Doctors clarify hormone therapy’s role in treating menopause symptoms in women under 60

Hormone therapy is considered both safe and effective for managing menopause symptoms in women under the age of 60, according to current medical research and expert consensus, a significant shift from earlier concerns that linked the treatment to serious health risks.

The updated understanding comes after previous studies, particularly in the 1990s, raised alarms about hormone therapy drugs such as Prempro, a combination of estrogen and progestin.

Early findings suggested increased risks of breast cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and blood clots, leading many patients and physicians to adopt a more cautious approach.

However, experts now say those conclusions were influenced by study populations that largely included older women, which may have skewed the perceived risk profile.

“The risks of these diseases increase with age, so these adverse effects also become more prominent in later ages,” said Garnet L. Anderson, PhD, senior vice president and director of the Public Health Sciences Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

She added that hormone therapy remains “effective in reducing menopause symptoms, without question,” particularly when used in appropriately selected patients.

Medical professionals say the shift in guidance is helping correct what some describe as a long-standing misunderstanding about the treatment’s safety for younger menopausal women.

“The fallout from the study was a terrible disservice to a huge population of women,” said Lisa Brent, ND, a menopause specialist and founder of Be Well Natural Medicine.

More recent guidance supports the use of hormone therapy for symptom relief — including hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes — in healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset.

However, experts emphasize that treatment should be individualized.

“I am happy they studies have been updated to reflect that hormones are safe for menopausal women under 60 years of age,” said Meleen Chuang, MD, a clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone.

She added that future research should continue examining long-term outcomes, alternative treatments, and how hormone therapy may affect different populations.

Despite the growing consensus, some experts still urge caution, noting that questions remain about long-term risks and broader applications of hormone therapy beyond symptom management.

Doctors stress that hormone therapy is not suitable for everyone and should only be started after a full medical evaluation.

“There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to menopause treatment,” Brent said. “A specialist can assess your symptoms and risk factors to determine the right strategy for you.”