Hormone Therapy Follow Up

“To see whether treatment is helping you should be offered review appointments every 3 months to start with. If you are not having any problems you should then…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Hormone Therapy Follow Up Umbrella include?

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

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Follow Up/Review
  • Hormone Therapy (HT) Follow Up/Review
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Follow Up/Review

Review

If menopausal women choose to use menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), how often should they review their reasons to continue MHT (or not)?

The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

“Research and best-practice guidelines suggest that menopausal women review their reasons to continue MHT (or not) with their doctor once per year, or more regularly if they have any concerns”.2

In Menopause: Hormone Treatments the (United States) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) note, current as of 11 March 2019:

“Menopause Hormone Therapy should always be used at the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time that you need it”.3

Revised Global Consensus Statement

What is one of the points of consensus about menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) follow up?

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 – endorsed by seven menopause-related organizations – published online 20 June 2016, is:

  • “Duration 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 women”.4

What is VMS?

VMS can be an abbreviation for Vasomotor Symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats.

IMS Recommendations

What is one of the governing principles about MHT?

One of the governing principles in the 2016 IMS Recommendations on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT published online 12 February 2016, is:

  • “Women taking MHT should have at least an annual consultation to include a physical examination, update of medical and family history, relevant laboratory and imaging investigations, a discussion on lifestyle, and strategies to prevent or reduce chronic disease. There is currently no indication for increased mammographic or cervical smear screening”.5

What is IMS?

IMS can be an abbreviation for International Menopause Society.

NICE Guideline

What does the NICE Guideline note about Reviewing Your Care?

In Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Reviewing Your Care the (British) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) elaborate on:

“You may be having different treatments or therapies to help your menopausal symptoms. To see whether treatment is helping you should be offered review appointments every 3 months to start with. If you are not having any problems you should then have appointments once a year. You should be offered an earlier review if you need it, for example if treatment no longer seems to be working or is causing side effects.

It is also important to keep going to all your routine health screening appointments (for example, breast and cervical screening)”.6

Hormone Help Desk

What is the North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) Hormone Help Desk?

In Hormone Help Desk: ET, EPT, and More the NAMS explain:

“Before you have your annual checkup, the Hormone Help Desk offers a refresher course on menopause terminology including ovarian hormones (estrogens, progesterone, and androgens) and the various hormone therapies (HT) to relieve menopause-related symptoms and/or to decrease long-term risks for diseases such as osteoporosis. This checkup can help determine whether or what kind of hormones might be appropriate for you”.7

Health Care Provider

How do I decided whether or not to continue HT?

To decide whether or not to continue using HT it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

One of the governing principles in the 2016 IMS Recommendations on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT is:

Hormone Therapy Follow Up

  • “Whether or not to continue therapy should be decided at the discretion of the well-informed woman and her health professional, dependent upon the specific goals and an objective estimation of ongoing individual benefits and risks”.8

In Menopause Hormone Therapy: Follow-Up Appointments? I take hormone therapy to help with my menopause symptoms. When should I plan follow-up visits to my doctor? the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“But, you may need reevaluation sooner than your next yearly checkup if you experience changes in your health, such as:

  • Unexpected vaginal bleeding
  • Persistent menopausal symptoms
  • A blood-clotting disorder
  • Symptoms of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease
  • Hormone-dependent breast cancer or another hormone-dependent cancer

Developing any one of these conditions could mean that hormone therapy is no longer recommended for you”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Hormone Therapy Follow Up?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy Follow Up?

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.

