User:Mr. Ibrahem/Hormone replacement therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also known as menopausal hormone therapy, is a form of hormone therapy used to treat symptoms associated with menopause. This includes hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood problems. It is generally the recommended treatment of these symptoms General use to prevent long-term health problems, such as cancer, heart disease, or osteoporosis, is not recommended. Use is recommended to be short-term and can be via a variety of routes.

Side effects may include gallbladder disease, stroke, urinary incontinence, and blood clots; though, there is no change in the overall risk of poor outcomes or death. Tentative evidence supports greater benefits than harms in those under the age of 60. Use is not generally recommended in those with liver problems or breast cancer. It includes an estrogen and progestogen. Progestogen is used, unless the uterus has been removed, to avoid an increased risk of endometrial cancer. Androgens, like testosterone, are sometimes also used.

Hormone replacement therapy has been in use since the 1890s. As of 2024, costs in the United States vary from 10 USD to 500 USD, depending on the type. The inclusion of the estrogen, estradiol, in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines was declined in 2023, with recommendations to consider inclusion further. Bioidentical hormone replacement gained popularity in the 2000s with claims they are more "nature"; however, benefits and safety are unclear, and use is not recommended.