Common Hormone Therapy Programs for Women

Which hormones you take and when you take them is called your hormone therapy (HT) program, or regimen. Your program is tailored for you, based on certain factors. These factors include whether you have a uterus and your risk of cancer. Whether or not you have reached menopause is also a factor. Note that there are both risks and benefits to HT. Discuss these with your doctor before starting any of these HT programs:

You take estrogen all month and progestin about half the month. This method is based on a normal menstrual cycle. You may have bleeding.

You take a lower dose of progestin. Both estrogen and progestin are taken each day of the month. You're likely to have the symptoms of a menstrual cycle. And you still reduce your risk of uterine cancer. But symptoms may be present during the entire cycle.

You take 5 to 7 days off before taking estrogen and progestin each month. You may have less irregular bleeding with this program.

Estrogen is prescribed by itself. This is most likely if you have had a hysterectomy. It's unusual to use this choice if you still have a uterus, and you would need yearly tests to check for uterine cancer.

Estrogen is combined with hormones called androgens. This choice may be prescribed if your symptoms are not controlled by estrogen alone and you have had a hysterectomy. If you have a uterus, you may need estrogen, androgen, and progesterone combined. Combined hormone creams are common now. Talk with your doctor about a treatment that is best for you.

Birth control pills may be prescribed if you are close to menopause and start to have symptoms. These pills control the menstrual cycle. You will still have monthly bleeding.