11/10/2025
π π₯πππππ« ππ«π¨π¦ ππ«. πππ§: If youβve been a patient of mine over the past decade, youβve probably heard me call the Womenβs Health Initiative study one of the biggest blunders in modern medical history.
After 23 years of fear and misinformation, the FDA has finally removed its black box warning on hormone therapy, and while today marks the end of that chapter, the healing and education are only just beginning.
For over two decades, millions of women were denied access to treatment that could have profoundly improved their quality of life, easing symptoms, protecting bone density, and potentially reducing risks of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, mood disorders, and even certain cancers. The ripple effects of this misinformation are impossible to fully measure, but they have shaped womenβs health for an entire generation.
This issue is deeply personal to me. My passion for educating and advocating for womenβs health began after losing a close family member to complications from medication prescribed for her menopausal symptoms, symptoms I truly believe could have been safely and effectively managed with hormone therapy. That loss lit a fire in me to ensure no woman ever has to suffer unnecessarily because of outdated science or misplaced fear.
Now, more than ever, we need to stand together and rewrite the narrative. We must continue to educate not only women about the safety and power of hormone therapy, but also healthcare providers about how to prescribe and monitor it correctly. The science is clear: when done properly, hormone therapy can be a safe, effective, and life changing tool for womenβs health and longevity.
Today is a huge win for womenβs health and a victory for every practitioner who stood up for the truth, even when it was unpopular. This is just the beginning. We will continue to fight for evidence based, regenerative, and empowering therapies that help women live longer, stronger, and better.
-Ken Winnard, MD
