HRT may suit you if
- Hot flushes or night sweats affect your daily life
- Your menopause came early, before 45
- You are at risk of bone loss
- You have none of the conditions listed on the right
The right form, at the right dose
Hormone Replacement Therapy in Gangnam, Seoul, explained honestly
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces the estrogen your body makes less of after menopause, to ease hot flushes, night sweats, sleep problems and vaginal dryness, and to help protect bone. If you still have a uterus, a progestogen is added to protect its lining. At Sinsoe Women's Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, a female OB-GYN checks whether HRT is safe for you, explains the benefits and risks, and helps you choose a form, such as tablets, patches, gel or vaginal estrogen. An English-speaking coordinator stays with you from booking to follow-up.
- Tablets, patches, gel or vaginal
- Risk check before you start
- Female doctors only
- Regular reviews and tapering
- Self-pay for visitors
- 4 forms: tablets, patches, gel, vaginal
- 5 female doctors on one team
- EN English coordinator from booking to results
- 8 PM evening clinic on Mondays & Fridays
The basics
What is hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
Around menopause, the ovaries make much less estrogen. HRT gives back a low dose of it. This calms the hot flushes and night sweats that many women find hardest, and often helps sleep, mood and vaginal comfort.
There are two main types. Estrogen-only HRT is for women who no longer have a uterus. Combined HRT adds a progestogen, because estrogen alone can thicken the lining of the uterus and raise the risk of endometrial cancer.
HRT is a treatment for symptoms, not a must. It is one part of wider menopause care, and your doctor reviews it with you regularly.
Possible benefits What HRT can help with
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Sleep problems linked to night sweats
- Vaginal dryness and pain during sex
- Mood swings and low energy linked to menopause
- Bone loss, lowering the risk of osteoporosis
What HRT is not
- Not a contraceptive. In perimenopause you may still need contraception
- Not an anti-aging or weight-loss treatment
Is it safe for you
Who can use HRT, and who should not
For many healthy women under 60, or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits often outweigh the risks. Some women should not use HRT, or need extra checks first.
HRT may not be right if you have
- Breast cancer now or in the past
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding
- A past blood clot, stroke or heart attack
- Active liver disease
- Endometrial or another hormone-sensitive cancer
Stop and get help straight away if you get:
- Pain or swelling in one leg
- Sudden chest pain or shortness of breath
- A new breast lump, or unexpected heavy bleeding
If symptoms are severe, go to the nearest hospital emergency room first. Then message us on WhatsApp.
Forms of HRT
Tablets, patches, gel or vaginal estrogen?
The hormone is similar, but the way it enters the body changes the risks and how it fits your routine. Your doctor tells you which forms are available in Korea.
Tablets
Taken once a day. Easy to use, with both combined and estrogen-only options.
A simple routinePatches and gel
Estrogen goes in through the skin and does not pass through the liver first. This carries a lower risk of blood clots than tablets.
Higher clot riskVaginal estrogen
A low-dose cream or vaginal tablet. It treats dryness and bladder symptoms with very little going into the blood. See vaginal dryness solutions.
Dryness only Step by step
Starting HRT at our Gangnam clinic
Before you start, your doctor makes sure HRT is safe for you. Then she checks in with you regularly.
- 1 Message us in English On WhatsApp. Tell us your symptoms, your age and the date of your last period.
- 2 Check in on 2F Bring your passport or Alien Registration Card, and a list of your medicines and past illnesses.
- 3 Risk check A female OB-GYN asks about blood clots, breast and heart health and family history, and checks your blood pressure.
- 4 Baseline tests Usually a pelvic ultrasound and breast imaging, and sometimes blood tests or bone density, if not done recently.
- 5 Start and review You start on a low dose. Your doctor reviews you after a few months, then at least once a year.
Information that helps
- When your periods changed or stopped
- Any history of blood clots, stroke, migraine or breast problems
- Family history of breast cancer or blood clots
- Your last mammogram and Pap results
Common side effects
Some women get breast tenderness, bloating, headaches or light irregular bleeding at first. These often settle within about 3 months. If they don't, your doctor can change the dose or form.
Bleeding that starts after the first few months, or that is heavy, should always be checked.
The full picture
HRT benefits and risks, in plain words
No medicine is risk-free. Here is what we know, so you can decide together with your doctor.
Symptom relief
Hot flushes, sleep, dryness
HRT is the most effective treatment for hot flushes and night sweats. Most women notice a difference within weeks.
Bone protection
Lower osteoporosis risk
Estrogen slows bone loss while you take it. Your doctor may suggest a DXA scan to check your bones.
Breast cancer
Small rise with longer use
Combined HRT slightly raises breast cancer risk, mostly after about 5 to 10 years of use. Regular breast screening is part of your care.
Blood clots and the uterus
Depends on form and type
Tablets carry a higher clot risk than patches or gel, and a past clot needs specialist review. The progestogen protects the lining of the uterus.
Many women use HRT for 1 to 2 years and then taper off slowly. Some need it longer. Your doctor reviews the balance of benefits and risks every year.
Expats & visitors
Getting HRT in Korea as a foreigner
HRT medicines and brand names differ between countries. We help you start or continue treatment safely.
Regular reviews in English
Bring your Alien Registration Card. Your doctor reviews your HRT at least once a year, with breast and pelvic check-ups.
Switching from home
Bring your current packs or a photo of the label. Your doctor finds the closest match available in Korea and explains any difference.
Plan your follow-up
Bring your passport. If you start HRT on a trip, plan a review with a doctor at home, and ask for an English summary of your prescription.
Quick answers
HRT in Seoul: common questions
Where can I get HRT in Gangnam with an English-speaking doctor?
Sinsoe Women's Clinic at 537 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul offers hormone replacement therapy with female doctors and an English-speaking coordinator. It is a 4-minute walk from Eonju Station Exit 7 (Line 9). Book on WhatsApp at +82-10-9517-5719.
Does HRT cause breast cancer?
Combined HRT slightly raises the risk of breast cancer, mainly after 5 to 10 years of use. Estrogen-only HRT has a smaller effect. Regular breast screening is part of HRT care, and your doctor explains your personal risk.
How long can I stay on HRT?
Many women use it for 1 to 2 years and then taper off slowly. Some need it longer, for example after early menopause. Your doctor reviews it with you every year.
Is it too late to start HRT?
HRT is usually safest when started before 60 or within 10 years of menopause. After that, the risks may be higher, and your doctor will discuss other options with you.
Can I get HRT patches or gel in Korea?
Several forms of HRT are available in Korea. Your doctor tells you which forms suit you and can match your current treatment as closely as possible.
Will HRT make me gain weight?
There is no good evidence that HRT itself causes weight gain. Weight often changes around menopause for other reasons. Some women feel bloated in the first weeks.
Who should not take HRT?
Women with breast cancer, unexplained vaginal bleeding, a past blood clot or stroke, or active liver disease usually should not take HRT, or need specialist advice first.
Can tourists get an HRT prescription in Seoul?
Yes, after a consultation and risk check. Visitors are seen as self-pay patients. Bring your passport and a list of your medicines.
Ready when you are
Ask about HRT in Gangnam, Seoul
Message us in English with your symptoms and any hormones you use now. A coordinator books you in with a female OB-GYN.
Sinsoe Women's Clinic
537 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06126, South KoreaEonju Station Exit 7 (4 min) · Yeoksam Station Exit 6 (5 min)
| Mon & Fri | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue, Wed, Thu | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |