Hormone therapy (HRT / MHT)
Also called HRT, MHT, menopausal hormone therapy, hormone replacement therapy
Reviewed August 2026 against NHS, NIH and WHO references.
In short
Hormone therapy, called HRT or increasingly MHT, replaces the estrogen the ovaries stop making, usually with progesterone if you still have a womb. It is the most effective treatment for hot flashes, night sweats and genitourinary symptoms, and it protects bone. Routes include patches, gels, sprays and tablets.
HRT and MHT are the same thing
Hormone therapy has two common names. 'HRT', hormone replacement therapy, is the older term. 'MHT', menopausal hormone therapy, is increasingly used because the treatment tops up hormones to ease symptoms rather than fully 'replacing' them. If you see both, they mean the same treatment.
What it contains
The core of hormone therapy is estrogen, which is what eases hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal symptoms and helps protect bone. If you still have a womb, estrogen is given with a progestogen (progesterone), which protects the womb lining. Women without a womb usually take estrogen alone.
Routes, and why they differ
Estrogen can be taken through the skin as a patch, gel or spray, or by mouth as a tablet. The route matters: estrogen absorbed through the skin does not carry the small increase in blood-clot risk seen with tablets, because it skips first passage through the liver. The right choice depends on your symptoms and health history.
Who it is for
Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, and for most healthy women under 60 or within ten years of menopause the benefits generally outweigh the risks. It is not right for everyone, and the decision is individual. Yellow does not prescribe; a clinician weighs it with you.
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Related terms
Sources
This definition is for general information only and is not medical advice. Menopause care depends on your individual health history. Please talk to a qualified clinician about what is right for you.