Why should I take HRT?

Will it do me any long-term good?
HRT can help with many chronic and life-threatening conditions:

• Osteoporosis - loss of bone minerals. Bone mineral loss starts at around the age of 30 but accelerates at the menopause so that between the ages of 50 and 80 it drops by 30 per cent. When you are on HRT the rate of bone loss is reduced by half.
  
• Memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. There is growing interest in the possibility that oestrogen may help preserve short-term memory in women after the menopause and also slow the onset of and progress of Alzheimer's disease (twice as common in women compared with men).
  
• Skin and hair changes. After the menopause women notice thinning of the skin and hair - this is caused by loss of collagen which is the supporting tissue of the skin. HRT can delay this occurring.

Will I experience side effects?
HRT can cause side effects and has been linked to an increased risk of other diseases, so you should carefully weigh up the risks and benefits of HRT with your health care professional (GP, gynaecologist or menopause clinic staff) before deciding to take it. There are many HRT preparations available now, so you should be prepared to try several before you find the one that suits you best.

The most common side effects from oestrogen are irregular bleeding, breast tenderness, leg cramps at night, nausea and mild fluid retention. There is very little evidence to support the feeling that weight gain is caused by HRT; this is more likely to be caused by changes in lifestyle.