FDA HRT News

I feel the same. I am 68 and have been on BHRT for 16 months with nothing but positive benefits.

@janieben I don't know if you read this study from Medscape on HRT for women over 65 I originally posted last year: https://www.medscape.com/s/viewarticle/hormone-therapy-after-65-good-option-most-women-2024a10007b2

@debbie1956 Thank you for your post. I read the study; I may be wrong, but I believe it focuses on women who are CONTINUING estrogen therapy past 65, not just starting it. I believe it also focuses on estrogen, not estradiol, and on oral rather than transdermal. This is the only line that actually commented on women over 65: "Dr. Streicher says women who would like to start HT after 65 should be counseled on individual risks and after cardiac health is evaluated. But, she notes, this study did not address that." Most articles reference the WHI study, which uses oral estrogen, not transdermal estradiol, and progestogen rather than micronized progesterone. So...still looking for that article. 🙂 Thank you again for your sharing of your knowledge.

@janieben I may have previously posted this podcast with Dr. Lauren Streicher you quoted from the Medscape article. My Menopause Society naturopath physician suggested Dr. Streicher's podcast when I began BHRT at age 67. She did the risk assessments mentioned by Dr. James Simon interviewed on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/hormone-therapy-after-age-60-with-dr-james-simon/id1615785832

@findtheanswersdn
For bones, estrogen mainly works by slowing bone loss, helping maintain bone density.

If interested, here is a link for FDA panel discussion:
https://www.fda.gov/patients/fda-expert-panels/fda-expert-panel-menopause-and-hormone-replacement-therapy-women-07172025
From what I understand,

Breast cancer risk appears lower and more nuanced than older boxed warnings suggested, especially for estrogen-only therapy in women without a uterus. Unlike cardiovascular risk, breast cancer risk is more influenced by type and duration of therapy than by timing of initiation.

Cardiovascular risk depends largely on timing - lower if started before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause, and higher if started later. Transdermal estrogen tends to carry fewer cardiovascular and clotting risks than oral forms.

Starting HRT after age 60 or more than 10 years postmenopause carries higher cardiovascular and clotting risks, so cautious, individualized treatment favoring lower doses and transdermal routes is recommended.

The panel emphasized that formulation, route, and dose all influence breast cancer and cardiovascular risk, with transdermal and lower dose regimens generally safer.

From: "Mayo Clinic Connect" < nf+eafb360a+81757312@n1.hubapplication.com>
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Sent: Friday, October 31, 2025 10:00:46 AM
Subject: @mayblin mentioned you in comment on Mayo Clinic Connect

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THANK YOU FIR REPLYING. I WILL PONDER. HAVE A BLESSED DAY AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN. Do u live in Minnesota? I'm originally from okabena mn small sw town 400 people now living in pocahontas iowa small nw iowa town.
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[ https://connect.mayoclinic.org/member/00-fc9271e24949da79367227/ | @mayblin ] mentioned you in comment on Fri, Oct 31.

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@findtheanswersdn
For bones, estrogen mainly works by slowing bone loss, helping maintain bone density.

If interested, here is a link for FDA panel discussion:
https://www.fda.gov/patients/fda-expert-panels/fda-expert-panel-menopause-and-hormone-replacement-therapy-women-07172025
From what I understand,

Breast cancer risk appears lower and more nuanced than older boxed warnings suggested, especially for estrogen-only therapy in women without a uterus. Unlike cardiovascular risk, breast cancer risk is more influenced by type and duration of therapy than by timing of initiation.

Cardiovascular risk depends largely on timing - lower if started before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause, and higher if started later. Transdermal estrogen tends to carry fewer cardiovascular and clotting risks than oral forms.

Starting HRT after age 60 or more than 10 years postmenopause carries higher cardiovascular and clotting risks, so cautious, individualized treatment favoring lower doses and transdermal routes is recommended.

The panel emphasized that formulation, route, and dose all influence breast cancer and cardiovascular risk, with transdermal and lower dose regimens generally safer.
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@janieben I just started at age 68. The gyn did a cardiac risk. My husband’s cardiologist said he would recommend calcium scoring, which I did, and it was zero. He also recommended K2, which I am already on. My internist said he has no issue with increasing the patch dosage (it is a very lose dose, .025) as long as I continue to the my routine screenings and self exam. No history of any cancer in my family, and parents and grandparents lived into their 90’s. I would love to see research on women beginning BHRT after age 65. Most of research I see is about continuing past 65.