Some women can use menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) to help control the symptoms of menopause. MHT, which used to be called hormone replacement therapy (HRT), involves taking the hormones estrogen and progesterone. (Women who don’t have a uterus anymore take just estrogen.)

MHT can be very good at helping with moderate-to-severe symptoms of the menopausal transition and preventing bone loss. But MHT also has some risks, especially if used for a long time.

MHT can help with menopause by…

  • Reducing hot flashes, night sweats and related problems such as poor sleep and irritability.
  • Treating vaginal symptoms, such as dryness and discomfort, and related effects, such as pain during sex.
  • Slowing bone loss.
  • Possibly easing mood swings and mild depressive symptoms. (MHT is not an antidepressant medication—talk to your doctor if you are having signs of depression.)

For some women, MHT may increase their chances of…

  • Blood clots
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Breast cancer
  • Gall bladder disease

Research into the risks and benefits of MHT continues. For example, a recent study suggests that the low-dose patch form of MHT may not have the possible risk for stroke that other forms can have. Talk with your doctor about the positives and negatives of MHT based on your medical history and age. Keep in mind, too, that you may have symptoms when you stop MHT. You also can talk with your doctor about treatments other than MHT that can help deal with specific symptoms on our Menopause symptom relief and treatments page or prevent bone loss.

Keep in mind when considering MHT that…

  • Once a woman reaches menopause, MHT is recommended only as a short-term treatment.
  • Doctors very rarely recommend MHT to prevent certain chronic diseases such as osteoporosis.
  • Women who have gone through menopause should not take MHT to prevent heart disease.
  • MHT should not be used to prevent memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

You should not use menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) if you…

  • May be pregnant
  • Have problems with vaginal bleeding
  • Have had certain kinds of cancers (such as breast or uterine cancer)
  • Have had a stroke or heart attack
  • Have had blood clots
  • Have liver disease
  • Have heart disease

If you choose MHT, experts recommend that you…

  • Use it at the lowest dose that helps
  • Use it for the shortest time needed

MHT can cause side effects. Call your doctor if you develop any of these problems…

  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Bloating
  • Breast tenderness or swelling
  • Headaches
  • Mood changes
  • Nausea