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The Alphabet Soup of Menopause and Hormones

 
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HT ... HRT ... EPT ... E+PT … ET … ETC … ETC ... = CONFUSION!

We will define and try to clarify the many terms and abbreviations you may encounter.

HT – Hormone therapy

HT is an umbrella term that can mean many things: estrogen-only therapy, estrogen plus natural progesterone, estrogen plus a progestin, estrogen plus MPA (a particularly strong form of progestin).

Some forms of HT require a prescription; others can be purchased over-the-counter; others may only be available in a doctor’s office. These hormonal preparations are available in pills, patches, creams, gels, injections and vaginal applications.

Dizzy yet?

If you see a headline or a story or medical article about HT you obviously need to know exactly which hormones and which forms of HT it’s about. A lot of the confusion women and even doctors feel about menopause hormones comes from the careless and lazy use of the umbrella term HT.

HRT, which stands for hormone replacement therapy, is an abbreviation often used interchangeably with HT. The subject of the word replacement is complex and calls for an entire article of its own. Keep tuned.

ET – Estrogen therapy

ET refers to estrogen-only therapy. ET can be used safely only by women who do not have a uterus, i.e., have had a hysterectomy. In the 1960s it was discovered that estrogen therapy often led to overgrowth of cells lining the uterus (endometrial hyperplasia) and, after an extended time, to an increased risk of cancer of the endometrium.

Adding a second hormone (progesterone) or a progesterone-like hormone (a progestin) prevents the overgrowth of the endometrium and essentially eliminates the risk for cancer.

Progesterone or a progestin can be taken daily along with estrogen. That’s called continuous combined therapy. Or it can be taken for 12-14 days each month. Both these ways of combining estrogen plus progesterone or a progestin are abbreviated as E+PT, or EPT.

Since progesterone and progestins have important effects, including countering some beneficial effects of estrogen, you can see why we push for NOT glossing over differences between the various forms of HT.

The research findings for ET are not the same as the findings for E+PT. You need specifics to make informed decisions.

And BTW, did you notice that the last two abbreviations on the list at the top of this article are “ETC, ETC?” That’s short for et cetera (and so on).

Read more in Advancing Health After Hysterectomy

Advancing Health After Hysterectomy

Our Hysterectomy: About the Vagina

Our Hysterectomy: About the Vagina

Estrogen Therapy Reduces Breast Cancer Risk After Hysterectomy: True or False?

Estrogen Therapy Reduces Breast Cancer Risk After Hysterectomy: True or False?

Hormone Therapy May Increase Heart Health

Hormone Therapy May Increase Heart Health

Our Menopause: When Facing a Hysterectomy Should You Retain or Remove Ovaries?

Our Menopause: When Facing a Hysterectomy Should You Retain or Remove Ovaries?

All in Advancing Health After Hysterectomy

Add a Comment2 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I believe 100000% THAT ESTROGEN IS LIFE - however, NO ONE is doing anything for women in MY shoes, who had 100% ER/PR positive breast cancer (at age 41) and a TOTAL hysterectomy 5 years ago (at age 43) - and now I have NOTHING - and the NO-ESTROGEN IS BRUTAL but they don't want to give me any because of my breast cancer history. I almost think it's worth the risk - your BODY BECOMES YOUR ENEMY. It's ridiculous. SUGGESTIONS? Has anyone had any experience with surviving 100% ER/PR+ breast cancer, then getting a total hysterectomy and going back onto ESTROGEN?

November 5, 2018 - 2:52pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

What do you think the best/safest and lowest amount of HRT is?

January 25, 2018 - 2:28pm
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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