The type of hormone therapy that's right for you depends on a number of factors, such as whether you've had a hysterectomy, your stage of menopause, and your personal situation. The type of hormone therapy that's right for you depends on a number of factors, such as whether you've had a hysterectomy, your stage of menopause, and your personal preferences. To find out if menopausal hormone therapy is a good option for you, talk to your health professional about your symptoms and health risks. You can also ask your healthcare professional to help you find a certified menopause expert. Or consult a professional organization such as The Menopause Society.
Be sure to keep the conversation going during menopause. Even after you've decided to undergo estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), decision-making isn't over. There are many types of estrogen therapy in many different forms: pills, patches, suppositories and more. The best type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) depends on your health condition, your symptoms, your personal preferences, and what you need to complete treatment.
For example, if you still have a uterus, you will be given estrogen in combination with the hormone progestin. You can take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) if you have menopausal symptoms, including during perimenopause and after your periods stop (postmenopause). The type of hormone therapy that's right for you depends on what stage of menopause you're in find. Learn more about the types of HRT If you have menopausal symptoms that bother you, consider talking to a GP about starting HRT.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not a treatment that fits all treatments; the type and dose given will vary depending on your needs. There are many different combinations available, which can be taken in a variety of ways: oral tablets, skin patches (such as band-aids), gels or sprays. The optimal type of hormone replacement therapy is the same as that of the body: the hormones are the same as those that occur naturally in the body. Download this information in PDF format.
Tibolone (brand name Livial) is a prescription medication similar to combination hormone therapy (estrogen and progestogen), but it also has an effect on testosterone. You want to alleviate vaginal dryness and pain during sex and not have other symptoms, such as hot flashes, that won't improve with this form of hormone replacement therapy. The way you administer hormone therapy depends on different factors, such as if you had a hysterectomy, if you're in the early stages of menopause and you're still having menstrual periods (perimenopause), or if you haven't had a period for more than 1 year (postmenopause). As you age, and especially after age 60, the risks of HRT may begin to outweigh the benefits.
Estrogen levels in your body decrease during perimenopause and menopause, and once you've been through menopause, your estrogen levels will remain low forever if you don't take HRT. If you need both estrogen and progestogen, your routine for taking HRT depends on several factors, such as if you are in the early stages of menopause and are still having periods (perimenopause) or if you haven't had a period for 1 year or more (postmenopause). Some of the risks of hormonal hormone therapy, such as the formation of blood clots, are greater with tablets than with patches, gel or spray (although the overall risk remains low). Continuous combined HRT is recommended if you are postmenopausal and haven't had a period for a year.
Using patches can also help avoid some side effects of HRT, such as indigestion, and unlike tablets, they don't increase the risk of blood clots. Hormone replacement therapy comes in different forms, such as tablets, gels, patches and pessaries, and many women are confused by the options available. People who used hormone replacement therapy absorbed through the skin, such as gels, patches or creams, were not at greater risk of blood clot formation. This type of hormone therapy could be described as “natural”, but it's not identical to the body, as it contains many types of estrogen that the body doesn't need.
HRT involves taking estrogen and progestogen (combined HRT) or simply taking estrogen (estrogen-only HRT). If you're over 50 and are taking hormone replacement therapy to ease menopausal symptoms, a GP might recommend that you try to stop taking it every 2 or 3 years to see if you still need it or if your symptoms have improved.
