Most people know that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can ease hot flushes, but its benefits don’t stop there. Menopause can affect everything from your sleep and mood to your bones and skin, and HRT may be able to help with many of these changes, too.
In this guide, we’ll explain what HRT could do for you, from easing your current symptoms to supporting your long-term health.
Three key takeaways
HRT replaces the hormones your body makes less of during menopause, which can ease symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, low mood, and vaginal dryness.
It also helps to protect your bones. Starting before you’re 60, or within 10 years of menopause, usually gives you the best balance of its benefits and risks.
HRT tops up the hormones that drop during perimenopause and menopause. This helps to ease the symptoms that these falling hormones can cause. The three main hormones involved are:
Oestrogen: This is the main hormone HRT replaces. Low oestrogen causes most menopause symptoms, like hot flushes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
Progesterone: If you still have a womb, you'll take a progestogen alongside oestrogen. This protects the lining of your womb, because taking oestrogen without enough progestogen can increase the risk of endometrial (womb) cancer. Adding progestogen protects the womb lining and greatly reduces this risk.
Testosterone: As you age, your testosterone levels also fall. It isn't part of standard HRT, but your GP or prescriber might suggest it if you still have a low sex drive after starting HRT.
Here are some of the most common ones that HRT can help with:
1. Hot flushes and night sweats: HRT is the most effective treatment for these. They often ease within a few weeks of starting.
2. Sleep problems: Fewer night sweats can mean fewer broken nights, so you wake up feeling more rested.
3. Low mood, anxiety, and irritability: HRT can help to steady mood changes linked to falling hormone levels.
4. Brain fog: Some people find that their memory and concentration improve as their hormones settle.
5. Vaginal dryness and discomfort: HRT, or a low-dose vaginal oestrogen, can ease dryness, itching, and pain during sex.
6. Urinary problems: Vaginal oestrogen can help with needing to pee more often and with repeat UTIs.
7. Joint and muscle aches: Some people find that these ease once their oestrogen levels are topped up.
8. Skin changes: Oestrogen helps your skin produce collagen and stay elastic, so some people find HRT eases dryness and improves their skin's texture.
9. Hair thinning: HRT may help hair thinning if the menopause is causing it.
10. Low sex drive: HRT may help. If it doesn't, your prescriber might suggest adding testosterone.
What are the health benefits of HRT?
Of course, HRT doesn't just ease menopause symptoms. It can also support your long-term health, especially that of your bones. These benefits depend on your age, your health, and the type of HRT you take.
1. Protecting against osteoporosis
Oestrogen helps to keep your bones strong. When it drops, you lose bone density faster, which raises your risk of osteoporosis and fractures. HRT helps to slow this bone loss and lowers your risk of fractures while you're taking it.
2. Lower stroke risk with transdermal HRT compared to systemic tablets
Patches, gels, and sprays (transdermal HRT) don’t appear to raise your risk of blood clots and may be associated with a lower stroke risk than tablets (systemic HRT). This makes them a good option if you have certain risk factors.
If you start HRT before you're 60, or within 10 years of menopause, it may help to lower your risk of heart disease.
4. Better quality of life
By easing menopause symptoms like poor sleep, low mood, and hot flushes, it can make a real difference to your work, relationships, and confidence in your day-to-day life.
HRT vs natural remedies for menopause
HRT is the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms, while natural remedies tend to offer milder support. But you often don't have to choose between them, as many people use them together.
If HRT isn't right for you, or you'd prefer not to take it, you can still ease some symptoms with lifestyle changes.
“Menopause-specific cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help with hot flushes, sleep, and mood. However, non-hormonal options are less effective than HRT—plus, they won't give you the same protection for your bones.
“If you're already on HRT, a balanced diet focusing on oestrogen-rich foods like peaches, berries, and legumes, in addition to certain supplements like vitamin D and regular exercise, can add an extra layer of support.
“But remember, some menopause supplements can interfere with HRT, so always check with your GP or pharmacist first.”
Like all medicines, HRT has some risks, but for most people under 60, the benefits outweigh them.HRT side effects like headaches, breast tenderness, and bloating are usually mild and ease within a few months as you get used to it.
Some types of HRT are linked to a small rise in the risk of breast cancer, and HRT tablets slightly raise the risk of blood clots and stroke. If you have any concerns about your risks, talk to your healthcare provider.
7 signs you might benefit from HRT
You might benefit from using HRT if:
1. You're having hot flushes or night sweats that disrupt your day or your sleep.
2. You've noticed mood swings, anxiety, or low mood that feel new.
3. You're struggling with brain fog or poor concentration.
4. You've got vaginal dryness or pain during sex.
5. You keep getting UTIs or need to pee more often.
6. Your sex drive has dropped.
7. You went through the menopause before 45, as HRT can help protect your bones and heart.
How Chemist4U can help
If you think HRT could benefit you, start a free online consultation with us today. Our expert clinicians will review your symptoms and medical history to find a treatment that suits you, whether that's tablets, patches, gels, or sprays. If it's approved, we'll send your treatment straight to your door quickly and discreetly.
While HRT isn’t a weight loss treatment, by helping menopause symptoms like poor sleep and low mood, it can, in turn, make it easier for you to adopt healthier habits, like eating well and staying active. This can result in weight loss for some people.
HRT may help if your hair is thinning because of the menopause, but it isn't a dedicated hair loss treatment.
Falling oestrogen can play a part in hair thinning during menopause, but stress, your genes, thyroid problems, and low vitamin levels can all contribute, too.
What are the benefits of HRT over 65?
HRT can still help after you reach 65 by protecting your bones and supporting your vaginal and bladder health. There's no set age to stop, and your prescriber will check each year that it's still right for you.
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