Hormone Therapy Side Effects

“Any side effects usually improve over time,
so it’s a good idea to carry on with your 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 of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) the (United Kingdom) NHS elaborate on:

“Like any medicine, the hormones used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can cause side effects. But it’s common to have no side effects or only mild ones.

Any side effects usually improve over time, so it’s a good idea to carry on with your treatment for at least 3 months if possible.

To help with side effects, a GP might suggest changing your dose, the type of HRT you take or how you take it. For example, switching from tablets to patches”.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?

Hormone Therapy Side EffectsHormone Therapy Side EffectsYes. In Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) the NHS include the “Side Effects of Oestrogen” and the “Side Effects of Progestogen”.

In Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Oestrogen Tablets, Patches, Gel and Spray the NHS include information about Brand names: Oestrogel, Evorel, Sandrena, Lenzetto, Estradot, Progynova.

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:

“A. Sometimes women have side effects from hormone therapy. If any of these symptoms occurs, discuss them with a healthcare provider:

  • 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:

“Everyone responds differently to MHT. Some women may not experience any side effects, while others may have:

  • Nausea
  • Fluid retention
  • Bloating
  • Breast enlargement and discomfort
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Weight gain.

Most symptoms settle within the first three months”.4

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:

“There’s little evidence that most types of HRT make you put on weight.

You may gain some weight during the menopause and as you get older, but this often happens whether you take HRT or not.

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:

“Many side effects are temporary, so unless they are severe or include bleeding, give hormone therapy 3 months to see whether the discomfort resolves. Lowering the dose or switching to another type of estrogen or progestogen may help reduce side effects”.6

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:

Hormone Therapy Side effects“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”.7

In Postmenopausal Bleeding: Living With – When Should I Contact My Doctor? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic also note:

“Contact your healthcare provider if you experience vaginal bleeding:

  • 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 A-Z related to Hormone Therapy Side Effects?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy Side Effects?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. 20 Years of Data Lead To Changes In Perceptions, Usage of Menopausal HT
  2. BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
  3. BMS Statement on Testosterone
  4. BMS TV: HRT and Bleeding
  5. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  6. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  7. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  8. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  9. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  10. Consumer Health: Menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy and Heart Health
  11. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  12. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  13. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  14. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens
  15. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens [Video]
  16. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  17. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  18. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  19. Guidance on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  20. HRT
  21. HRT & Menopause Extra
  22. HRT and Alternatives
  23. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  24. HRT: Benefits and Risks – What You Should Know
  25. Hormone Replacement Therapy
  26. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  27. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) With Dr Nicky Peel & Prof. David Armstrong
  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): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  31. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Oestrogen Tablets, Patches, Gel and Spray
  32. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen: Side Effects of Vaginal Estrogen
  33. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  34. Hot Flashes
  35. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  36. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  37. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause: Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  38. Is Menopause Making Me Put on Weight? No, But It’s Complicated
  39. 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
  40. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  41. Managing Your Symptoms
  42. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  43. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  44. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  45. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Women’s Health: An Umbrella Review
  46. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  47. Menopause
  48. Menopause
  49. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. Are there any side effects from hormone therapy?
  50. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT)
  51. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools – Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hormone Therapy Side Effects
  52. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  53. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  54. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  55. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  56. Menopause Patient Information: 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  57. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  58. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  59. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  60. Menopause and HRT
  61. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  62. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
  63. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Benefits and Risks of HRT [NICE Guideline]
  64. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  65. Menopause: Treatment
  66. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  67. Oestrogen Tablets, Patches, Gel and Spray
  68. Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
  69. Questions To Ask Your GP About Menopause
  70. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  71. Side Effects of Hormone Therapy In Women
  72. The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement
  73. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  74. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  75. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  76. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  77. Vaginal Dryness
  78. Vaginal Dryness
  79. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  80. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  81. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  82. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  83. 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. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy. Page Last Reviewed: 03 January 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/side-effects-of-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/ Accessed: 10 November 2023
  2. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy. Page Last Reviewed: 03 January 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/side-effects-of-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/ Accessed: 10 November 2023
  3. 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: 10 November 2023
  4. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – Possible Side Effects of MHT: Break Through Bleeding. Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 10 November 2023
  5. 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: 10 November 2023
  6. 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: 10 November 2023
  7. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? Last Updated: 04 September 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 10 November 2023
  8. 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: 10 November 2023
Topic Last Updated: 10 November 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 10 November 2023

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