Is HRT a life-long treatment?
Until a few years ago, the use of HRT was common practice in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. The effects on the woman’s well-being were substantial, and the treatment was usually well tolerated. Therefore, treatment was often continued for years and even decades, merely to prevent the long-term effects of oestrogen-deficiency, like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Since the publishing of the results obtained from the Million Women Study, gynaecologists and other physicians have changed their attitude towards HRT. Nowadays, HRT is still the most effective and best tolerated treatment for peri-menopausal complaints, like hot flushes, palpitations and vaginal atrophy. But, instead of continuing therapy without periodical assessment of its benefits and risks, these days your therapy will be evaluated regularly, e.g. every year. Therapy should only be continued as long as the benefits outweigh the risks. Your gynaecologist or family doctor may also advise you to interrupt your
Until a few years ago, the use of HRT was common practice in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. The effect on the woman’s well-being was substantial and the treatment was usually well tolerated. Therefore, treatment was often continued for years and even decades, merely to prevent the long-term effects of oestrogen-deficiency, like osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Nowadays, HRT is still an effective treatment for peri-menopausal complaints, like hot flushes, palpitations and vaginal atrophy. But now your therapy will be evaluated regularly, e.g. every year or more frequently. Therapy should only be continued as long as the benefits outweigh the risks. Your doctor may also advise you to interrupt your treatment to see if symptoms return. If so, you’ll restart HRT. If not, you can abandon treatment. If necessary, other treatments will be initiated to prevent the long-term effects caused by a lack of oestrogen.
