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Is HRT OK for Women in Early Menopause?

Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia and anxiety associated with menopause may leave a sufferer frustrated and exhausted. Hormone replacement therapy may provide relief to women experiencing uncomfortable menopausal symptoms.

  1. Function

    • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to treat the symptoms of menopause by replacing the diminishing production of hormones produced by the body with synthetic hormones that are created in a laboratory.

    History

    • The use of hormone replacement therapy declined in 2002 after the initial study results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) were published, according to the Mayo Clinic. The results showed that women taking HRT were at greater risk of breast cancer and heart disease.

    New View

    • At the First Global Summit on Menopause-Related Issues held in 2008, it was determined that the group used in the original WHI study did not include a fair representation of women who take HRT, according to eScienceNews.com. The average age of a participant was 63 years old, many had high blood pressure and were obese, and almost half were current or past smokers.

    Safety

    • Short-term hormone replacement therapy for women in early menopause, also known as perimenopause, is safe and appropriate, according to Medical News Today and eScienceNews.com.

    Ask a Doctor

    • Women experiencing perimenopause symptoms should seek medical help and discuss the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy with a health care professional. HRT should be used only if the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.

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