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- Services and providers for Hormone Replacement Therapy in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Hormone Replacement Therapy is the National Institute on Aging
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Also called: ERT, Estrogen replacement therapy, HRT, Menopausal hormone therapy
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops. It is a normal part of aging. In the years before and during menopause, the levels of female hormones can go up and down. This can cause symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Some women take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve these symptoms. HRT may also protect against osteoporosis.
However, HRT also has risks. It can increase your risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. Certain types of HRT have a higher risk, and each woman's own risks can vary depending upon her health history and lifestyle. You and your health care provider need to discuss the risks and benefits for you. If you do decide to take HRT, it should be the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time needed. Taking hormones should be re-evaluated every six months.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Start Here
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Facts about Menopausal Hormone Therapy
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - Large PDF file
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Hormones and Menopause(National Institute on Aging)
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Menopausal Hormone Use and Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
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Overviews
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Hormone Replacement Therapy(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
- Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Menopausal Hormone Therapy Information(National Institutes of Health)
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Menopause Drugs: Summary of Affordable Alternatives(Consumers Union of U.S.)
Also available in Spanish
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Questions and Answers about the WHI Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy Trials(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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Hormone Replacement Therapy
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Latest News
- HRT After Menopause Reduces Symptoms(08/22/2008, HealthDay)
- Hormone Replacement Therapy Drug Boosts Stroke Risk in Older Women(08/13/2008, HealthDay)
- Hormone Replacement May Raise Women's Gallbladder Risk(07/11/2008, HealthDay)
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Alternative Therapy
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Menopausal Symptoms and CAM(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
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Menopausal Symptoms and CAM
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Related Issues
- Bio-Identicals: Sorting Myths from Facts(Food and Drug Administration)
- Hormone Replacement Therapy: Risks vs. Benefits(American Medical Association)
- Hormone Therapy for Menopausal Symptoms: The First Few Years(Hormone Foundation, Endocrine Society)
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Phytoestrogens and Bone Health(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Estrogen Replacement Therapy(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hormone Replacement Therapy(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Estrogen Replacement Therapy
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Research
- Breast Cancer Rates Dropped Even Before Hormone Results(American Cancer Society)
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Hormone Replacement Therapy and Breast Cancer Relapse(National Cancer Institute)
- Hormone Therapy: Does Timing Matter?(American Heart Association)
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Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Ovarian Cancer: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Declining breast cancer incidence and decreased HRT use.
- Article: Oral but not transdermal estrogen replacement therapy changes the composition...
- Article: Does hormone therapy improve age-related skin changes in postmenopausal women?...
- Hormone Replacement Therapy -- see more articles
- Estrogen-progestin replacement therapy -- see more articles
- Medical Encyclopedia Return to top
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Organizations
- Hormone Foundation
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National Institute on Aging
Also available in Spanish
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National Women's Health Information Center(Dept. of Health and Human Services)
Also available in Spanish
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Date last updated: 22 August 2008 Topic last reviewed: 16 June 2008 |