last Updated: 03 December 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 11 December 2024
Topic Last Updated: 11 December 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 11 December 2024