MHT can help with menopause by:
- Reducing hot flashes
- Treating vaginal dryness
- Slowing bone loss
- Easing mood swings and mild depressive symptoms—MHT alone is not effective in treating depression
- Improving sleep
For some women, MHT may increase their chance of getting:
- Blood clots
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Breast cancer
- Gall bladder disease
Who should NOT use MHT for menopause:
Women who . . .
- Think they are pregnant
- Have problems with vaginal bleeding
- Have had certain kinds of cancers (such as breast and uterine cancer)
- Have had a stroke or heart attack
- Have had blood clots
- Have liver disease
MHT can also cause these side effects:
- Bleeding
- Bloating
- Breast tenderness or enlargement
- Headaches
- Mood changes
- Nausea