What it means
Medicine that replaces hormones the body has stopped making. The term is used most for estrogen, often with a progestin, taken to relieve hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness around and after menopauseMEN-uh-pawzThe time in a woman's life when menstrual periods stop for good, counted once there has been no period for 12 months in a row.men/o month, menstruation-pause stopFull entry . Many sources now call it menopausal hormone therapy. Estrogen alone raises the risk of cancer of the uterine lining, so a woman who still has her uterus also takes a progestin. The risks of blood clots, stroke and breast cancer depend on age, dose and how long it is taken.
For the nurse
Teach the client to report leg pain or swelling, chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, changes in vision and any vaginal bleeding, and to keep up with mammograms. Smoking adds to the risk of clots.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | HRT; MHT (menopausal hormone therapy) |
|---|---|
| Also written | menopausal hormone therapy |
Related terms
deep vein thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.
menopause
The time in a woman's life when menstrual periods stop for good, counted once there has been no period for 12 months in a row.
estrogen
A female sex hormone, made mainly by the ovaries, and the group of drugs that act like it.