11/21/2025
Hormone Therapy Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
Menopause is unique for every woman. Effective hormone therapy (MHT) requires:
✅ The right person
✅ The right timing
✅ The right formulation
✅ The right delivery method
✅ The right dose
✅ The right indication
FDA-Approved Uses:
• Hot flashes & night sweats (vasomotor symptoms)
• Prevention of bone loss & osteoporosis
• Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or early menopause
• Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)
Hormone therapy can also provide additional benefits for other symptoms, your provider can help guide you.
Right Formulation & Delivery:
• Bioidentical options: estradiol & oral micronized progesterone
• Other safe options: conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) & progestins
• Transdermal estradiol (patch, gel, spray) → steady absorption, lower risk of VTE, stroke, gallbladder disease
• Oral estrogens → effective, but increases clotting; avoid if high clot risk
• Progesterone/progestin: oral micronized progesterone, IUD, oral tablets, or combined patch
Timing & Dose:
• Best results if started before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset
• Early/premature menopause → higher doses to mimic physiologic estrogen until ~age 50
• Typical menopause → standard doses titrated to symptoms & goals
• No arbitrary age to stop, reassess regularly
Safety & Who Can Use MHT:
Few absolute contraindications: recent/active breast cancer, unexplained va**nal bleeding, active liver disease, prior unprovoked clot or PE, recent MI or stroke.
Most women are candidates with shared, individualized decision-making.
Menopause is personal, your hormone therapy should be too.
