Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Why do most Women using HRT take both Estrogen and Progesterone?

Estrogen alone is given to women who have had a hysterectomy. Women who still have their uterus need to take progesterone in addition to estrogen, to protect them from uterine cancer. In other words, estrogen is like the "fertilizer" which can cause the lining of the uterus to grow, while progesterone is like a "lawnmower", which sheds off the lining and prevents the growth from occurring.

Estrogen given, alone, is referred to as Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT). Estrogen plus Progesterone is called Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Ovarian Hormone Therapy (OHT) is used also to describe menopausal hormone treatment.

HRT treatment programs can be prescribed in different ways:

• In a monthly cycle - i.e. estrogen every day, with progesterone for 10 to 14 days per month
• In combination, every day - i.e. estrogen plus progesterone (at a low dose) every day

HRT in cycles causes women to have monthly periods. The continuous combined schedule does not cause monthly periods, although light bleeding (or spotting) may occur during the first year. Women should speak to their physicians to discuss these HRT options and possible bleeding patterns.

Back to Index