It’s no secret that hormone replacement therapy is making a comeback. This treatment for symptoms of menopause fell out of favor in the early 2000s after a study suggested it could do more harm than good (researchers later discovered that data was flawed). But an arsenal of research since then has found that hormone therapy in menopause can be a game-changer for women in this phase of life.Still, you’re not taught the ins and outs of hormone replacement therapy in school, and it’s not even commonly discussed in the doctor’s office. With that, it’s understandable to wonder if it’s too late to start hormone replacement therapy, especially if you’re in perimenopause or menopause. The answer is slightly complicated. “It’s never too late,” says Dr. Lauren Streicher, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. But there is research to suggest that there’s an ideal window of time to start hormone therapy for menopause. “There is a timing benefit on long-term outcomes,” says Dr. Jessica Shepherd, MD, an ob/gyn in Texas and author of Generation M: Living Well in Perimenopause and Menopause. So, what does this mean for you, and what is the ideal timing for hormone therapy in menopause? Here’s what doctors who prescribe this treatment want you to know. ?SIGN UP for Parade’s health newsletter with expert-approved tips, healthy eats, exercises, news & more to help you stay healthy & feel your best self?
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However, subsequent research has since found that the original findings were flawed. Among other things, the original analysis lumped older women who already had a higher risk of heart disease in with younger women. It also didn’t tease out when women started hormone therapy, which can make a difference in outcomes. The original authors of the study came out with a follow-up study that was published in JAMA in 2024, which concluded that hormone therapy is a safe option for women, but a lot of the damage had been done.
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When Do Doctors Recommend Starting Hormone Replacement Therapy?
“Research shows that starting hormone therapy during this window offers the most favorable balance of benefits and risks,” she explains. “Hormone therapy is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and is primarily used to improve quality of life, not to prevent disease or extend lifespan.”
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“Between 60 and 69 it might not be great—it won't help prevent heart disease, but it's not terrible,” Dr. Minkin says. “But if we get to 70 and beyond, it actually can be detrimental to heart health. So, in general, we like to give estrogen relatively soon after menopause.”
Dr. Parr agrees. “As women age, baseline risks for conditions such as heart disease, stroke, blood clots and cognitive decline increase, and starting hormone therapy later may carry more risk than benefit,” she says. “This doesn’t mean hormone therapy is automatically off the table, but initiation at this stage requires careful, individualized discussion with a clinician.”
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Sources:
Dr. Lauren Streicher, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineDr. Jessica Shepherd, M.D., an ob/gyn in Texas and author of Generation M: Living Well in Perimenopause and MenopauseDr. Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine and founder of Madame OvaryDr. Ashley Parr, D.O., an ob-gyn at MemorialCare Medical Group at Saddleback Medical Center’s Women’s Health Pavilion in Laguna Hills, CAHence then, the article about is it too late to start hormone replacement therapy was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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