Hormone Replacement Therapy

Excerpt

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replenishes women with ovarian hormones diminished during the natural menopausal transition to alleviate associated symptoms, especially hot flashes and night sweats. Traditional HRT typically combines estrogen and progesterone to replicate ovarian hormones. HRT, approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), treats severe vasomotor menopausal symptoms and prevents osteoporosis. Available estrogen therapies are ethinyl estradiol, conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), synthetic conjugated estrogens, and micronized 17β-estradiol. The addition of progesterone helps prevent endometrial hyperplasia in people with an intact uterus. Systemic HRT can be administered orally, vaginally, or transdermally, each with unique benefits and risks. This activity for healthcare professionals is designed to enhance the learner's understanding of HRT indications, risk-benefit ratios, individualized management, including estrogen and progesterone therapies and administration methods, and the implementation of an appropriate interprofessional management approach to improve patient outcomes.