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<p>Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to alleviate the symptoms of the menopause.
The known side effects of HRT products are provided in the patient information leaflet
which accompanies the medicine. Medically serious side effects of HRT affect a small
number of women and include increased risks of breast and ovarian cancer and blood
clots (venous thromboembolism, VTE), which are treated in clinical practice if they
occur.</p><p> </p><p>Due to these risks the advice since 2004 is that decision to
start, continue or stop HRT should be made jointly by a woman and her doctor, based
on the known risks and benefits and her own personal circumstances, including her
age, her need for treatment and her medical risk factors, and that the lowest effective
dose of HRT should be used for the shortest possible time with regular review of treatment.</p><p>
</p><p>The National Health Service publishes information online at NHS Choices about
the menopause including the benefits and risks of HRT and alternative treatments.</p>
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