  1. 2016 IMS Recommendations on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy
  2. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 6. Myth – Complementary Medicines and Therapies Are As Effective As MHT and Safer
  3. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 7. Myth – Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Is Safer Than Conventional MHT
  4. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  5. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  6. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  7. Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  8. Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  9. Decidir Sobre La Hormonoterapia
  10. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners
  11. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Resources and Information: Quick Links – 1. Question Prompt List Early Menopause Question Prompt List
  12. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
  13. Fact Sheets and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Resources – Vaginal Estrogen Therapy
  14. HRT and Bleeding Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  15. HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  16. HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  17. Hormone Help Desk: ET, EPT, and More
  18. Hormone Replacement Therapy
  19. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  20. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  21. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives
  22. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Overview – Stopping HRT
  23. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Risks
  24. Hormone Replacement Therapy: Can It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  25. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  26. Hot Flash Relief Without Hormones
  27. Hot Flashes: Manage Without Medication?
  28. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?
  29. Index To Drug-Specific Information [United States]
  30. Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
  31. Lifestyle and Behaviour Changes for Menopausal Symptoms
  32. Lifestyle and Behavioural Modifications for Menopausal Symptoms
  33. MHT and Breast Cancer Risk
  34. Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks
  35. Managing Menopause: Don’t Let Symptoms of Menopause Reduce Your Quality of Life
  36. Menopause
  37. Menopause
  38. Menopause & Herbs
  39. Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  40. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  41. Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes
  42. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Follow-Up Appointments?
  43. Menopause Management: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  44. Menopause Matters
  45. Menopause – Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT) Safe? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  46. Menopause – What Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT)? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  47. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
  48. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  49. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Reviewing Your Care [NICE Guideline]
  50. Menopause: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [Video Interview Stories]
  51. Menopause: Hormone Treatments
  52. Menopause: Medicines To Help You
  53. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  54. Menopause: Non-HRT and Lifestyle Options [Video Interview Stories]
  55. Menopause: Non-Hormonal Treatment & Relief for Hot Flashes
  56. NAMS 2017 Position Statement Updates Guidelines for Hormone Therapy Use
  57. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  58. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
  59. Non-Hormonal Treatment Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  60. NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  61. Recent Review Confirms Safety of Low Dose Vaginal Estrogen: July 2019
  62. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  63. Risks and Benefits of MHT/HRT
  64. Urogenital Atrophy Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  65. Urogenital Problems
  66. Vaginal Dryness
  67. Vaginal Dryness
  68. Video Series-2018 – Moisturizers, Lubricants, and Prasterone
  69. Video Series-2019 – What Is New In Hormone Therapy?
  70. Video Series-2020 – How To Talk To Your Primary Care Clinician About Your Overall Health
  71. Video Series-2020 – TSECs—A New Treatment Option for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  72. What Is MHT and Is It Safe? Video Series-2020 – What You Need To Know About Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  73. What Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) and Is It Safe?
  74. Women Can Breathe Sigh of Relief When Using Vaginal Estrogen To Treat Menopause Symptoms

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Reviewing Your Care. 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/Reviewing-your-care Accessed: 22 July 2020
  2. Menopause Management: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – Breast Cancer & MHT. Last Updated: 07 April 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management# Accessed: 22 July 2020
  3. Menopause: Hormone Treatments. Content Current As of: 22 August 2019. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/WomensHealthTopics/ucm117978.htm Accessed: 22 July 2020
  4. 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/manage/images/pdf/ba6379e868044bec13015ac2b84f2753.pdf Accessed: 22 July 2020
  5. Baber, R. J., Panay N. and Fenton, A., the IMS Writing Group (2016). 2016 IMS Recommendations on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:2:111 https://www.imsociety.org/manage/images/pdf/4429e3dd302aac259ad68c3be7f60599.pdf Accessed: 22 July 2020
  6. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Reviewing Your Care. 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/Reviewing-your-care Accessed: 22 July 2020
  7. Hormone Therapy Help Desk: ET, EPT, and More. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/hormone-help-desk-et-ept-and-more Accessed: 22 July 2020
  8. Baber, R. J., Panay N. and Fenton, A., the IMS Writing Group (2016). 2016 IMS Recommendations on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause Hormone Therapy: IMS Governing Principles on MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:2:111 https://www.imsociety.org/manage/images/pdf/4429e3dd302aac259ad68c3be7f60599.pdf Accessed: 22 July 2020
  9. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Follow-Up Appointments? I take hormone therapy to help with my menopause symptoms. When should I plan follow-up visits to my doctor? 30 May 2018. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/expert-answers/menopause-hormone-therapy/faq-20115079 Accessed: 22 July 2020

Topic Last Updated: 23 August 2020 – Topic Last Reviewed: 22 July 2020
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