Hormone Therapy

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats. If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your daily…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Hormone Therapy Umbrella include?

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

  • Hormone (Replacement) Therapy H(R)T
  • Hormone Medicines
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Hormones
  • Medicines for Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  • Menopause Hormone Medicines
  • Menopause Medicines

Date

What can it be important to be clear about with hormone therapy (HT) information?

It can be important to be clear about the date of all information including the date of HT information, because this information may have been updated.

Symptoms or Chronic Conditions

What can it also be important to be clear about with HT information?

It can also be important to be clear about whether HT information is about the use of HT for the management of menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness or for the prevention of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis.

Definition

What is hormone therapy (HT)?

DotS the definition of HT may vary. In Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – What Is MHT? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:


Hormone Therapy“Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), formerly known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), helps manage menopausal symptoms when they interfere with your life. Menopausal symptoms are caused by lowering levels of oestrogen hormones. MHT is the medical replacement of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, and sometimes testosterone”.2

In Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): About Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) the (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:

“Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment used to help menopause symptoms. It replaces the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which fall to low levels as you approach the menopause”.3

In Glossary of Terms: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)/ Hormone Therapy (HT) the Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:

“MHT are hormones that are prescribed during the menopause transition and menopause to alleviate oestrogen deficiency symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, vaginal dryness and to prevent or treat osteoporosis. MHT is also recommended for women with premature ovarian insufficiency.

Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) is the term for what was formerly referred to as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)”.4

In Menopause Glossary: H – Hormone Therapy (HT) the NAMS’s definition is:

“Hormone therapy (HT). Prescription drugs used most often when treating menopause symptoms. Encompasses ET and EPT”.5

ET

What is ET?

ET can be an abbreviation for Estrogen Therapy.

EPT

What is EPT?

EPT can be an abbreviation for Estrogen Plus Progestogen Therapy.

Contraceptive or Not

Is HT a contraceptive?

No. On page four in Contraception for the Older Woman: Hormone Replacement Therapy the WHC note:

“It is important to realise that HRT is not a method of contraception”.6

Effective or Not

How effective is HT?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits, published July 2022, the NAMS note:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats. If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your daily activities and sleep, HT may improve sleep and fatigue, mood, ability to concentrate, and overall quality of life”.7

Types

Are there different types of HT?

Yes. In HRT: Which HRT? the (British) Women’s Health Concern explain:

“The type of HRT most suited to a woman will depend on a variety of factors, including her stage in the menopausal process, and whether or not she has had a hysterectomy. Most forms of HRT combine different amounts of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone (synthetic progesterone is called progestogen).

There are over 50 different combinations of HRT currently available. Most women will make their choice whether to take HRT, and which form of HRT to take, with the help of their doctor”.8

Dose, Duration and Follow Up

What does the FDA note about choosing to use HT?

In Menopause: Hormone Treatments? the (United States) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) note:

“Menopause Hormone Therapy should always be used at the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time that you need it”.9

In BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women: Summary Consensus Statement – Key Points the British Menopause Society and Women’s Health Concern (BMS & WHC) also note:

“The HRT dosage, regimen and duration should be individualised, with annual evaluation of advantages and disadvantages”.10

2022 Joint Position Statement

What does the 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 include about HT?

In the 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, first published online, the 22 recommendations and more, include:

  • “The decision whether to take HRT, the dose and duration of its use should be made on an individualised basis after discussing the benefits and risks with each patient. This should be considered in the context of the overall benefits obtained from using HRT including symptom control and improving quality of life as well as considering the bone and cardiovascular benefits associated with HRT use. Discussions with women should also cover aspects such as when to consider stopping HRT and how this can be done (by gradually reducing the dose of HRT). No arbitrary limits should be set on age or duration of HRT intake”.11

2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The NAMS

What does The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society, published July 2022, note about HT?

In The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society the NAMS note:

“Hormone therapy remains the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and the genitourinary syndrome of menopause and has been shown to prevent bone loss and fracture. The risks of hormone therapy differ depending on type, dose, duration of use, route of administration, timing of initiation, and whether a progestogen is used. Treatment should be individualized using the best available evidence to maximize benefits and minimize risks, with periodic reevaluation of the benefits and risks of continuing therapy”.12

Benefits and Risks

What are the benefits and risks of HT?

In Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) the NHS note:

“The benefits and risks of taking HRT depend on your age, your menopause symptoms and any risk factors you have.

If you’re under 60 years old, have menopause symptoms, and are not at high risk of breast cancer or blood clots, the benefits of HRT are likely to outweigh the risks.

Talk to a GP, who will help you decide”.13

In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

“Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your doctor about your options and the risks and benefits involved with each. Review your options yearly, as your needs and treatment options may change”.14

HRT Supply In UK, 28 November 2023

What if I am experiencing difficulty obtaining HRT in the UK (United Kingdom)?

If you are experiencing this difficulty, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

Information about this HRT supply includes the:

Health Care Provider

What if I to choose to use HT?

