Many women wonder: Is it too late to start hormone therapy?
The data on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) continues to evolve and accumulate. The Menopause Society’s 2022 statements on hormone replacement therapy are a great place to start informing yourself. I encourage you to read them in full, but to summarize, the previous “rules” about starting women on hormone replacement after age 60 or starting women on hormone replacement ten or more years post menopause have changed.
Until recently, post-menopausal women were told that replacement therapy, including the BHRT approach we utilize at Revive, increased risks for cancer, heart attack, stroke, and blood clots. They were also told that the “window” for starting hormone optimization was narrow, and if they were more than 10 years post- menopause, they’d missed their chance.
Fortunately, recent well-done studies and data analysis demonstrate that this simply isn’t true. In fact, for most women over age 60 or over ten years post-menopause, BHRT REDUCES health risks while dramatically increasing quality of life.
The first key to well-executed hormone optimization is individualization of treatment. There is no set formula. Each woman’s symptoms, goals, health history, lifestyle, diet, and activity level must be carefully considered.
When properly personalized and monitored, BHRT may help reduce pain, increase energy, improve skin health, restore libido, reduce body fat, increase muscle mass, support bone density, and strengthen pelvic floor function.
The second key is to combine hormone optimization with optimized nutrition and fitness. Many peri and post-menopausal women are deeply frustrated by their “poor return on investment” with diet and exercise. The understandable temptation is to reach for one of the GLP-1 medications. While GLP-1 medications may have a role in some cases, restoring hormone balance often improves how the body responds to strength training and healthy eating.
Chronological aging is unavoidable — but functional decline does not have to be. Hormone optimization can transform your peri and post-menopause years. We encourage you to set up a consultation to learn how BHRT can help you live your best life.
BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY FAQ’S
For many women, no. The long-standing belief that hormone therapy must begin before age 60 or within ten years of menopause has been reconsidered in light of newer data. In appropriately selected patients, starting BHRT after 60 can still offer meaningful improvements in energy, body composition, bone health, and overall quality of life.
Safety depends on the individual. Health history, cardiovascular risk, cancer history, lifestyle, and current symptoms must all be evaluated before starting therapy. When prescribed thoughtfully and monitored by a physician, BHRT can be a safe option for many peri- and post-menopausal women.
When thoughtfully prescribed, BHRT may help reduce pain and inflammation, improve energy, restore libido, support lean muscle mass, improve skin quality, strengthen bone density, and enhance pelvic floor health. Many women also notice improved response to strength training and nutrition once hormone levels are optimized.
A thorough medical evaluation is the first step. Symptoms, labs, cardiovascular history, lifestyle, and personal goals must all be considered. Hormone therapy should never follow a preset formula — it should be individualized and physician-guided.