Review reappraises menopausal hormone therapy safety, emphasizes timing and formulation

This review traces the evolution of safety evidence for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), from early endometrial cancer concerns to the Women's Health Initiative and the subsequent 'timing hypothesis.' The authors report that transdermal estradiol is associated with lower venous thromboembolism risk than oral estrogen, and that micronized progesterone and dydrogesterone may have a more favorable breast safety profile than some synthetic progestins, though randomized evidence for this is lacking. The review states that for healthy women starting MHT before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the overall benefit-risk profile is favorable, and calls for individualized treatment decisions based on symptom burden, age, timing, formulation, and individual risk factors.

Most relevant for: Women considering or using menopausal hormone therapy for vasomotor and estrogen deficiency symptoms, particularly those within 10 years of menopause or under age 60.

Summary written by an AI model from the source text and dated by the source's publication date. Check the original before acting on it. How MedFollow selects and summarizes updates.

Informational only. Not medical advice. Not a substitute for clinical judgment. Always consult current guidelines and your own clinical judgment.