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Hormone Therapy: A Safe Option for Many Menopausal Women?
Published: Sep 17, 2024
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most healthy women under 60, short-term use is considered safe.
Women with history of breast cancer, heart disease, blood clots, or stroke.
Tapering off slowly over months can help minimize returning symptoms.
It's no longer recommended for disease prevention, but may have some benefits if started early.
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.
References
- The North American Menopause Society. The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause 2022; 29:767.
- Stuenkel CA, et al. Treatment of Symptoms of the Menopause: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015; 100:3975.
- 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. Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.
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