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No need to fear menopause hormone drugs, finds major women’s health study

A landmark women’s health study scared women and doctors away from menopause hormone treatments. A 20-year follow-up found that fears were largely overblown.

By
May 1, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. EDT
Worries about menopause hormones have prompted many women to forgo treatment for hot flashes. (iStock)
7 min

More than two decades ago, the shocking results of a major women’s health study challenged the safety of menopause hormones, and overnight, millions of women and their doctors abandoned the drugs — a reluctance that lingers today.

Now, a long-term follow-up of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) shows that the reaction was largely overblown. The new research found that for many younger menopausal women — typically those under 60 — the benefits of the drugs probably outweigh the risks for the short-term treatment of menopause symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats.