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Contents
  • Who Can Safely Use Hormone Therapy?
  • Benefits Beyond Symptom Relief
  • Weighing Risks and Benefits
  • How Long to Continue Treatment?

Hormone Therapy: A Safe Option for Many Menopausal Women?

Hormone Therapy: A Safe Option for Many Menopausal Women?

The Big Picture

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) can effectively treat hot flashes and other symptoms, but its use declined sharply after concerning study results in 2002. New evidence suggests MHT may be safe for many women.
Contents
  • Who Can Safely Use Hormone Therapy?
  • Benefits Beyond Symptom Relief
  • Weighing Risks and Benefits
  • How Long to Continue Treatment?

Who Can Safely Use Hormone Therapy?

MHT is considered safe for healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause who have moderate to severe hot flashes. It's not recommended for women with a history of breast cancer, heart disease, blood clots, stroke, or liver disease. Calculating your personal risks with your doctor is important before starting MHT.

Benefits Beyond Symptom Relief

While no longer used to prevent chronic diseases, MHT started within 10 years of menopause may reduce risks of heart disease and mortality in some women. It can also help with mood, sleep, and joint pain. Low-dose vaginal estrogen is preferred for treating only vaginal dryness.
Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) is a treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and mood changes. It is considered safe for healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause.

Weighing Risks and Benefits

For most healthy women under 60, the benefits of short-term MHT outweigh the risks. Risks increase with age and length of use. Transdermal estrogen may be safer than oral for some women. Using the lowest effective dose is recommended.

How Long to Continue Treatment?

Guidelines suggest using MHT for 3-5 years or until age 60. Some women may safely use it longer if benefits outweigh risks. Tapering off slowly can help minimize symptom recurrence. Non-hormonal options can be tried first if symptoms return after stopping.

FAQs

Is MHT safe?

For most healthy women under 60, short-term use is considered safe.

Who should avoid MHT?

Women with history of breast cancer, heart disease, blood clots, or stroke.

What's the best way to stop MHT?

Tapering off slowly over months can help minimize returning symptoms.

Can MHT prevent chronic diseases?

It's no longer recommended for disease prevention, but may have some benefits if started early.

Is 'bioidentical' hormone therapy safer?

No evidence shows it's safer; FDA-approved options are recommended.

Key Takeaways

MHT can safely and effectively relieve menopausal symptoms in many women when used appropriately.
Talk to Doctronic about whether hormone therapy may be right for you based on your personal health history and risk factors.
Additional References
  1. The North American Menopause Society. The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause 2022; 29:767.
  2. Stuenkel CA, et al. Treatment of Symptoms of the Menopause: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015; 100:3975.
  3. Manson JE, et al. Menopausal hormone therapy and health outcomes during the intervention and extended poststopping phases of the Women's Health Initiative randomized trials. JAMA 2013; 310:1353.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.