All medications have the potential for side effects, and your doctor can explore these with you. However, for the majority of patients, the benefits of HRT and other treatments to manage the menopause outweigh the risks of treatment.
The most common side effect of HRT include:
Breast tenderness
Headaches
Vaginal bleeding
There are potential serious side effects such as:
Developing blood clots
Increased risk of types of cancer such as breast, ovarian and endometrial cancer
These risks increase inline with the duration of your treatment - with those taking HRT for many years having a higher risk then those who use the treatment for a shorter period of time. Please always discuss any potential side effects with your GP, as they will be able to assess the risk of HRT with your medical history.