Hrt how long

It is a natural event that marks the end of the reproductive years, just as the first menstrual period during puberty marks the start. Many women, although not all, experience uncomfortable symptoms before and after menopause, including hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbance and vaginal dryness. These symptoms and physical changes can be managed in various ways, including lifestyle changes such as healthier eating and increased exercise, and by hormone replacement therapy HRT.

HRT is used to treat menopausal symptoms. While HRT reduces the likelihood of some debilitating diseases such as osteoporosis, colorectal bowel cancer and heart disease, it may increase the chances of developing a blood clot when given in tablet form or breast cancer when some types are used long-term.

For women who experience premature or early menopause, HRT is strongly recommended until the average age of menopause around 51 years , unless there is a particular reason for a woman not to take it. Other therapies, including vaginal oestrogen products, antidepressants or other medications, may be used depending on the symptoms and risk factors.

Seek advice from your doctor. HRT reduces the risk of various chronic conditions that can affect postmenopausal women, including:. HRT needs to be prescribed for each woman individually.

Some women experience side effects during the early stages of treatment, depending on the type and dose of HRT. These side effects will usually settle within the first few months of treatment and may include:. These small risks must be balanced against the benefits of HRT for the individual woman. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have.

Women over 50 years of age who use combined oestrogen and progestogen progesterone replacement for less than five years have little or no increased risk of breast cancer.

Women who use combined HRT for more than five years have a slightly increased risk. Women on oestrogen alone have no increased risk up to 15 years of usage. There is no evidence to suggest that a woman with a family history of breast cancer will have an added increased risk of developing breast cancer if she uses HRT.

The risk with combined oestrogen and progestogen is greater than with oestrogen alone, or with newer HRT agents such as tibolone sold as Livial or Xyvion , and may also depend on the type of progestogen used. Studies suggest that medroxyprogesterone acetate and norethisterone have higher risks than dydrogesterone and progesterone. Women over 60 have a small increased risk of developing heart disease or stroke on combined oral tablet HRT. Although the increase in risk is small, it needs to be considered when starting HRT, as the risk occurs early in treatment and persists with time.

Oestrogen used on its own increases the risk of stroke further if taken in tablet form, but not if using a skin patch. Similarly, tibolone increases the risk of stroke in women from their mids. Women who commence HRT around the typical time of menopause have lower risks of cardiovascular disease than women aged 60 or more. We would not recommend the use of bio-identical hormones that have not been licensed by the UK regulatory authorities, and indeed would strongly caution women against obtaining such products.

There are more than 50 types of HRT available: HRT can be given orally tablets , transdermally through the skin ; subcutaneously a long-lasting implant ; or vaginally. Women wishing to start HRT should carefully discuss the benefits and risks of treatment with their doctor to see what is right for them, taking into account their age, medical history, risk factors and personal preferences.

For the majority of women who use HRT for the short-term treatment of symptoms of the menopause, the benefits of treatment are considered to outweigh the risks. The lowest effective HRT dose should be taken, with duration of use depending on the clinical reasons for use. HRT remains licensed for osteoporosis prevention and can be considered the treatment of choice for women starting treatment below age 60 years, and especially for those with a premature menopause.

Women on HRT should be re-assessed by their doctor at least annually. For some women, long-term use of HRT may be necessary for continued symptom relief and quality of life. Many health centres and practices have a doctor with a special interest in postmenopausal health. However, if your family doctor does not have sufficient knowledge of the current situation concerning the benefits and risks of HRT and many have lost confidence in prescribing because of the recent scares, then it is your right to request advice from a local Menopause clinic or a specialist with known expertise in menopausal health.

It is for your information and advice and should be used in consultation with your own medical practitioner. HRT: Benefits and risks. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

The risk is linked to all types of HRT except vaginal oestrogen. The increased risk of breast cancer falls after you stop taking HRT, but some increased risk remains for more than 10 years compared to women who have never used HRT. Gradually decreasing your HRT dose is usually recommended because it's less likely to cause your symptoms to come back in the short term.

Contact a GP if you have symptoms that persist for several months after you stop HRT, or if you have particularly severe symptoms. You may need to start HRT again. As with any medicine, HRT can cause side effects. But these will usually pass within 3 months of starting treatment. If you're unable to take HRT or decide not to, you may want to consider alternative ways of controlling your menopausal symptoms. Several remedies such as bioidentical hormones are claimed to help with menopausal symptoms, but these are not recommended because it's not clear how safe and effective they are.

When required to protect the womb lining from being stimulated by oestrogen, progestogen is available as:. A low dose of HRT hormones is usually prescribed to begin with. If you need to, you can increase your dose at a later stage.

Once you've started HRT, it's best to take it for a few months to see if it works well for you. If not, you can try a different type or increase the dose. In these circumstances, a different type of medication may be prescribed to help manage your menopausal symptoms. Both hormones used in hormone replacement therapy HRT , oestrogen and progestogen, have side effects.

Side effects usually improve over time, so it's best to try the treatment plan you have been prescribed for at least 3 months. Many women believe taking HRT will make them put on weight, but there is no evidence that this is the case. You may gain some weight during the menopause, but this often happens whether you take HRT or not.

Exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet can help you to maintain a healthy weight. Recent findings show that although not completely risk-free, HRT remains the most effective solution for helping with symptoms of menopause and is also effective for the prevention of osteoporosis.

It may also provide protection against heart disease. When deciding whether to have hormone replacement therapy HRT , it is also important to understand the risks. You may have heard about a link between breast cancer and HRT.