HRT is protective against the fragility fractures caused by osteoporosis when you are taking it. The NICE Menopause Guideline says HRT with oestrogen alone is associated “with no risk of – or at least a reduced risk of – coronary heart disease”. 

HRT is being investigated to see if it protects against dementia, but currently there’s not enough evidence to recommend it for this purpose. “More women than men develop dementia and there’s a theory that this could be due to the lack of oestrogen in the brain,” said Dr Arif.