What is the definition of hormone therapy (HT)?

• A. Use of progestin alone to treat menopausal symptoms
• B. Estrogen alone or combined with progestin to treat menopausal symptoms
• C. Use of testosterone to treat menopausal symptoms
• D. Use of anti-estrogens to treat menopausal symptoms

Answer: (B)

Hormone therapy for menopause is defined by using estrogen to relieve menopausal symptoms, with a progestin added when the uterus is present to protect the endometrium from unopposed estrogen stimulation. In practice, this means estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin are the standard forms of HT. Progestin alone wouldn’t address the typical menopausal symptoms, and testosterone is not the standard HT for vasomotor or related menopausal symptoms. Anti-estrogens aren’t used as a routine therapy for these symptoms either.