Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be taken in different dosing regimens at the discretion of your doctor. Some options include taking HRT every day continuously or cyclically - such as 3 weeks on, 1 week off. Another option is taking HRT intermittently, such as every other day.
There are pros and cons to each dosing regimen that your doctor can discuss with you. Taking HRT every other day rather than daily may help to:
- Reduce side effects like breast tenderness, bloating, or headache that can occur with daily HRT use
- Lower the total weekly hormone dose if daily doses cause problems
- Provide a hormonal transition stage if stopping HRT
Reasons your doctor may prescribe intermittent HRT:
Benefits
- Less total medication needed
- May reduce side effects
- Gradual transition option
Potential Drawbacks
- Less stable hormone levels
- May need to adjust dose for optimal symptom relief
- Remembering complex schedule
Some tips if taking HRT intermittently every other day:
- Mark days clearly on calendar to follow regimen
- Take at same time each day for consistency
- Notice symptom patterns on "on" and "off" days
- Communicate with your doctor about how it's working
Your doctor can work with you to determine if every other day HRT is appropriate based on:
- Your menopausal symptoms - Severity and whether they flare without daily medication
- Your health history - Such as risk for blood clots, stroke, heart disease
- Your preferences - Such as keeping hormone levels more stable or minimizing medication use
At Harmony Hormone Center, we individualize HRT for each woman based on lifestyle, health status, risk factors, preferences, and treatment goals. Contact us today to discuss whether intermittent dosing like every other day usage could be right for your HRT plan.
I hope this gives you a good overview of the pros, cons, and tips for taking HRT intermittently every other day during
menopause. Let me know if you have any other questions!
