There are many different types of HRT available to suit different women with different symptoms at different times throughout their peri and postmenopause. Your doctor will be able to guide you and explain more about the different treatments. The first step will be to decide which of the three main treatment regimens is most suitable.

Estrogen-only HRT
This is only recommended for women who have had their uterus (womb) removed by hysterectomy. These women are not at risk of endometrial cancer and have no need of a progestogen.

Cyclical or continuous sequential HRT
Women who have not had a hysterectomy need to take a form of HRT containing both estrogen and progestogen. For women who have not stopped having periods, the usual choice is cyclical or sequential HRT. This consists of taking estrogen every day and adding in a progestogen for several (10-14) days each month. When the progestogen phase ends, the woman will usually have a withdrawal bleed much like a normal period.

Continuous combined or period-free HRT
This is recommended for women who have not had a period for at least one year. Each day, the woman takes a combined estrogen-progestogen preparation. The dose and type of estrogen and progestogen are very finely balanced so that, once treatment is established, they do not cause a monthly bleed. This type of treatment aims to provide the benefits of estrogen, protect the uterus and be period-free.