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

Frequency

If menopausal women choose to use hormone therapy (HT), how often should they review their use?

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


Hormone Therapy Follow Up“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”.2

In Menopause: Treatment – Follow-Up Appointments according to the (United Kingdom) NHS:

“If you’re having treatment for your symptoms of menopause or perimenopause, you’ll need to return to the doctor or nurse who is prescribing your HRT for a follow-up review after 3 months.

When you and your doctor or nurse agree your treatment is working well for you, you’ll need to see them once a year”.3

The (United Kingdom) Women’s Health Concern note:

“Women on HRT should be re-assessed by their doctor at least annually”.4

In the Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You: Who Can Benefit From Hormone Therapy? the (United States) Mayo Clinic also note:

  • “Seek regular follow-up care. See your doctor regularly to ensure that the benefits of hormone therapy continue to outweigh the risks, and for screenings such as mammograms and pelvic exams”.5

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Effectiveness: Managing Clinical Side Effects of MHT Therapy, published online 30 October 2023, the authors explain:

“Optimally, women using systemic MHT should have a medical review at 3 months to assess symptom relief and side effects. This is also an opportunity to discuss any patient concerns and ensure correct use of the prescribed therapy. Further follow-up will be determined by whether any treatment adjustments are made or investigations initiated. Long-term follow-up should be at least yearly”.6

Follow-Up Format

What may the follow-up include?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Effectiveness: Managing Clinical Side Effects of MHT Therapy, the authors also note:

“Review should include updating medical history and a general medical examination and breast assessment as indicated. Investigations should be individually determined, with mammography frequency according to local recommendations”.7

In Menopause: Treatment – Follow-Up Appointments the NHS explain:

“During your reviews, your doctor or nurse may:

  • Make sure your symptoms are under control
  • Ask about any side effects and vaginal bleeding
  • Check your weight and blood pressure
  • Review the type of HRT you’re taking and make any necessary changes”.8

Unscheduled or Prolonged Bleeding

What may unscheduled or prolonged bleeding require?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Effectiveness: Managing Clinical Side Effects of MHT Therapy, the authors explain:

“Unscheduled or prolonged bleeding 3–6 months after commencing MHT needs investigation (ultrasound and/or biopsy), and where indicated, specialist referral. The need for ongoing MHT, the formulation and dose requirement should be reviewed”.9

Health Care Provider

How long do I need to take HT or menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)?

In Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? the JH note:

“You can take MHT at low doses for as long as you need. Many women have symptoms for around eight years and one in four women have symptoms into their 60s and 70s. The benefits of MHT far outweigh the risks in healthy women within 10 years of reaching menopause”.10

The NHS explain:

“You can choose to continue taking HRT. The doctor or nurse prescribing your HRT can discuss with you the benefits and risks, so you can decide what’s right for you.

You can take HRT for as long as you need it. You can discuss this with your doctor or nurse at your yearly review”.11

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z 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.

New or Updated

  1. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists] [October 2023]
  2. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  3. BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
  4. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  5. BMS TV: HRT and Bleeding
  6. BMS TV: HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits
  7. BMS TV: HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer
  8. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  9. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  10. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  11. Can You Have HRT If You Are Overweight?
  12. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  13. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  14. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  15. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  16. Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences – Resources and Information: Quick Links – 1. Question Prompt List
  17. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  18. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  19. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  20. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  21. Guidance on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  22. HRT & Menopause Extra
  23. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  24. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  25. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  26. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) With Dr Nicky Peel & Prof. David Armstrong
  27. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): About Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  28. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  29. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  30. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  31. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen
  32. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen – Who Can and Cannot Use Vaginal Oestrogen
  33. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): When To Take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – How Long To Take HRT for
  34. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): When To Take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – Stopping HRT
  35. Hormone Therapy: Four Things A Mayo Clinic Women’s Health Specialist Wants You To Know [Video]
  36. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  37. Hot Flashes
  38. Hot Flashes
  39. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  40. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  41. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause. Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  42. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  43. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?] [Other Languages and Formats]
  44. Learning To Cope With Hot Flashes
  45. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  46. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  47. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  48. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  49. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  50. Menopause
  51. Menopause
  52. Menopause
  53. Menopause
  54. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  55. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  56. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  57. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  58. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  59. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  60. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  61. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  62. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  63. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  64. Menopause and HRT
  65. Menopause and HRT: Fact and Fiction
  66. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  67. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
  68. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  69. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Reviewing Your Care [NICE Guideline]
  70. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
  71. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  72. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  73. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  74. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  75. Non Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  76. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  77. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  78. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
  79. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  80. Starting and Stopping Hormone Therapy
  81. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  82. The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement
  83. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  84. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  85. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  86. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  87. Urogenital Problems
  88. Vaginal Dryness
  89. Vaginal Dryness
  90. Vaginal Dryness: What To Do About It
  91. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  92. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  93. Video Series-2023: Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
  94. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  95. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  96. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  97. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  98. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  99. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  100. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit

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: 06 June 2024
  2. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? Last Updated: 08 May 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 06 June 2024
  3. Menopause: Treatment – Follow-Up Appointments. Page Last Reviewed: 17 May 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/treatment/ Accessed: 06 June 2024
  4. HRT Benefits and Risks: In Summary. Updated: November 2020. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt-know-benefits-risks/ Accessed: 06 June 2024
  5. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You? 06 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372 Accessed: 06 June 2024
  6. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – – Effectiveness: Managing Clinical Side Effects of MHT Therapy. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 06 June 2024
  7. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – – Effectiveness: Managing Clinical Side Effects of MHT Therapy. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 06 June 2024
  8. Menopause: Treatment – Follow-Up Appointments. Page Last Reviewed: 17 May 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/treatment/ Accessed: 06 June 2024
  9. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – – Effectiveness: Managing Clinical Side Effects of MHT Therapy. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 06 June 2024
  10. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? Last Updated: 08 May 2024 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 06 June 2024
  11. Menopause: Treatment – Follow-Up Appointments. Page Last Reviewed: 17 May 2022. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/menopause/treatment/ Accessed: 06 June 2024
Topic Last Updated: 22 June 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 06 June 2024

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