How many women use hrt

It can also help prevent weakening of the bones osteoporosis , which is more common after the menopause. The benefits of HRT are generally believed to outweigh the risks. Read more about the risks of HRT. You can usually begin HRT as soon as you start experiencing menopausal symptoms and will not usually need to have any tests first. A GP can explain the different types of HRT available and help you choose one that's suitable for you.

You'll usually start with a low dose, which may be increased at a later stage. It may take a few weeks to feel the effects of treatment and there may be some side effects at first. A GP will usually recommend trying treatment for 3 months to see if it helps. If it does not, they may suggest changing your dose, or changing the type of HRT you're taking. A GP can give you advice to help you choose which type is best for you.

You may need to try more than 1 type before you find 1 that works best. Find out more about the different types of HRT. Taking HRT tablets is associated with a small increase in the risk of stroke, but the risk of stroke for women under age 60 is generally very low, so the overall risk is still small. Page last reviewed: 09 September Next review due: 09 September Benefits of HRT The main benefit of HRT is that it can help relieve most menopausal symptoms , such as: hot flushes night sweats mood swings vaginal dryness reduced sex drive HRT can also help prevent thinning of the bones, which can lead to fracture osteoporosis.

Breast cancer There is little or no change in the risk of breast cancer if you take oestrogen-only HRT. Combined HRT can be associated with a small increase in the risk of breast cancer. The increased risk is related to how long you take HRT, and it falls after you stop taking it. 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. Venous thromboses are blood clots that form inside veins.

Women under 50 years of age, and women aged 50 to 60, face an increased risk of venous thrombosis if they take oral HRT. The increase in risk seems to be highest in the first year or two of therapy and in women who already have a high risk of blood clots. This especially applies to women who have a genetic predisposition to developing thrombosis, who would normally not be advised to use HRT.

Limited research to date suggests the increased risk of clots is mainly related to combined oestrogen and progestogen in oral tablet form, and also depends on the type of progestogen used. Some studies suggest a lower risk with non-oral therapy patches, implants or gels or tibolone.

The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. Use of oestrogen-only HRT increases the risk of endometrial cancer, but this risk is not seen with combined continuous oestrogen and progestogen treatment. There is no risk if a woman has had her uterus removed hysterectomy. The increased risk of ovarian cancer is very small and estimated to be one extra case per 10, HRT users per year.

A recent review linked HRT to two types of tumours: serous and endometrioid cancers. Cholecystitis is a disease in which gallstones in the gallbladder block ducts, causing infection and inflammation.