If you are considering hormone therapy, or hormone replacement therapy, to managemenopause symptoms, you may be feeling anxious about the risks associated with this treatment. It is completely normal to feel this way. There is a lot of misinformation and confusion about the pros and cons of using hormones to manage menopause.

This article explains what studies have found regarding the safety and effectiveness of hormone therapy for menopause and the different types of hormone therapy.

Regarding the benefits and risks of hormone therapy, the 2017 position statement from the North American Menopause Society notes:

There are many different types, dosages, and formulations of hormone therapy depending on your specific needs.

The National Institutes of Health’s Women’s Health Initiative hormone therapy trial suggested that there may be an increased risk of cancer with the use of certain hormones and hormone combinations in hormone therapy for menopause. However, certain types do not increase risk of cancer.Be sure to speak to a healthcare provider about these combinations and your risk of cancer.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Linked to Increase in Breast Cancer Risk

Oral Estrogen

There are several different strengths available, which allows for a range of dosing options. If you have auterus, you will also need to take some form of aprogesterone. This protects yourendometrium, or uterine lining, from the effects of estrogen, which is linked to an increased risk ofendometrial cancer.

Transdermal Estrogen

Transdermal estrogen is a type of hormone therapy that is absorbed through the skin. This has a few benefits:

Types of transdermal options include patches, gels, topical emulsions, and sprays. How well each type absorbs can vary. If you have a uterus, you will also need to take some form of a progesterone.

Vaginal Estrogen

This type of hormone therapy typically results in lower levels of estrogen in your bloodstream. Because of this, it is usually only used to treat concerns likevaginal dryness, painful sex, andpain or difficulty peeing. The one exception is the higher dose vaginal ring Femring, which may be used to also treathot flashes.

Vaginal estrogens are available in creams, which are applied on the inside of the vagina. They are also available as rings and tablets, which are inserted into the vagina.

Except for the higher dose ring, these vaginal preparations can be used safely without progesterone, even if you have a uterus.

How to Soothe Vaginal Dryness From Menopause

Progestin-Progesterone

If you are starting hormone therapy and you have a uterus, you will need to use some type of a progestin or progesterone to protect the lining of your uterus. Over time, estrogen that isn’t balanced out with progesterone can lead toendometrial hyperplasia, a condition that causes abnormal uterine bleeding. It can also lead to endometrial cancer.

These progestin/progesterone options are available as:

Combination Estrogen and Progestin

For some individuals, it may be preferable to use a product that contains both hormones. This can help with menopause-related symptoms, including hot flashes, and may also reduce the risk of colon cancer.

This type of hormone therapy is available in pill form and as a transdermal patch.

A Word From Verywell

The hormone changes associated with menopause can cause very uncomfortable symptoms. These may be improved with the use of hormone therapy. If you are considering hormone therapy, discuss your options with a healthcare provider, so you have plenty of information to make an informed decision.

Frequently Asked QuestionsEstrogen and combined estrogen and progestin are the types of therapies used to help with menopause symptoms.Learn MoreSymptoms of Early MenopauseCommon side effects may include spotting, bloating, headaches, and breast soreness.Learn MoreShould You Use Hormone Therapy During Menopause?Research suggests that hormone therapy for menopause is not associated with weight gain.Learn MoreMenopause Weight Gain: Why It Happens and What to Do

Frequently Asked Questions

Estrogen and combined estrogen and progestin are the types of therapies used to help with menopause symptoms.Learn MoreSymptoms of Early Menopause

Estrogen and combined estrogen and progestin are the types of therapies used to help with menopause symptoms.

Learn MoreSymptoms of Early Menopause

Common side effects may include spotting, bloating, headaches, and breast soreness.Learn MoreShould You Use Hormone Therapy During Menopause?

Common side effects may include spotting, bloating, headaches, and breast soreness.

Learn MoreShould You Use Hormone Therapy During Menopause?

Research suggests that hormone therapy for menopause is not associated with weight gain.Learn MoreMenopause Weight Gain: Why It Happens and What to Do

Research suggests that hormone therapy for menopause is not associated with weight gain.

Learn MoreMenopause Weight Gain: Why It Happens and What to Do

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.North American Menopause Society.The 2017 hormone therapy position statement of the North American Menopause Society.Menopause. 2017;24(7):728-753. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000921American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hormone therapy for menopause.Kopper NW, Gudeman J, Thompson DJ.Transdermal hormone therapy in postmenopausal women: a review of metabolic effects and drug delivery technologies.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2009;2:193-202. doi:10.2147/dddt.s4146MedlinePlus.Estrogen vaginal.Lindahl SH.Reviewing the options for local estrogen treatment of vaginal atrophy.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:307-312. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S52555Liang Y, Jiao H, Qu L, Liu H.Association between hormone replacement therapy and development of endometrial cancer: results from a prospective us cohort study.Front Med. 2022;8:802959. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.802959The North American Menopause Society.Changes in weight and fat distribution.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.North American Menopause Society.The 2017 hormone therapy position statement of the North American Menopause Society.Menopause. 2017;24(7):728-753. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000921American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hormone therapy for menopause.Kopper NW, Gudeman J, Thompson DJ.Transdermal hormone therapy in postmenopausal women: a review of metabolic effects and drug delivery technologies.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2009;2:193-202. doi:10.2147/dddt.s4146MedlinePlus.Estrogen vaginal.Lindahl SH.Reviewing the options for local estrogen treatment of vaginal atrophy.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:307-312. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S52555Liang Y, Jiao H, Qu L, Liu H.Association between hormone replacement therapy and development of endometrial cancer: results from a prospective us cohort study.Front Med. 2022;8:802959. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.802959The North American Menopause Society.Changes in weight and fat distribution.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

North American Menopause Society.The 2017 hormone therapy position statement of the North American Menopause Society.Menopause. 2017;24(7):728-753. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000921American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hormone therapy for menopause.Kopper NW, Gudeman J, Thompson DJ.Transdermal hormone therapy in postmenopausal women: a review of metabolic effects and drug delivery technologies.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2009;2:193-202. doi:10.2147/dddt.s4146MedlinePlus.Estrogen vaginal.Lindahl SH.Reviewing the options for local estrogen treatment of vaginal atrophy.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:307-312. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S52555Liang Y, Jiao H, Qu L, Liu H.Association between hormone replacement therapy and development of endometrial cancer: results from a prospective us cohort study.Front Med. 2022;8:802959. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.802959The North American Menopause Society.Changes in weight and fat distribution.

North American Menopause Society.The 2017 hormone therapy position statement of the North American Menopause Society.Menopause. 2017;24(7):728-753. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000921

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hormone therapy for menopause.

Kopper NW, Gudeman J, Thompson DJ.Transdermal hormone therapy in postmenopausal women: a review of metabolic effects and drug delivery technologies.Drug Des Devel Ther. 2009;2:193-202. doi:10.2147/dddt.s4146

MedlinePlus.Estrogen vaginal.

Lindahl SH.Reviewing the options for local estrogen treatment of vaginal atrophy.Int J Womens Health. 2014;6:307-312. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S52555

Liang Y, Jiao H, Qu L, Liu H.Association between hormone replacement therapy and development of endometrial cancer: results from a prospective us cohort study.Front Med. 2022;8:802959. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.802959

The North American Menopause Society.Changes in weight and fat distribution.

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