A total hysterectomy is where your uterus and cervix have been removed
If you are no longer having periods or you have a Mirena coil please indicate this here
This might include unusual bleeding in between regular periods, bleeding after sex or bleeding more than 12 months after your last period
Please note those aged 25 to 49 should have a smear test every 3 years. For those aged 50 to 64 it is every 5 years. While those over 65 will only need one if 1 of your last 3 tests was abnormal.
Out of 1,000 women taking HRT between the ages of 50-59, there will be an extra 4 cases of breast cancer diagnosed every 5 years. If you use oestrogen only HRT there are 4 fewer cases diagnosed.
A recent study found that for every 1,000 women taking HRT for 5 years, there will be 1 extra case of ovarian cancer
It is thought that the risk of developing a blood clot is 2 to 4 times higher than normal for women taking HRT tablets. But as the risk of menopausal women developing blood clots is usually very low, the overall risk from taking HRT tablets is still small. It is estimated that for every 1,000 women taking HRT tablets for 7.5 years, fewer than 2 will develop a blood clot. Please note that there is no increased risk of blood clots when using HRT patches or gels
The evidence shows that HRT does not significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and strokes) when started before 60 years of age. Oestrogen-only HRT is associated with no, or reduced, risk of heart disease. Combined HRT is associated with little or no increase in the risk of heart disease. Taking oestrogen tablets is associated with a small increase in the risk of stroke, but the risk of stroke for women under age 60 is generally very low, so the overall risk is still small
Whilst a Mirena coil offers contraception other methods of HRT do not.