The best dose is the lowest dose that effectively relieves your symptoms — and that varies from person to person.
General principles:
- Hormone therapy is not one-size-fits-all. The right dose depends on your symptoms, health history, body weight, and response to treatment.
- Clinicians start at the lowest effective dose and adjust upward if needed.
- Higher doses carry higher potential risks, so the goal is always the minimum effective amount.
Delivery method matters: Patches generally deliver estrogen more consistently at lower effective doses than oral tablets because they bypass the liver.
At your initial MHT visit, your clinician will review your symptoms and labs, and prescribe a starting dose. You'll follow up after 1–3 months to assess response and make adjustments. Some fine-tuning is expected and normal.