Hormone Replacement Therapy Also called: ERT, Estrogen replacement therapy, HRT, Menopausal hormone therapy Summary Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her period stops. It is a normal part of aging. In the years before and during menopause, the levels of female hormones can go up and down. This can cause symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Some women take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also called menopausal hormone therapy, to relieve these symptoms. HRT may also protect against osteoporosis. However, HRT also has risks. It can increase your risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Certain types of HRT have a higher risk, and each woman’s own risks can vary depending upon her health history and lifestyle. You and your health care provider need to discuss the risks and benefits for you. If you do decide to take HRT, it should be the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time needed. Taking hormones should be re-evaluated every six months. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institute on Aging Related Issues Bioidentical Hormones and Menopause Hormone Health Network Hormone Replacement Therapy and Your Heart Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Hormone Replacement Therapy: Can It Cause Vaginal Bleeding? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Is it Safe to Take Hormones to Treat Menopause Symptoms? Array Menopause: Medicines to Help You Food and Drug Administration What You Should Know about Hormone Therapy Health Risks and Benefits North American Menopause Society Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Estrogen Replacement Therapy National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Hormone Replacement Therapy National Institutes of Health Array Deciding about hormone therapy Types of hormone therapy Encyclopedia Estrogen overdose Statistics and Research Estrogen Therapy Has No Long-Term Effect on Cognition in Younger Postmenopausal Women Array Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices: What the Science Says National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Find an Expert Hormone Health Network Hormone Health Network National Institute on Aging National Institute on Aging womenshealth.gov Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Start Here Hormone Therapy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Hormone Therapy and Health Risks Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Hormones and Menopause National Institute on Aging Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Cancer National Cancer Institute Menopause Food and Drug Administration Menopause and Hormones Food and Drug Administration Menopause: Hormone Replacement Therapy American Academy of Family Physicians Patient Handouts Hormones and Menopause National Institute on Aging Specifics Menopausal Hormone Therapy for the Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Treatments and Therapies Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Time to Talk: 4 Things to Know about Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Journal Articles Estrogen replacement therapy Estrogen-progestin replacement therapy
