Menopause hormone therapy is OK after all, long-term study finds

Since a study in 2002 was called off, women have been reluctant to take hormones. But a new study has reassuring news for women under 60.

Marlene Cimons

May 4, 2024 – 5.34am

Email LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

More than two decades ago, the shocking results of a major women’s health study challenged the safety of menopause hormones, and overnight, millions of women and their doctors abandoned the drugs – a reluctance that lingers.

Now, a long-term follow-up of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) shows that the reaction was largely overblown. The new research found that for many younger menopausal women – typically those under 60 – the benefits of the drugs probably outweigh the risks for the short-term treatment of menopause symptoms, including hot flushes and night sweats.

Washington Post