Hormone therapy (HT) is a general term for the
use of man-made (synthetic) estrogen, with or without progestin, to treat
symptoms caused by the changing hormone levels that occur before and after
menopause. Hormone therapy carries some health risks, and its use should be
discussed carefully with a health professional.
Hormone therapy includes:
- Birth control pills
containing estrogen and progestin. These can be used before menopause to treat
perimenopausal symptoms and prevent pregnancy. Progestin-only pills can be used
to treat heavy menstrual bleeding associated with
perimenopause.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which refers to the use of both estrogen and progestin. The term
hormone replacement therapy is sometimes used to refer to any combination of
medications involving estrogen, progestin, and androgens.
- Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), which refers to the use of
estrogen without progestin. Most women who use ERT have had their uterus
removed (hysterectomy).
When taken after menopause, hormone therapy is also called hormone
replacement therapy. However, more experts are using the term "hormone therapy"
(HT) to avoid the misleading message that women should
have premenopausal levels ("replacement") of hormones after menopause.