Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) vs. hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

For a hormone replacement therapy candidate who has had a hysterectomy, estrogen replacement therapy will likely be recommended. If the candidate has the uterus present, hormone replacement therapy is the likely option. Here’s why: estrogen given alone can cause an overgrowth of the lining of the uterus that can, in some instances, lead to a type of cancer of the uterus. If you’ve had a hysterectomy, you don’t have a uterus, so it’s okay to take estrogen alone. If you haven’t had a hysterectomy, combining progestin with estrogen helps prevent overgrowth of the uterine lining.