As a woman reaches menopause, one of the decisions she may be called upon to make is whether or not to replace the hormones once manufactured by her ovaries with hormones from an outside source that are taken orally or absorbed through a cream or patch. Some fear that hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of health complications such as breast cancer. Others believe that the risks of hormone replacement therapy are very small and are outweighed by the benefits in the areas of heart disease and diabetes prevention as well as in improved quality of life.

In this video, Dr. Ralph Turner, a gynecologist and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, answers common questions regarding hormone replacement therapy.

What is hormone replacement therapy? (first question)

What are the current guidelines regarding hormone replacement therapy? (skip to 2:14)

As a woman ages, what are the pros and cons as they relate to hormone replacement therapy? (skip to 2:44)

What is the downside to hormone replacement therapy? (skip to 4:02)

What should a woman who is experiencing menopausal symptoms do? (skip to 5:05)

How does a woman decide whether or not to begin hormone replacement therapy? (skip to 6:14)