Sage-Tips

Can I stay on hormone replacement therapy?

When to stop taking HRT Most women are able to stop taking HRT after their menopausal symptoms finish, which is usually two to five years after they start (but in some cases this can be longer). Gradually decreasing your HRT dose is usually recommended, rather than stopping suddenly.

How long can a woman stay on hormone replacement therapy?

Most women continue treatment for 2-3 years to decrease symptoms of menopause or other hormonal changes. However, there is no limit on how long you can continue treatment if you are happy with the results. For women between 40-55, hormone therapy is ideal for navigating the season of menopause and managing symptoms.

Does HRT get rid of all menopause symptoms?

HRT replaces the hormones that are missing. Most symptoms are caused by low oestrogen levels, so this is the most important hormone to replace. If you have a womb you also need a progestogen to protect the lining of the womb. HRT is extremely effective at relieving menopausal symptoms.

Does HRT just prolong menopause?

Taking HRT does not just delay the inevitable menopause symptoms. When HRT is stopped symptoms do not necessarily return. Some women do experience troublesome symptoms after stopping HRT – these symptoms would likely have been present (but masked by HRT) all the time they were taking HRT.

Can you buy over the counter estrogen?

Estradiol medications, including estradiol 2 mg tablets and ethinyl estradiol vaginal creams, are prescription medications in the United States. As such, one cannot just buy estradiol online or get estradiol OTC at a pharmacy. Instead, the first step is getting a prescription from a medical provider.

Does menopause make you look old?

Menopause causes many changes to your skin. Your body stops making as much collagen. You lose some fat under your skin and your skin’s elasticity drops. That, combined with dryness caused by hormonal changes, can cause sagging — especially around the neck, jawline, and cheeks — and fine lines and wrinkles.

What is the best hormone replacement for menopause?

Systemic hormone therapy. Systemic estrogen — which comes in pill, skin patch, gel, cream or spray form — remains the most effective treatment for the relief of troublesome menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. Estrogen can also ease vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and discomfort with intercourse.

Can you become pregnant while on hormone replacement therapy?

Albeit extremely rare, it has been reported that women who are on HRT have become pregnant after they believed they had already gone through menopause. However, when a woman begins taking HRT, their body can produce one or two more eggs and it can lead to unplanned pregnancies.

Is hormone therapy a safe treatment for menopause?

Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Hot flashes generally require a higher dose of estrogen therapy that will have an effect on the entire body.

Women who have had their uterus removed can take estrogen alone.

Is it safe to take estrogen after menopause?

Estrogen therapy or ET. Treating menopausal symptoms with estrogen alone is known as estrogen therapy (ET). ET improves the symptoms of menopause, but it increases the risk of cancer of the uterus (endometrial cancer). Because of this, ET is only safe for women who don’t have a uterus (such as those who have had a hysterectomy).