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.

HT or HRT

Is HT the new HRT?

In Hormone Help Desk: ET, EPT, and More the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:

“Hormone therapy (HT) – HT is another umbrella term your healthcare provider might use that refers to either ET or EPT. The term “hormone replacement therapy” is no longer used by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or The North American Menopause Society because the goal of HT is to provide the amount of hormones required to relieve symptoms, not “replace” the amount produced before menopause. It is considered normal to have low estrogen and progesterone after menopause. Menopause is not a deficiency disease”.2

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.

Menopausal Hormone Therapy

What is menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)?

DotS the definition of MHT 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”.3

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

“Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment to relieve symptoms of the menopause. It replaces hormones that are at a lower level as you approach the menopause”.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

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)”.6

The Pill

Is the pill the same as MHT?

No. ‘The pill’ or the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) is not the same as MHT. The JH caution:

“Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is not a contraceptive. You shouldn’t rely on MHT to prevent pregnancy”.7

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”.8

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”.9

In Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks: What Is Menopause Hormone Therapy? the author explains:

“Oestrogen is usually taken in tablet form, but can be applied as a skin patch or skin gel, or as a vaginal pessary. Progesterone is taken as a capsule. There are a range of single formulations and combinations, so the dose and formulation of MHT should be tailored to each woman’s health profile and personal preferences”.10

Dose, Duration and Follow Up

What does the FDA note about choosing to use HT?

In Menopause: Hormone Treatments? the FDA note:

“Menopause Hormone Therapy should always be used at the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time that you need it”.11

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”.12

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, first published online 10 June 2022, 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 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”.13

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”.14

Benefits and Risks

What about the benefits and risks of HT?

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

“When deciding whether to have hormone replacement therapy (HRT), it’s important to understand the benefits and risks”.15

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”.16

HRT Supply In UK, April 2022

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 shortage includes:

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.

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

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”.17

On page two 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 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

  • “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”.18

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”.19

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics 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

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  1. 20 Years of Data Lead To Changes In Perceptions, Usage of Menopausal HT
  2. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  3. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  4. BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
  5. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  6. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  7. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  8. Bleeding – Perimenopausal, Postmenopausal and Breakthrough Bleeding on MHT/HRT
  9. British Menopause Society Update on HRT Supply [Last Updated: 21 November 2022]
  10. Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Prevent Menopause Brain Changes?
  11. Combined Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  12. Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  13. Complementary and Herbal Therapies for Hot Flushes
  14. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  15. Consumer Health: Menopause, Hormone Replacement Therapy and Heart Health
  16. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  17. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  18. EMAS Menopause Essentials
  19. EMAS Replay [Webinars]
  20. Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences – Women’s Profiles
  21. Estrogen & Hormones: Estrogen and the Cardiovascular System
  22. Estrogen and Progestin (Hormone Replacement Therapy)
  23. Estrogen, Hormone Therapy and Menopause
  24. Fast Facts: HRT and Breast Cancer Risk
  25. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  26. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  27. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  28. HRT
  29. HRT and Bleeding Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  30. HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  31. HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  32. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  33. HRT: The History
  34. HRT: Types, Doses and Regimens
  35. Hormone Replacement Therapy
  36. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  37. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  38. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Risks
  39. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types
  40. Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe, Despite Rare Blood Clot Risks From Tablets
  41. Hormone Therapy
  42. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  43. Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  44. Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  45. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  46. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  47. Hot Flashes? Night Sweats? Progesterone Can Help Reduce Symptoms of Menopause
  48. Jean Hailes MHT Position Statement
  49. Joint BMS, FSRH, RCGP and RCOG Position Statement on the Supply Shortages of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  50. 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
  51. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  52. Looking At HRT In Perspective
  53. MHT Still Maligned & Misunderstood: Expert
  54. Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks
  55. Managing Menopause
  56. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Estrogen Replacement Therapy After Ovary Removal
  57. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  58. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  59. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  60. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Women’s Health: An Umbrella Review
  61. 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
  62. Menopausal Hormone Therapy – Fact Sheet
  63. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  64. Menopause
  65. Menopause & Hormones Common Questions
  66. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  67. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  68. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  69. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hormone Therapy
  70. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  71. Menopause Treatment
  72. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment
  73. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  74. Menopause: HRT’s Brain-Protecting Effect May Be Overstated
  75. Menopause: Medicines To Help You
  76. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  77. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  78. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms In Depth
  79. Oestrogen Only Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  80. Optimising the Menopause Transition: 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
  81. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  82. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  83. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  84. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
  85. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  86. The Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on the Survival of UK Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study 1984−2017
  87. Treating Menopause — MHT and Beyond
  88. Types of Hormone Therapy
  89. Venous Thrombosis/Thromboembolism Risk and Menopausal Treatments
  90. Video Series-2021: Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues
  91. Video Series-2021: What Women Need to Know About Hormone Therapies
  92. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  93. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  94. Videos and Podcasts Archive: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: Prevention of Chronic Diseases In Women: Where Does MHT Fit In?
  95. Videos and Podcasts Archive: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: The Women’s Health Initiative – What Can We Believe?
  96. Webinar: Perimenopause
  97. Webinars: Previous – Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease With MHT: Where Are We Now?
  98. Webinars: Previous – The Early Menopausal Patient
  99. What Are the Benefits and Risks of HRT?
  100. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms

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: 23 September 2022
  2. Hormone Help Desk: ET, EPT, and More – Hormone Therapy (HT). North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/hormone-help-desk-et-ept-and-more Accessed: 23 September 2022
  3. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – What Is MHT? Last Updated: 08 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2021. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 23 September 2022
  4. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Overview. Page Last Reviewed: 09 September 2019. NHS  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/ Accessed: 23 September 2022
  5. Menopause Glossary: H – Hormone Therapy (HT). North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary#H Accessed: 23 September 2022
  6. 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: 23 September 2022
  7. What Is Menopause? The Menopause Transition – Perimenopause: Contraception In Perimenopause. Last Updated: 16 July 2021 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/sex Accessed: 23 September 2022
  8. 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: 23 September 2022
  9. HRT: Which HRT? Reviewed: November 2021. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt/ Accessed: 23 September 2022
  10. Davis, S. Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks: What Is Menopause Hormone Therapy? 18 November 2019. https://theconversation.com/making-sense-of-menopausal-hormone-therapy-means-understanding-the-benefits-as-well-as-the-risks-124084 Accessed: 23 September 2022
  11. 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: 23 September 2022
  12. 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: 23 September 2022
  13. 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. 12 June 2022. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 23 September 2022
  14. 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: 23 September 2022
  15. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Risks. Page Last Reviewed:09 September 2019. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/risks/ Accessed: 23 September 2022
  16. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 14 October 2020. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 23 September 2022
  17. 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: 23 September 2022
  18. Hamoda et al. Optimising the Menopause Transition: 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 10 June 2022:2 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20533691221104882 Accessed: 23 September 2022
  19. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) – How Long Do You Need To Take MHT? Last Updated: 08 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2021. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management Accessed: 23 September 2022
Topic Last Updated: 23 November 2022 – Topic Last Reviewed: 23 September 2022

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