How long can you be on HRT for?

There's no limit on how long you can take HRT, but talk to a GP about how long they recommend you take the treatment. Most women stop taking it once their menopausal symptoms pass, which is usually after a few years.

How long can you safely be on 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).

What happens if you take HRT for too long?

HRT was associated with increased risk of faecal incontinence, fibroids, gallbladder disease and gallstones, hearing loss, joint swelling, rheumatoid arthritis, and urinary incontinence (68,69,97,112–116).

What is considered long-term use of HRT?

Otherwise, HRT should not be recommended for treatment durations of more than five years, and treatment should be discontinued in women at risk of complications. Recent large, randomized, placebo-controlled trials have shown substantial risks and limited benefits in the long-term use of HRT.

Can you take HRT 12 years after menopause?

However, most women who are otherwise fit and well do still gain benefits from taking HRT even if it has been more than 10 years since their menopause. You may decide to start HRT now because your symptoms have worsened, or you were expecting them to have gone by now but they haven't.

How long do I stay on HRT for?

What is the oldest age for HRT?

Hormone therapy can be extremely beneficial for bone health purposes for women up to the age of 60 years, and in some circumstances women may continue hormone therapy after this age, depending on their general health, family history and bone density / history of fracture.

When are you too old for HRT?

There is very little evidence regarding starting HRT for older women because this research has not been undertaken. However, most women who are otherwise fit and well do still gain benefits from taking HRT even if it has been more than 10 years since their menopause.

Is there a downside to taking HRT?

Combined HRT can be associated with a small increase in the risk of breast cancer. The increased risk is related to how long you take HRT, and it falls after you stop taking it. Because of the risk of breast cancer, it's especially important to attend all your breast cancer screening appointments if you're taking HRT.

Does HRT slow down aging?

The research, led by Prof Martin Widschwendter at the University of Innsbruck and UCL, found that the longer post-menopausal women were using combined HRT, the slower their cells were ageing. This benefit of slower cell ageing wasn't seen in women with breast cancer who had been using combined HRT.

Does HRT have permanent effects?

Some of the changes may be permanent while others may be reversible and go away when medication(s) are stopped.

Does HRT help with belly fat?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can affect weight loss in women. In addition to having less abdominal fat, the same study found that women undergoing HRT were almost one whole point lower on the body mass index (BMI) scale, and they had nearly 3 pounds less of fat mass.

Do you live longer if you take HRT?

New research suggests that women on HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) are likely to live longer. Not only does the treatment help to relieve the symptoms of menopause, it can also protect against longer-term health risks such as osteoporosis and heart disease, which rise significantly in women over the age of 50.

Is Davina McCall on HRT?

Davina McCall has opened up on the shame she felt around taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in order to help other women become better informed about the treatment. The presenter, 54, explained how she felt 'ashamed' to be relying on a drug and worried that people would think her reason was vanity-based.

Does HRT cause weight gain?

Many women believe that taking HRT will make them put on weight, but there's no evidence to support this claim. You may gain some weight during the menopause, but this often happens regardless of whether you take HRT. Exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet should help you to lose any unwanted weight.

Will I look younger if I take HRT?

By supplementing your body's natural hormone levels, HRT can help you maintain a more youthful body composition. While this effect is particularly evident in men, research suggests that women can also benefit. HRT is also known to help women maintain softer, smoother skin, resulting in a younger look.

Does HRT help sagging skin?

People of all genders taking HRT report benefits such as more youthful skin, improved skin elasticity, and increased skin firmness. Some data backs up these reports for cisgender women who are experiencing menopause and taking estrogen HRT, but there isn't yet data on forms of HRT for other populations.

What does HRT do to your face?

The first changes you will probably notice are that your skin will become a bit drier and thinner. Your pores will become smaller and there will be less oil production. You may become more prone to bruising or cuts and in the first few weeks you'll notice that the odors of your sweat and urine will change.

What is the safest form of HRT?

So in summary, the safest types of HRT are the oestrogen applied through the skin as a patch, gel or spray with body identical micronised progesterone. Many women also benefit from testosterone, which may help if you're forgetful or having trouble concentrating at work.

Does HRT change your body shape?

Muscle mass and strength will decrease. Additionally, arms and legs will appear smoother. This is because the fat below the skin becomes thicker. As the fat under the skin increases and moves, the eyes and face may take on a more “feminine” appearance.

Is it better to be on HRT or not?

Although there have been concerns raised about HRT and the potential risks to various aspects of women's health, more recently published findings show that although not entirely risk free, it remains the most effective solution for the relief of menopausal symptoms and is also effective for the prevention of ...

Does HRT help with anxiety?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

If your mood changes are related to the perimenopause and menopause, evidence indicates that HRT is better at improving your mood and anxiety than antidepressants.

Does vitamin D increase estrogen?

High blood levels of vitamin D linked to reduced estrogen – and potentially lower breast cancer risk. Can taking daily vitamin D supplements decrease sex-hormone levels and thereby potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer in older women?

Is 55 too late for HRT?

HRT has more benefits than risks in the majority of women when started as early as possible and ideally before the age of 60 years however, this does not mean that it cannot be started after the age of 60.

Is it better to go through menopause without HRT?

One of the common treatment options for menopausal symptoms is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), supplementing your hormone levels to rebalance your system. However, you may prefer to move through menopause without using hormone treatments. And, women with previous hormone-dependent cancer shouldn't use HRT.

Does HRT help with brain fog?

The main benefit of HRT is that it can help relieve most menopause and perimenopause symptoms, including hot flushes, brain fog, joint pains, mood swings and vaginal dryness. Hot flushes or night sweats often improve within a few weeks.