HRT, explained simply

Hormone replacement therapy, usually shortened to HRT, is a category of treatment used to help with menopause and perimenopause symptoms. This guide explains the category in plain terms. It does not name or recommend any specific medicine.

What it is

HRT works by topping up hormone levels that fall during the menopause transition. It comes in several forms. Which form, if any, suits a person depends on their symptoms, their history, and their own preferences.

How decisions are made

A clinician who specialises in menopause will look at your full picture, follow NICE and British Menopause Society guidance, and talk through the benefits and the risks with you. Treatment is built around you, not handed out by default.

Questions worth asking

• What are my options, including the option of no medicine?
• What are the benefits and the risks for someone with my history?
• How will we review whether it is working?
• What happens at follow-up?

This guide explains HRT as a category only. It is general information, not individual medical advice, and it does not name, compare, or recommend any specific medicine. Any treatment decision is made with a clinician.