What you’ll learn
We’ll walk you through why hormone therapy can be a game-changer for managing menopause and perimenopause symptoms. In addition to discussing the benefits of menopause hormone therapy (MHT), we’ll cover the different options available, what symptoms they treat, and help you feel more confident about whether hormone therapy might be right for you.
Hormone therapy (HT) is one of the most effective ways to ease the disruptive symptoms of menopause. Also known as menopause hormone therapy (MHT), it works by restoring the estrogen your body no longer makes (and sometimes progesterone, too).
Many women find that balanced hormone levels mean fewer hot flashes, better sleep, and a real lift in how they feel day to day. That said, it can often be difficult to know where to begin to understand the different options available and what hormone therapy can actually do for you.
Why use MHT for menopause and perimenopause management?
Perimenopause and menopause are natural phases of life. However, that doesn’t mean you have to tough it out. For many women, symptoms ramp up during perimenopause, especially as you near menopause itself.
Maybe night sweats keep you up, or hot flashes leave you changing your clothes midday. You might feel more forgetful than usual. (“Where did I put my keys again?” starts to sound like a personal mantra.) Some days, you may feel suddenly overwhelmed by mood swings. Vaginal dryness can make sex uncomfortable and ripple into your emotional connection with your partner.
Some symptoms ease once you hit menopause, but others (like hot flashes, fatigue, or weight shifts) may stick around longer than you’d like.
While these aspects of perimenopause and menopause are frustrating, many of them can be treated. That said, MHT isn’t about “fixing” you. It’s about helping you feel like you again. For many women, MHT eases hot flashes, lifts brain fog, stabilizes mood, and restores comfort during intimacy. It’s support for your body during a time of big change.
Relief from hot flashes and night sweats
Hot flashes and night sweats happen because low estrogen throws off your brain’s internal thermostat, the hypothalamus. MHT helps stabilize this system. As a result, this can mean fewer and less intense hot flashes and sweats.
Find out more about what causes hot flashes.
Better sleep quality
Sleep doesn’t just feel better when your hormones are balanced. It actually gets better. Estrogen plays a key role in regulating body temperature, mood, and even stress hormones like cortisol. By restoring estrogen, MHT can help you fall asleep more easily and stay asleep through the night. In turn, better sleep boosts your mood, focus, and energy the next day. When you’re well-rested, you start to feel more like yourself again.
Improved mood and mental clarity
Estrogen influences key brain chemicals like serotonin – AKA – your brain’s “feel-good” messenger. When estrogen drops, so can your emotional resilience and mental sharpness. With MHT, many women report feeling clearer-headed, steadier in mood, and better able to handle daily stress.
Support for bone health
Estrogen doesn’t just impact your reproductive health. It’s also essential for strong bones. During perimenopause and into menopause, bone loss can accelerate, raising your risk for osteoporosis. MHT helps protect bone density, which can significantly lower that risk, especially if you start treatment early on in perimenopause.
Improved vaginal and sexual health
Low estrogen can thin and dry vaginal tissues, making sex uncomfortable or even painful. It can also lower libido. These changes aren’t “just part of aging” that you have to accept along with your sex life taking a dive during perimenopause and menopause. Local, low-dose MHT options (like creams or vaginal rings) can restore moisture, comfort, and intimacy without affecting your whole system.
Personalized options for every body
Menopause isn’t one-size-fits-all. And neither are therapy options. Because every woman’s experience during perimenopause and beyond is different, there is a wide variety of hormone therapy options to choose from.
Options include:
- Non-systemic therapies, which act only where applied, like vaginal creams or rings.
- Systemic therapies, which circulate through your body via pills, patches, gels, or sprays. Some systemic options also include face creams that work to supply you with a prescribed dose of hormones, including testosterone and/or combination therapy.
Your provider will consider your symptoms, health history, and personal preferences to help you find your best fit. Here’s a quick glance at what different types can help with:
| Non-systemic (vaginal creams, rings, and suppositories) | Systemic (pills, gels, sprays, patches, face creams) |
| Vaginal dryness | Hot flashes |
| Painful sex | Night sweats |
| Reduce frequent need to urinate | Mood swings |
| Reduced instance of urinary tract infections (UTIs) | Restless sleep |
| Fatigue | |
| Bone density loss |
Empowered decision making with QuickMD
If menopause symptoms are getting in the way of your daily life, you deserve support and answers to your most pressing questions. This time of your life can feel like “second puberty” with a mix of fluctuating hormones crashing around in your system. And while pre-teens often had parents or health classes to arm them with information about the changes going on, women dealing with menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms often find themselves in the dark when it comes to finding a reliable source of information.
If you’re going through “the change,” you’re not alone. And there are a variety of treatment options available. MHT is one option that might give you the relief you’re hoping for.
It’s smart to ask questions. What are the risks? How soon will you start to feel better? Could your personal or family health history affect your options? Your provider should help you weigh the pros and cons based on your body and your life, not just general guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
What are the side effects of hormone therapy?
Some women notice mild side effects like headaches, breast tenderness, nausea, or mood changes when they first start HT. However, these usually fade as your body adjusts to the new hormone levels.
When should I start hormone therapy?
If symptoms are disrupting your life, it’s worth talking to a provider. Most women benefit most when they start HT before age 60 or within 10 years of their last period.
Can I use HT if I have a family history of cancer?
You may be able to use HT even if you have a family history of cancer. It depends on your full health picture and the type of cancers either you or a family member has had. A family history doesn’t automatically rule out HT, but it’s important to discuss it with your provider. They may suggest a lower dose, alternative treatment options, or more frequent monitoring.
How long can I stay on HT?
There’s no set time limit. If you’re still getting benefits and your provider agrees it’s safe, you can continue treatment as long as your symptoms last.
What are the signs you need HT?
If night sweats are stealing your sleep, brain fog is making work harder, or mood swings feel unmanageable, it might be time to consider your options. You don’t have to “just deal with it.” Speak with a provider to understand if HT is an option that can offer you relief from perimenopause and menopause symptoms.
Is it better to go through menopause naturally or take HT?
There’s no right or wrong answer. Ultimately, your choice comes down to how you feel. Every woman’s experience is different. If your symptoms are mild, you may not need treatment. But if they’re affecting your quality of life, HT can help you find some relief and get back to feeling like yourself again.
