What Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy?

Menopause is the time around the age of 51 when your body makes much less of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone and you stop having periods. This can cause troublesome symptoms for some women. As early as your forties, you may start having signs like irregular periods or hot flashes (sudden warmth, often followed by sweating).

Doctors sometimes prescribe estrogen to ease these symptoms. This can also protect against the loss of bone after menopause. But there are risks. Estrogen used alone can cause cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer). According to the National Cancer Institute, about 5 cases of endometrial cancer may develop in every 10,000 women using this hormone for 10 years. This is about 4 more cases than we would expect in a group of 10,000 women who don’t use estrogen. More importantly estrogen used alone can cause a thickening of the lining of the uterus and irregular bleeding. But, if you have had a total hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus and cervix), you can use estrogen alone (estrogen therapy or ET). Several types of estrogen are available. They come in many forms. You can use a pill or tablet, a skin patch, vaginal cream, vaginal ring insert, implant, or shot. Read more...