HRT Should Be 1st Treatment Offered to Menopausal Women, GPs Told

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should be the first treatment offered to women with symptoms of the menopause, a health care watchdog has said in updated guidelines. There has been a surge in the number of women taking HRT in recent years, with figures showing a 22 percent increase in the number of prescriptions issued in 2023–24 compared to the previous year, with some 13 million items prescribed to an estimated 2.6 million people. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said “HRT is the the preferred, recommended approach” for managing symptoms such as hot flushes, insomnia, and low mood, and should be offered by GPs in discussion with patients about the risks and benefits....