If you choose to use HT, it may be in your best interest to also choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

On page two in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Hormone Therapy Options the NAMS elaborate on:

“Each woman must make her own decision about HT with the help of her healthcare professional. If you decide to take HT, the next step is to choose between the many HT options available to find the best dose and route for you. With guidance from your health care professional, you can try different forms of HT until you find the type and dose that treats your symptoms with few adverse effects”.15

The JH also note:

“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”.16

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hormone Therapy?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy?

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]
  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 Statement on Testosterone
  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 Hormone Therapy
  11. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  12. British Menopause Society Update on HRT Supply [Last Updated: 28 November 2023]
  13. Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Prevent Menopause Brain Changes?
  14. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  15. Continuous Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Tablets, Capsules and Patches
  16. Contraception for the Older Woman: Hormone Replacement Therapy
  17. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  18. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  19. Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Cause Cancer?
  20. Dr Louise Newson: The Truth About the Menopause & HRT
  21. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens
  22. FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  23. FDA Approves Novel Drug To Treat Moderate To Severe Hot Flashes Caused By Menopause
  24. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  25. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  26. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  27. Guidance on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  28. HRT
  29. HRT & Menopause Extra
  30. HRT In the UK: The Culture Behind the Demand
  31. HRT and Practical Prescribing Tips – Dr Louise Newson
  32. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  33. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  34. HRT: The History
  35. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  36. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) With Dr Nicky Peel & Prof. David Armstrong
  37. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  38. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  39. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  40. Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  41. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  42. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  43. Hot Flashes? Night Sweats? Progesterone Can Help Reduce Symptoms of Menopause
  44. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause: Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  45. Joint BMS FSRH RCGP RCOG SfE and RCN Women’s Health Forum Safety Alert
  46. 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
  47. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  48. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  49. Managing Menopause
  50. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  51. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  52. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  53. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  54. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and the Mind: The Role of Hormone Replacement In the Prevention and Treatment of Cognitive Decline, Dementia, and Cognitive Dysfunction of Depression
  55. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  56. Menopause
  57. Menopause & Hormones Common Questions
  58. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  59. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  60. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hormone Therapy
  61. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  62. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  63. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  64. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  65. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  66. Menopause Treatment
  67. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  68. Menopause and HRT
  69. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  70. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment
  71. Menopause: Ensuring A Tranquil Transition
  72. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  73. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  74. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  75. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  76. Oestrogen Tablets, Patches, Gel and Spray
  77. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  78. Sequential Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Tablets and Patches
  79. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  80. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  81. The Debate About Hormone Replacement Therapy During Menopause In MS: Rhonda R. Voskuhl, MD
  82. The Truth About Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  83. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  84. Tibolone
  85. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  86. Treating Menopause — MHT and Beyond
  87. Utrogestan (Micronised Progesterone)
  88. Vaginal Dryness: What To Do About It
  89. Vaginal Oestrogen
  90. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  91. Video Series-2023: Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
  92. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  93. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  94. Video Series-2023: The Aging Transgender Woman and Hormone Therapy
  95. Video: Leslie Cho, MD, Discusses CV Risks, Benefits of Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  96. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  97. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Heart Disease, Risk Factors of Developing Heart Disease, and Can I Take Hormones?
  98. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: The Women’s Health Initiative – What Can We Believe?
  99. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  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. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 01 December 2023
  2. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – What Is MHT? Last Updated: 28 November 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 01 December 2023
  3. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): About Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Page Last Reviewed: 07 February 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/about-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/ Accessed: 01 December 2023
  4. Glossary of Terms: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)/Hormone Therapy (HT). Content Updated: February 2022. Australasian Menopause Society’s https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/381-glossary-of-terms Accessed: 01 December 2023
  5. Menopause Glossary: H – Hormone Therapy (HT). North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary#H Accessed: 01 December 2023
  6. Contraception for the Older Woman: Hormone Replacement Therapy. Updated: November 2022:4. British Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/contraception-older-woman/ Accessed: 01 December 2023
  7. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 01 December 2023
  8. HRT: Which HRT? Publication Date: November 2021. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt/ Accessed: 01 December 2023
  9. 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: 01 December 2023
  10. BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women: Summary Consensus Statement – Key Points. Updated March 2021. British Menopause Society and Women’s Health Concern https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bms-whcs-2020-recommendations-on-hormone-replacement-therapy-in-menopausal-women/ Accessed: 01 December 2023
  11. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayesena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. 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. First Published Online 12 June 2022. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 01 December 2023
  12. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause: July 2022 – Volume 29 – Issue 7 – p 767-794 https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Abstract/2022/07000/The_2022_hormone_therapy_position_statement_of_The.4.aspx Accessed: 01 December 2023
  13. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Page Last Reviewed: 08 February 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/benefits-and-risks-of-hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/ Accessed: 01 December 2023
  14. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 25 May 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 01 December 2023
  15. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Hormone Therapy Options. 2022:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 01 December 2023
  16. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? Last Updated: 28 November 2023 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 01 December 2023
Topic Last Updated: 01 December 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 01 December 2023

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