Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Review

HRT review

Does combined HRT increase the risk of cancer?

  • Breast cancer: combined HRT slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. This increased risk gets bigger the longer HRT is used. When HRT is stopped, the increased risk goes down over time. This takes longer, the longer that HRT was used. Combined HRT affects breast cancer risk more than oestrogen-only HRT.
  • Ovarian cancer: combined HRT slightly increases the risk of ovarian cancer. When HRT is stopped, the increased risk starts to go back down.
  • Endometrial (womb) cancer: combined HRT does not affect womb cancer risk. Sometimes oestrogen and progesterone components are prescribed separately (for example, Oestrogel alongside Utrogestan oral capsules), so it is therefore vital that these are taken together if prescribed to you, to reduce this risk.

Does oestrogen-only HRT increase the risk of cancer?

Oestrogen-only HRT is usually only given to people who have had their womb removed (hysterectomy).

  • Breast cancer: oestrogen-only HRT slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. This increased risk gets bigger the longer HRT is used. When HRT is stopped, the increased risk starts to go back down. This takes longer the longer that HRT was used.
  • Ovarian cancer: oestrogen-only HRT slightly increases the risk of ovarian cancer. When HRT is stopped, the increased risk starts to go back down.
  • Endometrial (womb) cancer: oestrogen-only HRT increases the risk of womb cancer. This increased risk gets bigger the longer HRT is used and may stay for some years after HRT is stopped. This is why it is usually only prescribed to people who have had a hysterectomy. It can be prescribed alongside a progesterone component (such as Utrogestan or the Mirena coil) to protect the womb and reduce this risk, so it is vital that these are used together if prescribed to you.

There is not enough evidence on HRT and any other type of cancer.

Confirmation of risks
Smoking Status:
Would you like help to quit smoking?
Do you drink any alcohol?

Alcohol consumption

This is one unit of alcohol:

Amount of different types of drink representing one unit of alcohol

And each one of these, is more than one unit:

Amount of different types of drink representing more than one unit of alcoholAmount of different types of drink representing more than one unit of alcohol
How often do you have a drink containing alcohol? *
How many units of alcohol do you drink on a typical day when you are drinking? *
How often have you had 6 or more units if female, or 8 or more if male, on a single occasion in the last year? *

Blood Pressure

Review

Are you currently using any contraception?
Have you had a hysterectomy?
Do you have a Mirena coil fitted?
Do you have any vaginal bleeding?
Do you bleed after having sex?
Are you either currently, or in the last 6 months have you experienced any of the following symptoms?
Do you experience any of the following side effects?
Do you have a history of blood clots, breast cancer or endometrial cancer?
Do any of your close relatives (I.e. parent, sibling or offspring) have a history of blood clots, breast cancer or endometrial cancer?
When was the last time you experienced menopausal symptoms?
Would you like to consider reducing your HRT?
Is there anything you would like to discuss with your GP about your current HRT?

Cervical Screening

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening for further information on cervical screening.

I confirm: *

It is important whilst you take HRT that you regularly check your breasts. Please follow the link to information on how to do this:

Terms and conditions *