Experts Comment on Menopause Hormone Therapy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that it will remove the black box warning for menopause-related hormone therapy, including creams, pills, and other treatments. This article highlights the perspectives of doctors and women's health advocates on the decision, including Our Bodies Ourselves executive director, Dr. Amy Agigian.

Amy addressed misinformation, including the claim that Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) protects heart and brain health. That claim "is just not supported by evidence," she explains. Local applications of MHT—creams, gels, etc.—can be very safe and beneficial for treating certain urogenital-related symptoms, if they’re used within ten years of menopause. But systemic MHT such as pills and patches have a very different safety profile. Amy emphasizes the importance of consulting with menopause-wise medical providers to identify what works best for us as individuals.