Hormone replacement therapy can reduce the undesirable symptoms of menopause, but HRT is fraught with side effects that can range from vaginal bleeding, breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating and uterine cramps to irritability and headaches. HRT can also increase the risk of breast and uterine cancer as mentioned previously, as well as increase the risk of gallbladder dysfunction, gallstones and high blood pressure. Sometimes a woman's menopausal symptoms are so severe and distressing that she may opt for HRT.