“Any side effects usually improve over time,
so it’s a good idea to persevere with treatment
for at least 3 months if possible”.1
Umbrella
What may the Hormone Therapy Side Effects Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Estrogen
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Side Effects
- Hormone Therapy (HT) Side Effects
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Side Effects
- Oestrogen
- Progestin/Progestogen
Side Effects or Not
Can hormone therapy (HT) have side effects?
Yes. In Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects the (United Kingdom) NHS elaborate on:
Any side effects usually improve over time, so it’s a good idea to persevere with treatment for at least 3 months if possible.
Speak to a GP if you have severe side effects or they continue for longer than 3 months”.2
Who is a GP?
DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.
Different Differences
Can the side effects of oestrogen differ from the side effects of progestogen?
Yes. In Menopause: Medicines To Help You the (United States) Food and Drug Administration include side effects.
In Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects the NHS include the “Side Effects of Oestrogen” and the “Side Effects of Progestogen”.
Side Effects
What are some HT side effects?
In Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. Are there any side effects from hormone therapy? the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:
- Uterine bleeding
- Nausea
- Breast tenderness or pain
- Abdominal bloating
- Fluid retention in arms or legs
- Blurry vision
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Mood change”.3
In Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – Possible Side Effects of MHT the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) note:
- Nausea
- Fluid retention
- Bloating
- Breast enlargement and discomfort
- Vaginal bleeding
- Weight gain.
Most symptoms settle within the first three months”.4
Breakthrough Bleeding
Is there an association between breakthrough bleeding and HT?
In Bleeding – Perimenopausal, Postmenopausal and Breakthrough Bleeding on MHT/HRT the Australasian Menopause Society explain some different types of Bleeding In A Women Taking MHT.
Weight Gain
Is there an association between weight gain and HT?
In Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects – Weight Gain and HRT the NHS note:
You may gain some weight during the menopause, but this often happens regardless of whether you take HRT.
Exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet should help you to lose any unwanted weight”.5
Temporary or Not
Are HT side effects temporary?
In Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. Are there any side effects from hormone therapy? the NAMS note:
Health Care Provider
What if I need help with my HT side effects?
If you need help with your HT side effects, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.
In Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? the JH elaborate on:

In Postmenopausal Bleeding: Living With – When Should I Contact My Doctor? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic also note:
- More than a year after your last menstrual period
- More than a year after starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT)”.8
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Hormone Therapy Side Effects?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy Side Effects?
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
- 20 Years of Data Lead To Changes In Perceptions, Usage of Menopausal HT
- 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
- BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
- Bleeding – Perimenopausal, Postmenopausal and Breakthrough Bleeding on MHT/HRT
- British Menopause Society Update on HRT Supply
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
- Combined Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
- Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
- Consumer Health: Menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy and Heart Health
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
- Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
- EMAS Menopause Essentials
- EMAS Replay [Webinars]
- Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
- Estrogen & Hormones: Postmenopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Estrogen and Progestin (Hormone Replacement Therapy)
- Estrogen, Hormone Therapy and Menopause
- Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
- Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
- Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
- HRT
- HRT and Alternatives
- HRT and Bleeding Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
- HRT: Benefits and Risks – What You Should Know
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks
- Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
- How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
- Index To Drug-Specific Information [United States]
- 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
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
- Lifestyle and Behaviour Changes for Menopausal Symptoms
- Lifestyle and Behavioural Modifications for Menopausal Symptoms
- MHT Still Maligned & Misunderstood: Expert
- Maintaining Your Weight and Health During and After Menopause
- Making Choices At Menopause
- Managing Menopausal Symptoms—Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Not the Only Option!
- Managing Your Symptoms
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video]
- Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Women’s Health: An Umbrella Review
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy – Fact Sheet
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. Are there any side effects from hormone therapy?
- Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT)
- Menopause Management – Fact Sheet
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools – Questions for Your Health Care Provider
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
- Menopause Patient Information: 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
- Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
- Menopause – Oestrogen Only Therapy
- Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Benefits and Risks of HRT [NICE Guideline]
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
- Menopause: Medicines To Help You
- Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
- Menopause: Treatment
- Midlife Weight Gain: What’s Really Going On
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
- Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
- Non-Hormonal Treatment Options for Menopausal Symptoms
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
- Oestrogen Only Menopausal Hormone Therapy
- Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
- Preventing Weight Gain In Women At Midlife
- Questions To Ask Your GP About Menopause
- Risks and Benefits of MHT
- The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Dryness
- Video Series-2021: Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues
- Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
- Webinars: Previous – Abnormal Uterine Bleeding In Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
- Webinars: Previous – The Early Menopausal Patient
- Weight Gain In Women At Midlife: Unique Issues In Management and the Role of Menopausal Hormone Therapy
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects. Page Last Reviewed: 09 September 2019. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/side-effects/ Accessed: 22 January 2023
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects. Page Last Reviewed: 09 September 2019. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/side-effects/ Accessed: 22 January 2023
- Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. Are there any side effects from hormone therapy? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 22 January 2023
- Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – Possible Side Effects of MHT: Break Through Bleeding. Last Updated: 08 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 22 January 2023
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects – Weight Gain and HRT. Page Last Reviewed: 09 September 2019. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/side-effects/ Accessed: 22 January 2023
- Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. Are there any side effects from hormone therapy? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 22 January 2023
- Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? Last Updated: 08 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 22 January 2023
- Postmenopausal Bleeding: Living With – When Should I Contact My Doctor? Last Reviewed: 26 May 2021. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21549-postmenopausal-bleeding Accessed: 22 January 2023