When you hear HRT, hormone replacement therapy used to manage menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. Also known as hormone therapy, it’s one of the most prescribed treatments for women going through menopause—but it’s not without serious trade-offs. Many assume it’s safe because doctors recommend it, but the truth is more complicated. The same hormones that reduce discomfort can also increase your risk of life-threatening conditions.
The biggest concern is breast cancer, a known link to long-term estrogen-progestin combination therapy. Studies show that using HRT for more than five years raises the chance of developing invasive breast cancer by up to 30%. That’s not a small number. Then there’s blood clots, especially in women over 60 or those with a history of clotting disorders. HRT can double your risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. And if you have high blood pressure or a history of heart disease, heart attack and stroke, risks that rise within the first year of starting HRT become real dangers.
It’s not all bad news. For healthy women under 60, short-term HRT can be a reasonable option if symptoms are severe. But the goal isn’t to stay on it forever. Most guidelines now say: use the lowest dose for the shortest time possible. Many women don’t realize alternatives exist—like gabapentin for hot flashes, SSRIs for mood swings, or lifestyle changes that reduce symptoms naturally. And if you’re considering HRT, you need to know your personal risk factors: family history, weight, smoking status, and previous blood clots all matter more than you think.
The posts below dig into real-world data on HRT side effects, how it interacts with other meds, what tests you should ask for before starting, and what alternatives actually work. You’ll find clear breakdowns of the science—not hype, not fearmongering—just what the evidence says. Whether you’re deciding whether to start HRT, already on it and worried, or helping someone else make sense of it, these guides give you the facts you need to make a safe, informed choice.
