Hormone Replacement Therapy (including Risks and Benefits …

Around the time of the menopause, declining levels of oestrogen and progesterone can bring about many symptomatic changes for women:

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be an effective treatment for the typical menopause-related symptoms. There are also other long-term health problems associated with the menopause: the risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke all increase after the menopause. HRT may also have an influence on these health problems.

This article discusses HRT in detail. A separate article Menopause and its Management discusses menopausal symptoms, differential diagnosis and possible investigations (although the diagnosis is usually clinically based on the typical symptoms). It also discusses health problems associated with the menopause and gives an overview of management. See separate related articlesHRT- Topical.

Current evidence-based guidelines advise consideration of HRT for troublesome vasomotor symptoms in perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women without contra-indications and after individualised discussion of likely risks and benefits.

Starting HRT in women over the age of 60 years is generally not recommended.

For women with premature (age <40 years) or early (<45 years) menopause, current guidelines recommend HRT until the age of 51 years for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms and bone preservation.

Current indications for the use of HRT are:

For most symptomatic women, use of HRT for five years or less is safe and effective. Benefits of HRT include:

Reduction in vasomotor symptoms

Improvement in quality of life

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Hormone Replacement Therapy (including Risks and Benefits ...