Hormone Treatment

Synonyms

Hormone therapy; Menopausal hormone therapy

Definition

Serum concentrations of the female gonadal sex steroid hormones estradiol and progesterone decrease sharply after menopause due to the stop of ovarian hormone production. In order to counteract this decline, several forms of hormone (replacement) treatment (or therapy; HT or HRT) have been developed. It has been suggested that this hormone regime can treat menopausal symptoms and could potentially prevent several age-associated disorders. Women with an intact uterus can be treated with a combined regimen of estrogens and progestins. The progestin is added in order to prevent endometrial hyperplasia. Women with a hysterectomy can be treated with estrogen only preparations. Oral route of administration is still the most commonly used route as of today, but other approaches (e.g., transdermal applications) are available.

Sex steroid treatment after menopause has beneficial effects on hot flushes and urogenital atrophy....