How can I manage the side effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?

Most side effects related to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) improve within a few months of therapy or can be alleviated by switching to another formulation.

Side effects related to estrogen (e.g., nausea, headache, or breast tenderness) can often be alleviated by temporarily reducing the dose of estrogen; switching from cyclic to continuous therapy (i.e., taking progesterone every day along with estrogen, rather than only 10 to 14 days each month); or using an estrogen patch rather than taking estrogen in pill form.

Side effects related to progesterone (e.g., headache, breast tenderness, irritability, or depressed moods) can be countered by switching from cyclical to continuous therapy or from Provera to another formulation of progesterone.

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