Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
What is it?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces hormones that your ovaries no longer produce after the menopause1,4. The loss of oestrogen and progesterone causes symptoms, such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness1,4. By reintroducing low doses of these hormones, HRT helps to relieve these symptoms1,4.
If you've gone through the menopause, and have, or are at risk of osteoporosis, your GP may prescribe HRT for longer-term prevention if other treatments aren't suitable1,4. You can take HRT in tablets or implants under the skin, patches, and as a nasal spray1,4. To ease symptoms in the vaginal area, you can use a cream, pessary, or vaginal ring containing oestrogen4.
There are three main types of HRT4:
Oestrogen-only HRT is recommended for women who have had their ovaries and womb removed.
Cyclical or continuous sequential HRT is recommended for women who have had a natural menopause, or who are approaching the menopause but are still having periods and menopausal symptoms. Cyclical HRT contains oestrogen and a progestogen - a form of progesterone, and will produce regular bleeding.
Continuous combined or period-free HRT is recommended for women who are post-menopausal. It contains similar hormones to cyclical HRT but doesn't cause regular bleeding.
Oestrogen used in HRT is taken from plants or from the urine of pregnant horses, while the progesterone is a synthetic version of the hormone progestogen4. There is much evidence showing that HRT is the most effective treatment for relief of menopause symptoms1,4. It can make a great difference to women who find their symptoms affect the quality of their life1,4.
