Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the collective name for various prescription drugs used to control menopausal symptoms. HRT replaces the hormones (oestrogen or oestrogen/progestogen) that a woman’s ovaries stop producing when going through menopause.

There can be negative consequences associated with HRT including the increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms, stroke, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. That’s why it is not recommended for women who are pregnant or who have breast, endometrial or cervical cancers, liver disease, a history of clotting, or abnormal genital bleeding.

HRTs are still prescribed to help women overcome the symptoms of menopause, and are still the drug of choice under individual circumstances. Issues may arise when a doctor prescribes Hormone Replacement Therapy medication when the patient suffers from illnesses such as breast cancer or liver disease.

Possible issues may also arise if the prescribing doctor can be shown to have failed to warn the patient of the risks associated with the drug and/or failed to warn the patient of a risk that the patient might attach significance to. The patient should be aware of all potential benefits and risks, and the decision to use HRTs should be informed.