âThe risks and benefits of MHT differ for women during the menopause transition compared to those for older womenâ.1
Umbrella
What may the Hormone Therapy Benefits and Risks Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- HRT/HT/MHT Benefits and Risks
- HRT/HT/MHT Health Benefits and Risks
- HRT/HT/MHT Pros and Cons
- HRT/HT/MHT Risks and Benefits
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
- Hormone Therapy (HT)
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
Date
What can it be important to be clear about with hormone therapy (HT) benefits and risks information?
I think it can be important to be clear about the date of all information including the date of HT benefits and risks information, because this information may have been updated.
Symptoms or Chronic Conditions
What can it also be important to be clear about with HT benefits and risks information?
I think it can also be important to be clear about whether HT benefits and risks information is about the use of HT for the management of menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness or for the prevention of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis.
Potential Benefits
What are potential HT benefits?
On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits published in June 2017, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:
Benefits and Risks Differences
Can hormone therapy (HT) benefits and risks be different for different women?
Yes. HT benefits and risks can be different for different women. These differences may include:
- Product Differences
- Symptom Differences
- Individual Differences
- Age Differences
- Time Since Menopause Differences
- Risk Factor Differences
- Health Conditions Differences
- Uterus Differences
- EPT and ET Differences
- Option Differences
- Duration Differences
1. Product Differences
Can menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) benefits and risks be different for different hormonal products?
One of the governing principles in the International Menopause Societyâs (IMS) 2016 IMS Recommendations on Womenâs Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT published online 12 February 2016, is:
- âMHT includes a wide range of hormonal products and routes of administration, with potentially different risks and benefits. Thus, the term âclass effectâ is confusing and inappropriate. However, evidence regarding differences in risks and benefits between different products is limitedâ.3
2. Symptom Differences
Can MHT benefits and risks differ for women with different menopause symptoms?
One of the points of consensus in the Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT is:
- âLocal low-dose estrogen therapy is preferred for women whose symptoms are limited to vaginal dryness or associated discomfort with intercourse or for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infectionsâ.4
3. Individual Differences
Can MHT benefits and risks differ for individual women?
One of the points of consensus in the Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section B: General Principles Governing the Use of MHT is:
- âThe option of MHT is an individual decision in terms of quality of life and health priorities as well as personal risk factors such as age, time since menopause and the risk of VTE, stroke, ischemic heart disease and breast cancer. MHT should not be recommended without a clear indication for its useâ.5
What is VTE?
VTE can be an abbreviation for Venous Thromboemolism.
4. Age Differences
Can MHT benefits and risks differ for women of different ages?
One of the governing principles in the 2016 IMS Recommendations on Womenâs Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT is:
- âThe risks and benefits of MHT differ for women during the menopause transition compared to those for older womenâ.6
One of the points of consensus in the Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy:Â Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT is:
- âMHT, including tibolone and the combination of conjugated equine estrogens and bazedoxifene (CE/BZA), is the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause at any age, but benefits are more likely to outweigh risks if initiated for symptomatic women before the age of 60 years or within 10 years after menopauseâ.7
What are vasomotor symptoms?
The International Menopause Society explain:
âHot flushes and night sweats are also referred to as Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS)â.8
5. Time Since Menopause Differences
Can MHT benefits and risks differ for women with different times since menopause?
As noted above, one of the points of consensus in the Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy:Â Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT is:
- âMHT, including tibolone and the combination of conjugated equine estrogens and bazedoxifene (CE/BZA), is the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause at any age, but benefits are more likely to outweigh risks if initiated for symptomatic women before the age of 60 years or within 10 years after menopauseâ.9
6. Risk Factor Differences
Can HT risks differ for women with different risk factors?
On page one in the NAMS 2017 Position Statement Updates Guidelines for Hormone Therapy Use published on 20 June 2017, the NAMS elaborate on:
- âThe risks of HT differ for different women, depending on type, dose, duration of use, route of administration, timing of initiation, and whether a progestogen is needed. Treatment should be individualized using the best available evidence to maximize benefits and minimize risks, with periodic reevaluation for the benefits and risks of HT continuationâ.10
In Menopause: Menopause â Hormone Treatments the (United States) U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also note:
âIn some women, Menopause Hormone Therapy may increase risks of serious side effects including blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and gall bladder diseaseâ.11
7. Health Conditions Differences
Can HT risks differ for different women with different health conditions?
In Menopause: Menopause â Hormone Treatment? the FDA explain:
- You think you are pregnant
- You have problems with vaginal bleeding
- You have had certain kinds of cancers
- You have had a stroke or heart attack
- You have had blood clots
- You have liver diseaseâ.12
8. Uterus Differences
Can HT benefits and risks differ for women who have a uterus?
In Menopause FAQS: Hormone Therapy â Q. What Is Hormone Therapy? the NAMS note:
If you do not have a uterus, in Menopause FAQS: Hormone Therapy â Q. What Is Hormone Therapy? the NAMS also note:
9. ET and EPT Differences
Can HT benefits and risks differ for women who use ET and women who use EPT?
