The NICE Menopause Guideline is very clear on this. It says that women should be prescribed the lowest dose of HRT, but for “as long as the woman needs it.” 

“Some GPs such as myself believe menopause is a hormone deficiency disease and therefore women should remain on it for as long as they have symptoms,” said Dr Arif, “but we don’t have the studies to back this up: we’re making a clinical judgement based on our experience.” 

If women feel they might no longer need it, added Dr Arif, “they can stop it for a while and if their symptoms don’t return, they might feel they can discontinue it. But if symptoms do return, they may want to go back on it.”