Having an operation to remove womb and ovariesMore detailsHormone Replacement Therapy, known as HRT
Hormone Replacement Therapy, known as HRT
What is HRT? |
HRT stands for Hormone Replacement Therapy. It can be taken as skin patches, gel, vaginal cream or tablets. |
What does it do? |
HRT helps reduce side effects and health risks of the menopause. Most women stop taking it once the symptoms of menopause pass, which is usually after a few years. HRT also protects bone health and reduces the chance of getting bowel cancer. |
Would I be prescribed HRT? |
If you are younger than 50, it would normally be recommended to take HRT if your ovaries are removed. However, this may depend on your exact age when you have the operation and whether you start to notice menopausal symptoms. HRT replaces some of the hormone ‘oestrogen’ that would have been made by your ovaries naturally. If you are over 50, you are less likely to be prescribed HRT after having your ovaries removed, but it would depend on your symptoms and preferences. |
Who can prescribe HRT for me? |
It is important to ask your gynaecologist or GP about HRT, if you are having your ovaries removed. Your GP or genetics service can refer you to a gynaecologist, if you have not seen one before. You can click here to see where your local genetics centre would be, so you know what to expect. |
More information
- The benefits of taking HRT stop when you stop taking it.
- The length of time you take HRT depends on your needs. If you have your ovaries removed before age 50, HRT is normally recommended up until the usual age of menopause.
- Once you reach age 51-52, you can speak to your GP or gynaecologist about when and how to stop HRT. Most people will gradually reduce their dose of HRT.
- Your GP or genetics service can refer you to a gynaecologist, if you have not seen one before.
- You can click here to see where your local genetics centre would be, so you know what to expect.
| Type | Skin patches | Oestrogen gel | Vaginal oestrogen | Tablets | Implants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| What is it? | Stick to your skin and replace about twice a week. Usually patches go on hairless area of skin below your waist. Usually the first option people try. |
Rub directly onto skin each day. |
Cream or ring applied to vagina. Helps with vaginal dryness without raising hormone levels throughout the body. |
Tablets taken via mouth. |
Small implant inserted beneath your skin, in your tummy area. Lasts several months. |
| Benefits | Do not increase chance of blood clots or stroke. |
Does not increase chance of blood clots or stroke. |
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| Disadvantages | Only helps with vaginal dryness, not hot flushes or other symptoms. |
May be less suitable if you are overweight, due to increased chance of blood clots. |
Implants for HRT are not very common. |
HRT provides lower levels of oestrogen than are made naturally by the ovaries. Therefore, there is no extra risk from taking HRT up to age 51 after having your ovaries removed.
If you are older than 51 years, you can talk about HRT with your healthcare professional.
For most people, the benefits of taking HRT outweigh the risks. These benefits are similar for people with Lynch syndrome and people in the general population. There are no known additional risks for people with Lynch syndrome choosing to take HRT.
Benefits:
- Lowers chance of getting bowel cancer. Scientists are not sure exactly how this works, but they believe that the oestrogen in HRT helps stop bowel cancer from developing.
- Reduces or removes side effects of menopause, such as hot flushes, reduced sex drive, changes in mood, vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex.
- Helps prevent your bones becoming thinner, and therefore lowers the chance of getting osteoporosis.
- It may lower your chance of heart disease and strokes.
- If you have had your womb removed, you can take HRT which contains only oestrogen. This type of HRT has little or no effect on the chance of getting breast cancer. If you have had breast cancer, you can speak with your healthcare professional about taking HRT.
Risks:
- HRT tablets increase the chance of getting blood clots, but the chance is still small. HRT gels and skin patches do not increase the chance of getting blood clots.
- There may be some side effects of taking HRT, which usually go away after time. Common side effects are tender breasts, nausea, and bloating.
If you want to know more or watch a video, click here
Oestrogen-only HRT does not increase the chance of getting breast cancer. This is the kind of HRT most people with Lynch syndrome would be prescribed, after having their womb removed.
In the early 2000s, there was a health scare about combined HRT, which is only prescribed if you still have a womb. Some early findings from an American clinical trial suggested people taking combined HRT had higher rates of breast cancer. Many people stopped taking HRT around this time, and some GPs were reluctant to prescribe it.
However, we now know there is no increase in the chance of dying from breast cancer in women taking HRT.
If you want to read more about the findings about HRT and breast cancer, click here or download the factsheet.
Oestrogen only HRT is for people who have had their womb removed.
Combined HRT is for people who have not had their womb removed.
Both types help with hot flushes, vaginal dryness, sex drive, bone health and most other symptoms of the menopause.
Combined HRT also contains progesterone which helps protect your womb lining from cancer.
You can speak to your healthcare professional about which type of HRT is best for you if you’re not sure.