The NAMS explain:
â…you and your healthcare provider need to balance the benefits and risks you have. For example, if you donât have a uterus and can take estrogen therapy (ET) alone, your risks are different from those of women who still have a uterus and must use estrogen plus progestogen (EPT) to protect against uterine cancerâ.15
10. Option Differences
Can HT benefits and risks differ for women who choose to use different HT options?
The NAMS explain:
- âET delivered through the skin (by patch, cream, gel, or spray) and lowâdose oral estrogen may have lower risks of blood clots and stroke than standard doses of oral estrogen, but all the evidence is not yet availableâ.16
11. Duration Differences
Can HT benefits and risks differ for women who choose to use HT for different durations or lengths of time?
One of the points of consensus in the Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section B: General Principles Governing the Use of MHT is:
- âDuration of treatment should be consistent with the treatment goals of the individual, and the benefit/risk profile needs to be individually reassessed annually. This is important in view of new data indicating longer duration of VMS in some womenâ.17
The NAMS explain:
- âHow long you should take HT is different for EPT and ETâ.18
In the NICE Guideline Menopause: Diagnosis and Management â Information for the Public: Treating Menopausal Symptoms the (British) National Institute for Health and Care Excellenceâs (NICE) elaborate on:
You should also be given information about:
- Non-hormonal treatments, for example a drug called clonidine
- Other types of treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a type of psychological therapy that helps people to manage the way they think and feelâ.19
Who is a GP?
Dots and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.
Health Care Provider
If I choose to use HT, how can I find out what my benefits and risks are?
If you choose to use HT, it may be in your best interest to also choose to talk to your health care provider about this.
In Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Risks the (United Kingdom) NHS elaborate on:
Itâs also important to consider HRT as only 1 of a range of options to improve menopausal and postmenopausal health and wellbeingâ.20
One of the governing principles in the 2016 IMS Recommendations on Womenâs Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT is:
- âConsideration of MHT should be part of an overall strategy including lifestyle recommendations regarding diet, exercise, smoking cessation and safe levels of alcohol consumption for maintaining the health of peri- and postmenopausal womenâ.21
On page one in Deciding About Hormone Use the NAMS explain:
In Menopause Management: Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) â Should You Take MHT? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health (JH) elaborate on:
- âJean Hailes strongly advocates that women take a balanced, evidence-based and informed approach to their healthcare: all risks and benefits should be considered when deciding whether to use MHT
- Current recommendations by world experts in menopause, including our own doctors, suggest the benefits of MHT outweigh the risks for healthy menopausal womenâ.23
The JH also note:
- âJean Hailes recommends each woman discusses her decision about taking MHT with her doctor regularly and whenever there are any concernsâ.24
In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment: Treatment â Hormone Therapy the Mayo Clinic note:
âBefore deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your doctor about your options and the risks and benefits involved with each. Review your options yearly, as your needs and treatment options may changeâ.25
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Hormone Therapy Benefits and Risks?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Health Topics A-Z
- Hormone Therapy
- Hormone Therapy 2016 Revised Global Consensus Statement
- Hormone Therapy 2017 Update for Chronic Conditions
- Hormone Therapy Alternatives
- Hormone Therapy Risks
- Hormone Therapy and Estrogen Plus Progestogen Therapy
- Hormone Therapy and Estrogen Therapy
- Hormone Therapy and SERMs
- Hormone Therapy and Tibolone
- Womenâs Health Initiative
Links
Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy Benefits and Risks?
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 Directoryâs Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.- 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 6. Myth â Complementary Medicines and Therapies Are As Effective As MHT and Safer
- 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 7. Myth â Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Is Safer Than Conventional MHT
- BMS, IMS, EMAS, RCOG and AMS Joint Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk In Response To EMA Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee Recommendations In May 2020 [17 January 2021]
- Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
- Combined Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
- Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
- Decidir Sobre La Hormonoterapia
- Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners â Womenâs Profiles
- Estrogen & Hormones
- Estrogen & Hormones: Estrogen and the Cardiovascular System
- Estrogen & Hormones: Postmenopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Family History
- HRT
- HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- HRT: Benefits and Risks
- HRT: The History
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Overview â Benefits of HRT
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Overview â Who Can Take HRT
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Risks
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types
- Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe, Despite Rare Blood Clot Risks From Tablets
- Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
- Index To Drug-Specific Information [United States]
- Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
- MHT and Breast Cancer Risk
- Making Choices At Menopause
- Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause & Hormones: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
- Menopause Hormone Therapy and Your Heart
- Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
- Menopause Hormone Therapy: Follow-Up Appointments?
- Menopause Hormone Therapy: Who Shouldn’t Take It?
- Menopause Management: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) â Benefits & Risks of HRT
- Menopause Management: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) â What Are the Risks of HRT?
- Menopause Matters
- Menopause Symptoms and Relief
- Menopause Treatment
- Menopause â Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT) Safe? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- Menopause â What Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT)? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
- Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management â Information for the Public: Benefits and Risks of HRT [NICE Guideline]
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management â Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
- Menopause: Medicines To Help You
- Menopause: Menopause â Hormone Treatments
- Menopause: What Are the Benefits and Risks of Long-Term Hormone Therapy?
