If she does not want to have a vaginal bleed, then both hormones have to be taken daily. The most important thing to remember about HRT is that if a woman has her uterus, she MUST take both hormones, but if she has had a hysterectomy she only needs oestrogen. The patches are particularly suited to those who have had a hysterectomy, especially the newer ones which last for one week. Another hormone sometimes used with HRT is testosterone. The effect of testosterone is to increase energy and sex drive.
Many women complain of a loss of interest in sex when they reach menopause.
Some of these women find that testosterone increases their libido or sex drive. It is available in combination with oestrogen as an implant or by itself. Women who are getting five to six hot flushes a day, or waking up three or four times a night with sweats may find that the symptoms interfere with their lifestyle, especially if they go out to work. Although in theory all women are at risk of developing osteoporosis, some are at greater risk than others. A fracture in a woman over 50 years suggests osteoporosis, so any woman who has a female relative in this category is at risk.