Hormone therapy (HT) is a general term for the use of man-made
(synthetic) estrogen, with or without progestin, to treat symptoms caused by
the changing hormone levels that occur before and after menopause. Hormone
therapy carries some health risks, and its use should be discussed carefully
with a health professional.
Hormone therapy includes:
When taken after menopause, hormone therapy is also called hormone
replacement therapy. But more experts are using the term "hormone therapy"
(HT) to avoid the misleading message that women should have premenopausal
levels ("replacement") of hormones after menopause.
April 26, 2012
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH - Geriatric Medicine
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