When you decide to stop taking HRT, you may choose to stop taking it suddenly, but it is usually recommended to reduce the dose gradually over 3 to 6 months. Your symptoms may come back for a short time when you stop taking it. This is less likely to happen if you reduce your dose gradually. Decisions about how long to continue hormone therapy now depend on individual health factors, symptoms and personal goals.
In a nutshell, you can stick with menopausal hormone therapy as long as it works for you. Hormone therapy does not cause these conditions, but they are considered contraindications, meaning that people with these health problems should not start or continue hormone therapy because of increased risks. Are you wondering how long you can safely continue to receive hormone replacement therapy (HRT)? In this powerful post, Dr. Couri discusses the latest scientific and expert guidelines that reveal that there is no set time limit for the TRH.
Discover how long-term therapy can improve heart health, bone strength, brain function, and mood, and more safely and effectively, when customized for you. Some women can continue taking hormones for two or three years, while others will need five to seven years, or maybe longer. The goal is to take the lowest dose that will treat and control symptoms so that the benefits outweigh the risks. Usually, most people take hormone replacement therapy for five years or less.
However, there's no set time frame and it can vary depending on the severity of your symptoms, the type of hormone replacement therapy you're taking, and your preferences. This information also applies if you were taking hormone replacement therapy but stopped taking it reluctantly and as directed by your doctor. If you want to start hormone replacement therapy again, consult another healthcare professional if necessary and explain why you want to take it again. The NICE guidelines make it clear that women can continue taking hormone replacement therapy as long as the benefits outweigh the risks and, in the case of most healthy women, this is for always.
Unfortunately, there remains some confusion surrounding the recommended duration of menopausal hormone therapy, leading to a closer look at evolving guidelines. Previously, women were advised that they could only continue hormone therapy for up to five years because of concerns about the risk of breast cancer, but this is not based on good quality evidence and is not relevant for women who take identical hormones into the body.
