I Asked An Expert How Long To Stay On HRT During Menopause

If you choose to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications during perimenopause or menopause, the NHS says you’re likely to see significant improvements across a range of symptoms in a matter of weeks. It can even decrease your chances of developing osteoporosis.HRT works by replacing the oestrogen and progestogen your body loses during menopause. You can choose oestrogen-only or combined (oestrogen and progestogen) options; they come in tablets, patches, sprays, and gels.Some also take testosterone in the form of a gel.Taking HRT isn’t suitable for everyone – those with a history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer or womb cancer; blood clots; and untreated high blood pressure might be advised not to take it. If you are eligible, though, when are you meant to stop? After all, your hormones don’t go back to what they were. Does that mean it’s a lifelong prescription?Not usually – but it can last longer than you’d thinkDr Olalekan Otulana, who is a GP, told HuffPost UK: “There’s not one answer when it comes to how long someone should stay on HRT, as it depends on individual symptoms/risk factors and preferences.”Though menopause is a permanent change, the symptoms that it causes don’t have to be. “For many, the symptoms do improve after a few years, so they may naturally decide to stop treatment, but there’s no time limit,” the doctor advised.Still, he added, some women may benefit from continuing HRT long-term, “especially if they’re using it for persistent symptoms or for bone protection in those at risk of osteoporosis”.“The old guidance of coming off HRT after five years or by age 60 has shifted,” he continued, “so it’s best to take a more case-by-case approach.” Why do some doctors take you off HRT after five years, or when you turn 60?The NHS said most people will need to stay on HRT to manage menopause symptoms like hot flushes for two to five years, but advises to check in with your doctor yearly once on the medication. After you turn 60 or after five years of taking the medication, the health service suggested the risks might outweigh the benefits (HRT is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer; those odds increase the longer you take it). “If you want to keep taking HRT or start taking it over the age of 60, a GP may recommend taking a low dose, and using patches or gel rather than tablets, to reduce the risk,” it added. So, there’s some flexibility when it comes to HRT – and while it’s unusual for the prescription to continue forever, it’s important to discuss your experience with your GP to work out what’s best, and safest, for you year by year.Related...There Are Up To 62 Menopause Symptoms. How Many Have You Heard Of?How Do You Know When Menopause Is Actually Over?It's Not Just Hot Flashes ― Here's How To Track Menopause Symptoms

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