HRT Debate Dictionary

perimenopause: The time both before and after menopause, during which a woman's hormone levels change.

postmenopause: A period of menopause during which a woman with a uterus has not had a period in 12 months.

Premarin: A commercially-available drug made up of estrogens which are derived from horse urine.

premature ovarian failure: A medical condition in which a woman's ovaries stop working before the age of 40, marked by low estrogen levels and at times is a reason to begin HRT.

PremPro: A commercial HRT administered through oral tablets, meant to relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, and prevent osteoporosis.

progestagens: Also known as progestins; a group of hormones which counteract the effects of estrogen.

progestin: A synthetic form of the progestagen hormone that interacts with the body in a manner similar to progesterone.

pulmonary embolism: A blockage in the pulmonary arteries which carry blood through the heart to the lungs; there is an increased risk for pulmonary emboli among women on HRT.

scHRT: Sequentially combined HRT; a cycical dosage of HRT in which estrogens are taken daily and progestins are periodically taken for shorter amount of time.

selective estrogen receptor modulators: Drugs which work with estrogen receptors, including Tamoxifin, a high-selling drug used to treat breast cancer.

short-term relief: The most common reason for beginning HRT, since extended HRT treatment is still being studied and the health effects are not completely known.

steroid hormones: Steroids which function like hormones within the body, including androgens and estrogens.

stroke: A disturbance in blood flow to brain, often caused by clots or thrombosis; there is an increased risk of stroke among women on HRT.

synthetics: Hormones created in a lab to mimic those which occur in nature or within the body.