In these situations HRT is often given through the skin transdermally. Despite the risks of long-term use, in women with severe and persistent menopausal symptoms, HRT may be the only effective therapy.
Women with premature or early menopause are prescribed HRT long-term because of their increased risks of earlier onset of heart disease, osteoporosis, and some neurological conditions compared to women undergoing menopause around the age of 50 years.
Seek specialist advice from a menopause clinic or menopause specialist. Regular check-ups are recommended. It is advisable for women with a history of breast cancer to avoid HRT unless other treatments are ineffective, and their quality of life is made intolerable by menopausal symptoms.
Evidence has not conclusively shown that HRT will increase the risk of breast cancer recurring in a woman with a history of the disease. However, oestrogen and progestogens forms of progesterone may stimulate some types of cells in the breast and some types of HRT use have been associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer in women without a history of breast cancer. It is not recommended that women at high risk of breast cancer , or breast cancer survivors, take highly processed soy supplements which are high in phytoestrogens , but eating moderate amounts of whole soy foods appears to be healthy.
Studies have shown that some prescription medications can reduce hot flushes and sweats. These treatments may be an option if HRT cannot be used for health or other reasons, and should be discussed with a doctor. The herbal medicine , black cohosh, may take the edge off hot flushes and sweats, but there is no data to support long-term use.
There is also a rare liver condition that may be associated with the use of black cohosh. Commercially available vaginal moisturisers such as Replens may reduce vaginal dryness if used regularly.
Consult your doctor about what will work best for you. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances.
The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Hormonal system endocrine. Home Hormonal system endocrine. Hormone replacement therapy HRT and menopause. Gradually decreasing your HRT dose is usually recommended, rather than stopping suddenly.
You may find that your menopausal symptoms come back after you stop HRT, but these should pass within a few months. Treatment may need to be restarted, usually at a lower dose. After you have stopped HRT, you may still need help to manage vaginal dryness and to prevent osteoporosis. Read about the best ways to prevent osteoporosis. Cream, lubricants and local oestrogen preparations are available for vaginal dryness and discomfort.
You don't need to suffer from vaginal dryness and discomfort without treatment. If you decide that you do not wish to take HRT, there are a number of alternative treatments to manage your menopause symptoms. Further information about treating menopause symptoms.
Hormone replacement therapy HRT. The aim of HRT is to restore female hormone levels, which can bring relief to many women. Find your local services Search for a service near you by entering your postcode below. Please input your postcode in the following format: A12 1BC. NHS inform has more information on this condition. Read more. Hormone therapy: Is it right for you? Products and services. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.
Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references AskMayoExpert. Menopausal hormone therapy adult. Mayo Clinic; Martin KA, et al. Treatment of menopausal symptoms with hormone therapy.
Accessed March 25, Menopausal hormone therapy: Benefits and risks. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice Bulletin No.
Reaffirmed North American Menopause Society. Nonhormonal management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms: position statement of The North American Menopause Society. However, choosing the right dose and delivery of HRT will be of huge benefit in helping you deal effectively with your menopausal symptoms. It is important to consider, with your doctor or other medical professional, your age, medical history and overall health when deciding which type of HRT to try. We are all individuals and just because one type of HRT works for someone else does not mean it is best for you.
It may be a case of trial and error, trying different options before making a final choice. Knowing more about HRT, the different forms and who they are most suited to will help. See our guide below to point you in the right direction:. Firstly, it is good to understand what HRT is. It involves supplying two main hormones: estrogen and progestogen a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone.
Estrogen is a sex hormone that has many roles in the body, including building up womb lining during the menstrual cycle, maintaining bone health and protecting against heart disease. Progesterone is important for egg fertilisation and maintaining a pregnancy. Choosing how to take HRT may be a matter of personal preference unless there is a health reason why you should take a particular form.
It is important to discuss your medical history and the different types of HRT with your doctor. Here are the main options:.
Tablets: one of the easiest and most common ways of taking HRT either combined or estrogen-only is in tablet form.
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