What should you know about HRT for menopause?

Menopause symptoms arise as ovarian hormone levels change. HRT may reduce hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and related sleep, mood or sexual difficulties. Oestrogen may be given through the skin, by mouth or locally in the vagina. If the womb is present, a progestogen is usually considered to protect its lining when whole-body oestrogen is used.

HRT is a treatment for symptoms and selected health needs, not a universal requirement. A clinician will consider the timing of menopause, unexplained bleeding, migraine, liver disease, previous clots, cancer history and other medicines before making a recommendation. Different preparations can have different side effects and practical advantages.

Write down the symptoms you want to improve and how they affect sleep, work, relationships or comfort. Share your medical and family history, including clotting problems and breast or womb conditions. Follow the prescribed schedule, use patches or gels as directed, and attend a review to discuss symptom response, bleeding and side effects.

Lifestyle measures, lubricants or non-hormonal medicines may be useful alongside or instead of HRT for some symptoms. Do not borrow products or alter doses without clinical advice.

Get urgent help for chest pain, sudden breathing difficulty, coughing blood, a swollen painful leg, collapse or new weakness affecting one side. Contact your clinician promptly for unexpected bleeding, a new breast lump or skin change, severe headache, or yellowing of the skin. These symptoms deserve assessment rather than an assumption that they are ordinary HRT effects.

Ask which symptom HRT is targeting, whether you need progestogen, which form is practical, what side effects to watch for, how long before review, and what non-hormonal options could help.