Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves taking estrogen, progesterone, or both to supplement low hormone levels. HRT can help relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances. However, HRT does have potential side effects:
Estrogen side effects
- Breast tenderness or enlargement
- Spotting or return of monthly periods
- Upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting
- Headaches
- Mood changes, anxiety, or depression
- Increased risk of blood clots, heart attack, stroke, gallbladder disease, or breast and uterine cancer (if taking estrogen without progesterone for over 5 years)
Risks are lower for vaginal and transdermal estrogen compared to oral estrogen.
Progesterone side effects
- Breast tenderness
- Bloating
- Mood changes
- Fatigue
Other considerations
- Side effects frequently subside after a few months of therapy. Let your doctor know if symptoms persist or worsen.
- Those already at higher risk for the conditions above should use HRT cautiously. Discuss your medical history thoroughly with your doctor.
- Local, low-dose vaginal estrogen preparations have the lowest risk of side effects.
- Bioidentical hormones may offer an alternative with less risks compared to conventional HRT. Research is still ongoing in this area.
At
Vitality Hormone Center(/) Hormone Clinic, our physicians specialize in hormone balancing and can advise you on the latest research and most appropriate hormone preparations to meet your individual needs with minimal side effects.
We offer consultations to review your symptoms, health history, and lifestyle to design a customized HRT plan. With regular follow-ups, we ensure optimal outcomes while monitoring for potential issues. Schedule a risk-free appointment today to see if HRT is right for you!
Tips to manage side effects
Here are some tips to help manage potential side effects of HRT:
- Take estrogen doses under 1.5 mg if possible
- Add a progesterone to balance estrogen effects on the uterus
- Use transdermal patches/gels instead of oral HRT
- Take progesterone only on days 15-28 of the menstrual cycle rather than every day
- Consider switching formulations if one causes persistent side effects
- Make diet and lifestyle changes to support hormone balance
- Eat soy, oily fish, colorful fruits/vegetables
- Exercise regularly, manage stress
- Get adequate, quality sleep
- Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake
- Work closely with your HRT provider to monitor progress and effects
When side effects may require contacting your doctor
Contact your doctor if you experience:
- Unusual vaginal bleeding
- Persistent headaches, dizziness, nausea
- New onset migraines
- High blood pressure
- Chest pain, palpitations
- Pain/swelling in calves
- Vision changes
- Severe mood changes, depression, or anxiety
- Yellowing skin/eyes
- Breast lumps
Promptly reporting concerning or alarming symptoms allows for evaluation and adjustment of therapy to reverse issues. Most women can take
hormone therapy safely through
menopause by working carefully with their doctor to find the regimen that relieves symptoms with minimal risks.
