“Are hormones right for me?
Why? What are the benefits?
What are the serious risks and common side effects?”1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy Questions To Ask Umbrella include?

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

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Questions To Ask
  • Hormone Therapy (HT) Questions To Ask
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Questions To Ask
  • Menopause and Hormones Common Questions
  • Menopause and Hormones Questions To Ask Your Doctor

5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)

What are the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) 5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) A Practical Guide?

Hormone Therapy Questions To AskOn page two of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: The 5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) A Practical Guide, the IMS’s Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024, the IMS elaborate on:

“In this leaflet, you will learn about the 5Ws, “Who, What, When, Why and Where”, of MHT to guide you no matter where you are in the world.

  1. Who is MHT for…?
  2. What is MHT for…?
  3. When should MHT be started and stopped…?
  4. Why is MHT important…?
  5. Where can you get MHT…?”2

Questions

What are questions to ask about hormone therapy (HT)?

In Menopause: Medicines To Help You: Important Questions To Ask About Menopause Hormone Medicines the (United States) Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) include:

  • “Are hormones right for me? Why?
  • What are the benefits?
  • What are the serious risks and common side effects?
  • How long should I use hormone therapy?
  • What is the lowest dose that will work for me?
  • Are there any non-hormone medicines that I can take?”3

In the NICE Guideline Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause – Treatment for Menopausal Symptoms the (British) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), include these and more questions:

  • “What types of treatment are suitable for my symptoms?
  • What are the benefits and risks of different treatments?
  • Are there any complementary therapies that could help?
  • I use complementary therapies for my symptoms – are these safe to take alongside other treatments?
  • If I already take an antidepressant, will that affect any treatments I can try for mood changes during menopause?
  • Can you tell me why you are recommending hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
  • If I don’t want to take HRT, or can’t for medical reasons, what other treatments are there?…”.4

In Menopause Treatment: Questions For Your Healthcare Provider the (United States) Endocrine Society include:

  • “What do you think are possible triggers for my hot flashes?
  • Are there any lifestyle or dietary interventions that may diminish my symptoms?
  • Should I consider medication for treatment of my symptoms? Hormonal or non-hormonal?
  • If you are interested in hormonal therapy: Am I a good candidate for hormonal therapy, specifically are my cardiovascular and breast cancer risks low?
  • Which lifestyle changes can I make that will decrease my menopause symptoms without medicine?
  • Are there any alternative medicine treatments you would recommend I try for relief of my menopause symptoms?
  • Are there any alternative medicines I should not use because they could interfere with medicines I take?”5

Risk Questions

What are some questions to ask about HT risks?

In Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? Who Can Benefit From Hormone Therapy? If You Take Hormone Therapy, How Can You Reduce Risk? the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Talk to your doctor about these strategies:

  • Find the best product and delivery method for you. You can take estrogen in the form of a pill, patch, gel, vaginal cream, or slow-releasing suppository or ring that you place in your vagina…
  • Minimize the amount of medication you take…
  • Seek regular follow-up care…
  • Make healthy lifestyle choices…

If you haven’t had a hysterectomy and are using systemic estrogen therapy, you’ll also need progestin. Your doctor can help you find the delivery method that offers the most benefits and convenience with the least risks and cost”.6

Vaginal Symptoms

Can HT options vary for vaginal symptoms?

In Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? Who Can Benefit From Hormone Therapy? If You Take Hormone Therapy, How Can You Reduce Risk? the Mayo Clinic note:

“If you experience only vaginal symptoms related to menopause, estrogen in a low-dose vaginal cream, tablet or ring is usually a better choice than an oral pill or a skin patch”.7

Long-Term Use

Hormone Therapy Questions To AskHow long can HT be used for?

On page six of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: The 5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) A Practical Guide – 3. When Should MHT Be Started and Stopped? Long-Term Use the IMS note:

“There is no strict limit on how long you can use MHT, but long-term use may carry certain small risks, such as increased chances of breast cancer or blood clots. Your healthcare professional will help weigh these risks against the benefits based on your personal health history, and you should have at least an annual discussion of this risk : benefit balance”.8

Health Care Provider

How important is it to review treatment options on a regular basis?

In Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? The Bottom Line: Hormone Therapy Isn’t All Good or All Bad the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“To determine if hormone therapy is a good treatment option for you, talk to your doctor about your individual symptoms and health risks. Be sure to keep the conversation going throughout your menopausal years.

As researchers learn more about hormone therapy and other menopausal treatments, recommendations may change. If you continue to have bothersome menopausal symptoms, review treatment options with your doctor on a regular basis”.9

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  1. Menopause: Medicines To Help You – Important Questions To Ask About Menopause Hormone Medicines. Content Current As of: 22 August 2019. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/ucm118627.htm Accessed: 04 October 2024
  2. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: The 5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) A Practical Guide. 2024: 2-9. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 06 October 2024
  3. Menopause: Medicines To Help You – Important Questions To Ask About Menopause Hormone Medicines. Content Current As of 22 August 2019. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ByAudience/ForWomen/ucm118627.htm Accessed: 04 October 2024
  4. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause – Treatment for 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/Questions-to-ask-about-menopause Accessed: 04 October 2024
  5. Menopause Treatment: Questions for Your Healthcare Provider. Last Updated: 24 January 2022. Endocrine Society https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/menopause-treatment Accessed: 04 October 2024
  6. Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? Who Can Benefit From Hormone Therapy? If You Take Hormone Therapy, How Can You Reduce Risk? 06 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372 Accessed: 04 October 2024
  7. Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? Who Can Benefit From Hormone Therapy? If You Take Hormone Therapy, How Can You Reduce Risk? 06 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372 Accessed: 04 October 2024
  8. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: The 5Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) A Practical Guide – 3. When Should MHT Be Started and Stopped? Long-Term Use. 2024:6. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 06 October 2024
  9. Hormone therapy: Is It Right for You? Hormone Therapy Isn’t All Good or All Bad. 06 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372 Accessed: 04 October 2024
Topic Last Updated: 06 October 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 04 October 2024