Risks and Benefits of Hormone Therapy (HT)

Before deciding on your course of treatment, it’s important to evaluate the risks and benefits. Make sure to consult with your doctor to find a treatment that’s right for you.

Risks of HT

Do not use estrogens and progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes or dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills). Using estrogens with progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots, and may increase your risk of dementia.

Do not use combination hormone therapy (with progestin) if you have had your uterus removed (hysterectomy).

HT should not be used if you:
  • Have unusual vaginal bleeding

  • Currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus

  • Had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year)

  • Currently have or have had blood clots

  • Currently have or have had liver problems

  • May be pregnant
Common side effects that may occur with hormone therapy are breast pain, vaginal bleeding, and headache.

Benefits of HT

Hormone therapy is used after menopause to reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; and treat certain conditions in which a young woman’s ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. If you use hormone therapy only to treat your dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina, talk with your health care professional about whether a topical vaginal product would be better for you.

You and your health care professional should talk regularly about whether you still need hormone therapy treatment and whether you are taking the lowest dose that works for you.

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WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COMBIPATCH (A COMBINATION OF ESTROGEN AND PROGESTIN HORMONES)?

Do not use estrogens and progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes or dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills). Using estrogens with progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots, and may increase your risk of dementia.

Do not use CombiPatch if you have had your uterus removed (hysterectomy). CombiPatch should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.

The most common side effects that may occur with CombiPatch are breast pain, vaginal bleeding, and headache.

CombiPatch is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; and treat certain conditions in which a young woman’s ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. If you use CombiPatch only to treat your dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina, talk with your health care professional about whether a topical vaginal product would be better for you.

You and your health care professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with CombiPatch and whether you are taking the lowest dose that works for you.

The information contained within this web site is appropriate for U.S. residents only. A visit to this site should not replace a visit to your doctor.

Available by prescription only.

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