23/11/2025
" IS IT TOO LATE TO START HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT) ? "
🔹️ There is no specific age cut-off for starting HRT.
🔹️ HRT has more benefits than risks in the majority of women when started as close to your age of menopause as possible and ideally before the age of 60 years HOWEVER, this does not mean that it cannot be started after the age of 60.
🔹️ HRT can significantly improve the quality of life of women of all ages however, if started in later years, it just means you have a relatively shorter time to reap the additional effects such a bone protection, cardiovascular protection...etc
🔹️ Regardless of age, we need to assess a woman's specific symptoms, past medical/surgical history, family history, quality of life, preferences...etc and balance their individual risks and benefits before making any decisions on management options.
🔹️ Increasing age is an independent risk factor for developing many conditions (e.g. cardiovascular disease, venous thrombosis, certain cancers...etc) and it is therefore important to mitigate this risk by optimising lifestyle factors (e.g. reducing alcohol intake, stopping smoking, reducing refined foods, increasing exercise...etc). In some cases, it may be necessary to start preventative medications (e.g. statins).
🔹️There are many different types of HRT and the "body identical" variety are the safest form with no additional risk of blood clots so are the best option for matured ladies.
🔹️As we age, oestrogen receptors become increasingly sensitive so we need a lower dose of oestrogen to achieve the same symptomatic relief. This means that older women tend to need much lower doses of HRT.
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