- Misinterpretation of WHI Results Decreased Use of Hormones, Even In Women Not At Risk [Womenâs Health Initiative]
- NAMS 2017 Position Statement Updates Guidelines for Hormone Therapy Use
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms In Depth
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesnât Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
- Non-Hormonal Treatment Options for Menopausal Symptoms
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
- Oestrogen Only Menopausal Hormone Therapy
- Practical Prescribing Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Risks and Benefits of MHT/HRT
- Tipos de Hormonoterapia
- Types of Hormone Therapy
- Urogenital Atrophy Explained â A British Menopause Society Video
- Urogenital Problems
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
- Venous Thrombosis/Thromboembolism Risk and Menopausal Treatments
- Video Series-2020 â TSECsâA New Treatment for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
- Video Series-2020 â What You Need To Know About Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
- Video Series-2021 â Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues
- Video Series-2021 â What Women Need To Know About Hormone Therapies
- Webinars: A Fresh Perspective on A Recurring Challenge Benefit-Risk Discussion
What Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) and Is It Safe?
- Vietnamese: What Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) and Is It Safe?
- Women Can Breathe Sigh of Relief When Using Vaginal Estrogen To Treat Menopause Symptoms
- Womenâs Wellness: Treating Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Without Hormones [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Baber, R. J., Panay N. and Fenton, A., the IMS Writing Group. 2016 IMS Recommendations on Womenâs Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT. Climacteric 19:2, 110 https://www.imsociety.org/statements/ims-recommendations/ Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2017:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/for-women/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2017.pdf Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Baber, R. J., Panay N. and Fenton, A., the IMS Writing Group. 2016 IMS Recommendations on Womenâs Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT. Climacteric 19:2, 111 https://www.imsociety.org/statements/ims-recommendations/ Accessed: 18 January 2021
- De Villiers T. J., Hall J. E., Pinkerton J. V., Pérez S. C., Rees M., Yang C. and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:313 https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/global-consensus-hrt-2016-06.pdf Accessed: 18 January 2021
- De Villiers, T. J., Hall, J. E, Pinkerton, J. V, Pérez, S. C., Rees, M., Yang, C. and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section B: General Principles Governing the Use of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:314 https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/global-consensus-hrt-2016-06.pdf Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Baber, R. J., Panay N. and Fenton, A., the IMS Writing Group. 2016 IMS Recommendations on Womenâs Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT. Climacteric 19:2, 110 https://www.imsociety.org/statements/ims-recommendations/ Accessed: 18 January 2021
- De Villiers, T.J., Hall, J. E., Pinkerton, J. V., Pérez, S. C., Rees, M., Yang, C. and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:313 https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/global-consensus-hrt-2016-06.pdf Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Hot Flushes and Night Sweats â Background Information: What Are Hot Flushes and Night Sweats? October 2011:1. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/downloads/world_menopause_day_2011/wmd_media_backgrounder.pdf Accessed: 18 January 2021
- De Villiers, T. J, Hall, J. E., Pinkerton, JV, Pérez, S. C., Rees, M., Yang, C, and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section A: Benefit/Risk Profile of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:313 https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/global-consensus-hrt-2016-06.pdf Accessed: 18 January 2021
- NAMS 2017 Position Statement Updates Guidelines for Hormone Therapy Use. 20 June 2017:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ht-press-release-061917.pdf Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Menopause: Menopause â Hormone Treatments. Content Current As of: 22 August 2019. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/menopause Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Menopause: Menopause â Hormone Treatments. Content Current As of: 22 August 2019. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/menopause Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Menopause FAQS: Hormone Therapy â Q. What Is Hormone Therapy? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Menopause FAQS: Hormone Therapy â Q. What Is Hormone Therapy? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 18 January 2021
- News You Can Use About Hormone Therapy: Benefits. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/news-you-can-use-about-hormone-therapy Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Hormone Therapy for Women In 2012. 2012:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-document-library/psht12patient.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Accessed: 18 January 2021
- De Villiers, T. J., Hall, J. E., Pinkerton, J. V., Pérez, S. C., Rees, M., Yang, C. and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section B: General Principles Governing the Use of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:314 https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/global-consensus-hrt-2016-06.pdf Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Hormone Therapy for Women In 2012. 2012:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-document-library/psht12patient.pdf?sfvrsn=2 Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management â Information for the Public: Treating Menopausal Symptoms. Published Date: 12 November 2015. Last Updated: 05 December 2019. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/ifp/chapter/Treating-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Risks. Page Last Reviewed: 09 September 2019. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/risks/ Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Baber, R. J., Panay N. and Fenton, A., the IMS Writing Group. 2016 IMS Recommendations on Womenâs Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT. Climacteric 19:2, 110 https://www.imsociety.org/statements/ims-recommendations/ Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use. 2017:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/for-women/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2017.pdf Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Menopause Management: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) â Should You Take MHT? Last Updated: 07 December 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Menopause Management: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) â Should You Take MHT? Last Updated:Â 07 December 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Womenâs Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 18 January 2021
- Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment â Treatment: Hormone Therapy. 14 October 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 18 January 2021