What is hormone replacement therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy, commonly known as HRT, is the standard pharmaceutical treatment for menopausal symptoms. It is usually made up of two kinds of hormones oestrogens and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone). Levels of these hormones fall after menopause, and hormone replacement therapy helps relieve symptoms and has some long-term health benefits, such as osteoporosis prevention. There are, however, many controversies over the risks and benefits of HRT: see Hormone Replacement Therapy for a full discussion.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a prescription dose of estrogen and progestin given mainly to menopausal women to help balance out some of the physical changes that occur during menopause. Some women are reluctant to take HRT because of the risks, including the possibility of increasing breast cancer risk. HRT can also have some uncomfortable side effects such as breast tenderness, cramping, irritability, depression, and possibly spotting or a return of monthly periods for a few months or years.
