Question
I've heard different things about menopausal hormone therapy. Is it safe?
Answer
It’s completely understandable to have concerns. There has been a lot of confusing information about hormone therapy over the years, especially following a large study in 2002 called the Women’s Health Initiative.
The good news is that we now have a much better understanding of those findings. Current evidence suggests that, for many women who are younger than 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits of hormone therapy may outweigh the risks. However, hormone therapy is not appropriate for everyone, and the potential benefits and risks should be evaluated based on your individual health history and treatment goals.
Today, we typically prescribe FDA-approved bioidentical hormones, which are chemically identical to what’s already in your body. The goal is to find the lowest effective dose to treat your specific symptoms. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, and your health history and age play a big role in determining what’s right for you.