New HRT Studies Are Out!
There has been a lot of recent news about hormone replacement therapy as the spotlight on women’s health and longevity continues to grow. Medicine is now beginning to understand that “although women have more years of life, they also live more years with disabilities […] during their old age” (Carmel, 2019). Two key papers from May 2024 and January 2025 are highlighting women’s unique health journeys and how past recommendations and studies may have done more harm than good.
Menopause may be to blame for women’s health declines; 2002 studies added fear
A large part of the decline in health beyond a women’s middle age is due to menopause. Menopause is the cessation of menstruation and decline of ovarian activity, including production of estrogen and progesterone. We have found that as estrogen and progesterone decline, women experience increased risk of developing osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, and certain kinds of cancers. Unfortunately, the initial Women’s Health Initiative in 2002 largely instilled fear that HRT caused increased risk of the above conditions and caused rates of HRT to drop to historic lows, much at the detriment to women’s health.
Hormone Replacement Therapy now is known to DECREASE many disease risks
In a paper from May 2024, over 10 million women 65+ years old were followed for 13 years. During that time, this paper found that estrogen only therapy after the age of 65 resulted with “reductions in mortality, breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, congestive heart failure, [blood clot], atrial fibrillation, [heart attack], and dementia” (Baik, 2024). Significant “risk reductions in endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, ischemic heart disease, CHF, and [blood clot]” were found with estrogen and progestins (Baik, 2024). Estrogen therapy is a recognized treatment option for osteoporosis and bone thinning as well.
We may have been conservative in who can still have HRT!
Conventional recommendations have also stated that HRT should not be started on women more than 10 years after menopause or after 60 years of age. This was believed to minimize risks of cognitive decline and cardiovascular disease. Luckily, a meta-analysis published in January of 2025 suggested that these restrictions of therapy were “overly cautious” and might “leave many women who cannot tolerate or access bone-specific medications without effective therapy”, as well as those women who are still experiencing hot flashes beyond age 65 (approximately 1/3 of women) (Taylor, 2025). This paper spells out that overall, the risk of cancer mortality, all cause mortality, stroke, CHD, or mild cognitive impairment risk was not statistically significantly elevated in those that started HRT late.
Are you experiencing menopausal symptoms? We can help!
If you are experiencing menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, weight gain, insomnia, libido loss, joint pain, etc), contact Boise Natural Health Clinic. We can provide both herbal and nutritional support for the menopause transition as well as HRT if appropriate. Women don’t need to live the latter half of their lives with decreased health and well-being. We deserve to flourish in all phases.
References:
Carmel: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6795677/#s4
Baik: https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/fulltext/2024/05000/use_of_menopausal_hormone_therapy_beyond_age_65.3.aspx
Taylor: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(24)00270-5/abstract