The benefits of menopausal hormone therapy may outweigh the risks if you start treatment before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause. There is very little evidence about the initiation of hormone therapy in older women, because this research has not been carried out. However, most women who are otherwise physically fit continue to benefit from hormone therapy, even if it's been more than 10 years since menopause. You'll usually be recommended to take hormone replacement therapy until you're at least 51 years old.
As you age, and especially after age 60, the risks of HRT may begin to outweigh the benefits. This question about hormone therapy has been answered by Dr. Sonia Davison, an endocrinologist (hormone specialist) at Jean Hailes. If you take hormonal contraceptives, such as the combination pill or the progestogen-only pill, you may not know when you reach perimenopause or menopause, because birth control can affect your periods.
You may decide to start hormone therapy now because your symptoms have worsened or because you expected them to be gone by now, but that's not the case. Simply put, hormone therapy (HRT) helps restore these declining hormone levels to help you feel more like yourself again. If you want to continue taking hormone therapy or start taking it after age 60, your GP may recommend taking a low dose and using patches or gel instead of tablets to reduce your risk. You may be concerned about the long-term risks associated with low levels of hormones that occur during menopause later in life, such as the risk of cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart and blood vessels) and osteoporosis (a disease that weakens bones), as well as diabetes, dementia and depression.
By age 60, arteries tend to be stiffer and women of this age are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, so starting hormone therapy may increase the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases or events. Modern bioidentical hormone therapy has a different safety profile and can be beneficial at any age if properly monitored. You can take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) if you have menopausal symptoms, including during perimenopause and after your periods stop (postmenopause). Whether you're 55, 65, 75 or older, optimizing your hormone levels can help you regain aspects of your health and vitality that you thought were lost over time. If you work with a qualified healthcare provider who specializes in hormone optimization, you can determine if hormone therapy might be right for you, regardless of your age.
Regular follow-up appointments and regular hormone level testing allow your provider to make necessary adjustments to your treatment plan, ensuring optimal results.
