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Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)

Estrogen, usually combined with a progestogen, used to relieve menopausal symptoms and protect bone — the women's form of HRT.

By the glp1.how editorial teamReviewed

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) — often just called HRT — replaces the estrogen that falls at menopause, usually paired with a progestogen if the uterus is present. It mainly treats menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, genitourinary symptoms) and helps protect bone.

MHT is associated with somewhat less visceral fat, but it has little proven effect on muscle mass and is not a weight-loss treatment. See the guide on HRT for women and GLP-1 medications.

The North American Menopause Society's 2022 position statement calls hormone therapy the most effective treatment for hot flashes and genitourinary symptoms of menopause, and notes that it prevents bone loss and fracture (Menopause (external link)).

mhthrtmenopauseglossary

Revision history

Updated 2 times since Sep 2, 2026 · show changes
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Related terms

  • Progestogen · A hormone — natural progesterone or a synthetic progestin — given alongside estrogen in menopausal hormone therapy to protect the lining of the uterus.
  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) · Treatment that replaces a hormone the body no longer produces in adequate amounts — most commonly estrogen (usually with a progestogen) for menopausal women, or testosterone for men with hypogonadism. It is not a weight-loss treatment and is separate from GLP-1 medications.
  • Visceral fat · Fat stored deep in the abdomen around the internal organs, which is more strongly tied to metabolic and cardiovascular risk than fat under the skin.

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