Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT)

What is estrogen or hormone replacement therapy (ERT/HRT)?

A therapy for the physical, emotional, and health-risk symptoms associated with menopause is either estrogen replacement therapy or hormone replacement therapy (ERT or HRT).

ERT is the replacement of estrogen alone.

HRT is the replacement of both estrogen and progesterone. This may also be called progestin/estrogen replacement therapy, or PERT.

What are the advantages of ERT/HRT?

The National Institutes of Health lists the following as the advantages of ERT/HRT:

Advantages of ERT/HRT

• Both reduce the risk of osteoporosis
• Both relieve hot flushes
• Both may relieve mood swings and psychological well-being

Although there are serious risks associated with both ERT and HRT, many health care providers and agencies believe that the positive results outweigh the risk factors. Consider these statements by the American Medical Association:

Estrogen replacement is the only consistent and satisfactory therapy to sustain systems dependent on ovarian hormone secretion and to relieve hot flushes.

Symptomatic vaginal atrophy and vaginitis and atrophic changes of the lower urinary tract with urinary frequency, dysuria, and sometimes incontinence, are reversible with estrogen therapy.

Preventing osteoporosis requires extended estrogen replacement. There are other methods available, too. Talk with your health care provider to make a decision.

What are the disadvantages of ERT/HRT?

The National Institutes of Health lists the following as the disadvantages of ERT/HRT:

Disadvantages of ERT/HRT

• ERT increases the risk of cancer in the uterus
• HRT may have unpleasant side effects such as bloating or irritability
• Both may increase risk of breast cancer particularly long-term use (more than 10 years.) Talk to your physician about your risk as other factors are involved.
• Both may be dangerous for women at risk for blood clots.