he International Menopause Society – founder of World Menopause Day (celebrated every year on 18th October) – brings together the world’s leading experts on menopause and midlife women’s health to improve the experience of women globally.
Though menopause and menopause hormone therapy are wellunderstood in some parts of the world, they still receive little attention or remain controversial in others. This is the reason why we chose it as the official theme of this year’s World Menopause Day. Our goal is to ensure that we empower you with evidencebased resources to make fully informed choices.
In this leaflet, you will learn about the 5Ws, “Who, What, When, Why and Where” , of MHT to guide you no matter where you are in the world.
Your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor, nurse, etc.) may offer you MHT if you are dealing with symptoms that affect your daily life. It can help with:
Women who go through menopause at the natural age (after 45) and have no bothersome symptoms usually don’t need MHT. Some people believe MHT is a “fountain of youth” , but there’s little scientific evidence for that. It’s important to remember MHT is not recommended solely to prevent aging, memory loss, or dementia.
Women with certain medical histories such as breast cancer and blood clots should talk to their healthcare professional about whether MHT is safe for them. Deciding to use MHT is a personal choice and should involve discussions about the benefits and risks with a healthcare professional who knows your health history
MHT supplements the hormones your body stops making after menopause. These hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, are crucial for managing menopause symptoms and protecting your health.
MHT can be taken in different forms which include:
It’s important to note that custom-compounded bioidentical hormone therapy is NOT recommended because it lacks regulation, rigorous safety and efficacy testing, batch standardization, and purity measures.It’s important to note that custom-compounded bioidentical hormone therapy is NOT recommended because it lacks regulation, rigorous safety and efficacy testing, batch
standardization, and purity measures.
Some people believe MHT is a “fountain of youth” , but there’s little scientific evidence for that. It’s important to remember MHT is not recommended solely to prevent aging, memory loss, or dementia.
There is no strict limit on how long you can use MHT, but long-term use may carry certain small risks, such as increased chances of breast cancer or blood clots. Your healthcare professional will help weigh these risks against the benefits based on your personal health history, and you should have at least an annual discussion of this risk : benefit balance.
Perimenopause and Postmenopause
MHT helps women manage the challenging symptoms of menopause and protects against conditions that become more common after menopause, such as:
While MHT offers many benefits, there are some small risks:
It’s important to have a personalized discussion with your healthcare professional to understand how these risks apply to you.
MHT is available through your healthcare professional, but access may depend on where you live. In some areas, especially in lowincome regions, access to MHT can be limited. If you’re having trouble finding MHT or want to explore your options, consult a healthcare professional who understands menopause management.
More detailed information on The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) is available via this link and QR code below
It’s important to follow advice from trusted menopause experts and your healthcare professional rather than relying on unvalidated online sources that may lack qualifications and/or regulation.
The International Menopause Society (IMS) and its information resource for women, Menopause Info, provides evidence-based information from credible sources. On the IMS website, you can also search for a menopause society in your country/region which can support you to find trusted information and healthcare professionals in your area.
Your healthcare professional can help guide you to trustworthy information and resources
REGISTER
LOGIN
