HUGE 23-YEAR STUDY: MODERN HORMONE THERAPY NOT LINKED TO HIGHER HEART RISK
If fears about your heart have kept you from considering hormone therapy for menopause symptoms, a major new study may help put your mind at ease.
Researchers who followed more than 52,000 women for up to 23 years found that today's menopause hormone therapy was not linked to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots or early death.
The findings were released this week by the American Heart Association ahead of its Scientific Sessions conference in Chicago, which runs from 6 to 9 November.
Inside The Hormone Therapy Study
The research was led by Dr Ronen Arbel from Clalit Health Services in Israel and the Maximizing Health Outcomes Research Lab at Sapir College.
His team used health records to compare women aged 45 to 59 who started hormone therapy, either as tablets or through the skin as a patch or gel, with similar women who had recently seen a gynaecologist but did not start treatment.
None of the women had a history of heart disease, blood clots or cancer when the study began.
The two groups were carefully matched on age, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and socioeconomic status.
Women were followed for an average of 12 years, and for as long as 23 years.
What The Researchers Found
The results were remarkably similar between the two groups.
Heart attack, stroke or related heart disease occurred in 4.4 per cent of women on hormone therapy, compared with 4.6 per cent of those who were not.
Death before the age of 80 was recorded in 1.3 per cent of the hormone therapy group and 1.2 per cent of the comparison group.
Blood clots affected 0.33 per cent of women in both groups.
The findings held whether women used tablets, patches or gels.
Dr Arbel said modern hormone treatments "do not appear to raise the risk" of these serious events, even with long-term use.
Why This Matters For Women
Hormone therapy has had a complicated reputation since the early 2000s, when earlier trials raised concerns about heart disease and blood clots.
According to the American Heart Association, those earlier results involved older, higher-dose formulations and women who often started treatment many years after menopause.
This new research focused on women in their mid-40s to late 50s, which is when many women first look for relief from hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep and mood changes.
For anyone who has been weighing up their options, it adds useful information to the conversation.
The Important Fine Print
As with any study, there are limits to keep in mind.
This was an observational study, so it shows an association rather than proving cause and effect.
The research is also preliminary, as it has been presented as a conference abstract and has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The records could not capture everything, such as exercise, diet or how severe each woman's symptoms were.
Women were also grouped by the first type of hormone therapy they used, so later changes in treatment were not tracked.
And the results apply to women without existing heart disease or a history of blood clots, so they may not reflect everyone's situation.
Talking To Your GP About Your Options
Every woman's menopause is different, and the right approach depends on your personal and family health history, your symptoms and your preferences.
If you are struggling with symptoms, it is worth booking a longer appointment with your GP to talk through the benefits and risks of hormone therapy and other options.
You might find it helpful to jot down your symptoms beforehand, along with any questions, so you can make the most of your time.
Trusted Australian resources such as Jean Hailes for Women's Health and the Australasian Menopause Society also offer clear, practical information to read before your visit.
This story is for general information only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice.
But for the many women who have quietly put up with symptoms out of worry, this research is a welcome reason to start that conversation.
