Is hormone therapy a one-time visit, or does it take time to find the right treatment? Hormone therapy is a process. It’s rarely one visit where we start treatment and everything is perfect. Some women respond well to their initial treatment plan. Others are particularly sensitive to medications and may experience reactions that mean we need to take more time with adjustments. Most patients fall somewhere in between. We address the first concern, assess how they respond, and work from there. Sometimes it feels like two steps forward and one step back. This can be especially challenging during perimenopause and early menopause, when hormone levels are changing. We may need to increase a dose, decrease it, or change the formulation. That’s why ongoing conversations and follow-up visits matter. Finding the right treatment involves paying attention to how you feel and adjusting your plan as your needs change. — Transcript edited for clarity and reviewed by Alan McCool, MD, FACS on October 30, 2026.