HRT patches 'may be safer for stroke risk'

Patches containing a low dose of the hormones oestrogen or progesterone, or both, carry less risk of stroke than if HRT is taken in tablet form, they said.

However, the risk increases significantly with high-dose patches – women being up to 90 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke than if they are not on HRT.

Meanwhile, women on HRT tablets have a 28 per cent higher risk of stroke than non-users, regardless of whether their tablets contain a high or low dose of either or both of the hormones.

HRT replaces the female hormones which are lost when a woman goes through the menopause.

Oestrogen regulates a woman's periods but also plays an important role in maintaining body temperature and protecting bones.

Loss of oestrogen causes many symptoms linked to the menopause, including hot flushes, low sex drive, mood changes and bone thinning.

The study was published online in the British Medical Journal.