Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can indirectly cause harm to the environment due to the way it leaves our bodies and is disposed of.

HRT contains estrogens, a group of steroid hormones. When consumed, these hormones don’t completely break down in the body and are excreted through the urine.

They eventually end up in our home’s wastewater and can enter our lakes, rivers, and oceans. There, they can pose harm to aquatic life, such as fish and sea turtles, by entering their bloodstream and negatively affecting their reproductive cycles.

They can also contaminate our drinking water supply systems.

How to dispose of HRT products properly

HRT products can also enter our water systems by the way we dispose of them.

Many people choose to get rid of medications by flushing them down the sink or toilet. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that some medications can be flushed, HRT is not listed as one of these options.

Instead, it’s recommended to use medication “take-back options” where available. The U.S. government authorizes many permanent collection sites to collect expired, unused, or unwanted medication.

Your local pharmacy may also be able to help you identify how to safely dispose of your unwanted medication.

You can search for your nearest collection site here or call 1-800-882-9539 for more information.

When disposing of HRT products, you should ensure that:

  • any HRT patches are folded in half so the sticky sides are stuck together
  • pills or tablets are placed into a sealed container like a zipped bag
  • any personal information have been removed from the drug packaging, such as your name, address, or prescription number