ERT (estrogen replacement therapy)

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is used to treat menopause.

It reduces or stops the short-term changes of menopause such as hot flashes, disturbed sleep, and vaginal dryness.

ERT can prevent osteoporosis, a consequence of lowered estrogen levels.

To keep bones strong, ERT should be taken from menopause throughout a woman's life.

Stopping ERT allows bone loss to resume.

ERT reduces the risk of heart disease up to 50%.

Vaginal ERT products help with vaginal dryness, more severe vaginal changes, and bladder effects but, since very little vaginal estrogen enters the circulation, it may not help with hot flashes or prevent osteoporosis and heart disease.

The use of unopposed ERT (ERT alone) is associated with an increase in the risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus).

However, by taking the hormone progestogen along with estrogen, the risk of endometrial cancer is reduced substantially.

Progestogen protects the uterus by keeping the endometrium from thickening (an effect caused by estrogen).

The combination therapy of estrogen plus progestogen is called hormone replacement therapy (HRT).