Hormone Therapy Does Not Increase Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Younger Postmenopausal Women - News Center

""These findings provide important support for current clinical recommendations to use menopausal hormone therapy to treat moderate or severe vasomotor symptoms among younger postmenopausal women who do not have contraindications to estrogen use, but to avoid hormone therapy use among women older than 70 years of age," said Emily Szmuilowicz, MD, associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine and a co-author of the study."

""Menopause occurs when a patient's ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones, permanently ending menstruation. Menopause occurs at an average age of 51 years, but age of menopause is variable and can occur sooner due to genetics or medical treatments, such as chemotherapy or surgery. One of the most common symptoms of menopause is vasomotor symptoms, more commonly known as hot flashes and night sweats.""

""This has led to understandable reluctance among postmenopausal women and their providers to use menopausal hormone therapy. However, the risks of menopausal hormone therapy may vary among postmenopausal women of different ages," Szmuilowicz said. "In the current study, Szmuilowicz and colleagues conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Women's Health Initiative, which included two clinical trials and more than 27,000 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79 years at 40 U.S. clinical centers."

Menopausal hormone therapy increased cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal women older than 70 years with vasomotor symptoms. Hormone therapy did not significantly affect cardiovascular disease risk in younger postmenopausal women. Guidance supports using hormone therapy to treat moderate or severe vasomotor symptoms in younger postmenopausal women without contraindications to estrogen. Hormone therapy is advised against for women older than 70 years due to elevated cardiovascular risk. Menopause marks the end of ovarian reproductive hormone production, typically around age 51, though timing can vary because of genetics or medical treatments such as chemotherapy or surgery. Vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats, are common and hormone therapy remains the most effective treatment for these symptoms.

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