hormone-replacement therapy

Use of oestrogen and progesterone to help limit the unpleasant effects of the menopause in women. The treatment was first used in the 1970s.

During the menopause, the ovaries cease to secrete natural oestrogen. This results in a number of symptoms, including hot flushes, anxiety, and a change in the pattern of menstrual bleeding. It is also associated with osteoporosis, or a thinning of bones, leading to an increased incidence of fractures, frequently of the hip, in older women. Oestrogen preparations, taken to replace the decline in natural hormone levels, combined with regular exercise can help to maintain bone strength in women. In order to improve bone density, however, HRT must be taken for five years, during which time the woman will continue to menstruate. Many women do not find this acceptable. In 1997 about 33% of British women and 40% of US women opted for post-menopausal HRT. A 1999 US survey revealed that white women are more likely to use hormone replacement than African-Americans or Mexican-Americans.

A 2002 study linked HRT to a number of adverse effects, most notably a very small increase in the risk of breast cancer. It was unclear whether this study was generalizable or specific to the form of hormone administration used in the study, and the debate over benefits and risks of HRT continues.