Hormone Replacement Therapy FAQs
How long does HRT take to stop hot flushes?
Hot flushes and other symptoms should decrease or completely disappear within 3 months of starting HRT. Although your hot flushes may not entirely go away, you should notice a decrease in the time and severity of your symptoms.
How long does HRT take to stop anxiety?
Mood changes associated with menopause should improve or go away within 3 months of treatment.
If you had anxiety before menopause, HRT may not make anxiety go away. You might need another treatment for anxiety, such as talking therapy. Speak to your doctor if you still struggle with anxiety after 3 months of HRT.
Can you lose weight after starting HRT?
Menopause can cause a change in body shape and weight gain. This means HRT may help you to lose weight associated with menopausal symptoms.
To lose weight, you still need to make healthy lifestyle changes. HRT cannot make you lose weight by itself.
Does HRT make you look younger?
HRT can improve the condition of your hair, nails, and skin, which may help you look younger. There is not enough research into whether this is caused by HRT or because of a reduction in menopausal symptoms.
As menopause can make you feel tired, anxious, or not great, this can impact your appearance. After taking HRT and improving sleep quality and mood, you will notice a change in how you look and feel.
HRT cannot reverse the signs of ageing and isn’t a miracle cure for looking younger, but it may help.
Does HRT increase the risk of cancer?
There are 2 types of HRT: combined HRT (which replicates both oestrogen and progesterone) or oestrogen-only HRT. If you take oestrogen-only HRT, this does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
Combined HRT may increase the risk of breast cancer by a small amount. When taking combined HRT, your doctor will complete regular breast screening.
Systemic HRT (HRT that goes directly into your bloodstream) can reduce the risk of colon cancer and other diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Combined HRT can also reduce the risk of ovarian, endometrial, or colorectal cancer.
Any side effects associated with a decreased or increased cancer risk will stop once you finish HRT.
Does HRT give you energy?
HRT does not contain anything that can give you more energy, but it may improve your energy in other ways. By reducing symptoms affecting your daily life, HRT allows you to get on with things without being distracted by hot flushes or mood changes.
A common symptom of menopause is difficulty sleeping, which HRT can improve. When you sleep better, you will have more energy for the things you enjoy.