In this Article

• What is menopause?
• Does menopause cause bone loss?
• What are estrogen therapy and hormone therapy (HT)?
• What are the side effects and risks of hormone therapy (HT)?
• How is hormone therapy (HT) prescribed?
• Who should take hormone therapy (HT)?
• Who should not take hormone therapy (HT)
• What medical checkups are advised for women on hormone therapy (HT)?
• What if a woman decides against hormone therapy (HT)?
• Hormone Therapy At A Glance
• Hormone Therapy Index

Who should take hormone therapy (HT)?

• Women with hot flashes , especially when they are causing sleep disturbance, should consider hormone therapy (HT). Estrogen given short-term is the most effective treatment for hot flashes, and benefit of short-term (less than 5 years) use outweighs potential risks for most women.

• Because the risks outweigh the benefits of long-term hormone therapy (HT) for most women, women who are at risk of, or who have been diagnosed with, osteoporosis should talk to their doctors about non-estrogen medications such as alendronate (Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel), raloxifene (Evista), teriparatide (Forteo), and calcitonin (Miacalcin) in preventing and treating osteoporosis.

• Women with vaginal dryness or itching due to menopause. Oral pills, skin patches, gel, or vaginal forms of estrogen can be used. Women who only have vaginal menopause symptoms and are not experiencing hot flashes should pick a vaginal form of estrogen, whereas women with both hot flashes and vaginal symptoms can use any form of ET. Sometimes, if a woman has both hot flashes and vaginal symptoms, both oral and vaginal forms of ET will be prescribed together, especially if vaginal symptoms do not improve with oral ET alone.

Who should not take hormone therapy (HT)?

• Contrary to common myth, women with high blood pressure that is controlled by medication can take hormone therapy (HT) because hormone therapy (HT) does not cause significant elevations in blood pressure. A major medical reason for not taking hormone therapy (HT) is a personal medical history of breast cancer or uterus cancer. Women with abnormal vaginal bleeding should have an evaluation prior to embarking on hormone therapy (HT) to exclude the presence of cancer of the uterus. Similarly, routine mammograms and breast examinations are important to exclude the presence of breast cancer.

• While hormone therapy (HT) may be used in women with migraines or liver disease, certain types of hormone therapy (HT) (often a patch or vaginal form) may be chosen to try to avoid aggravating these conditions.

• Women should not be taking hormone therapy (HT) to prevent heart disease, and should initiate hormone therapy (HT) only with caution if they already have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease (such as past heart attack), as hormone therapy (HT) may be increase the risk of heart attacks.

• Women with a personal history of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the veins) should avoid hormone therapy (HT).

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

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