Harmone Replacement Therepy
Reversed Medical Decisions
• • • • • • • December 2025 • • • • • • •
Over the years, medicine has been reversing positions it has taken in the past. Remember when eggs were supposed to be bad for you because they had too much cholesterol? Well, that has changed. Now, individuals can eat up to 7 eggs a week, except for diabetics. Those with diabetes should seek their doctor's advice on egg consumption.
The Women's Health Initiative provided another misstatement in the early 2000s that claimed hormone therapy increased the risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots and breast cancer in women. The problem with this research was that the test sample was, in general, composed of women aged 63. Today, this is considered too late to start hormone therapy. Also, the type of hormones used for women in menopause treatment has improved.
There are several ways to reduce the onset of menopause without hormone therapy. They include limiting alcohol and caffeine and maintaining a healthy body weight. Some women find that herbal medications can be helpful in reducing hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, including sage, lemon balm, red clover and licorice.”
SAFE TREATMENT FOR MENOPAUSE IS AVAILABLE
The most groundbreaking reversal in the Food and Drug Administration Commission's (FDA) announcement is that hormone therapy for women is now recommended! Women no longer need to suffer through hot flashes, night sweats and poor sleep. Hormone therapy is recommended no later than 10 years after the onset of menopause or no later than the age of 60. When hormone therapy occurs at the correct time, women can expect "protection against bone loss and fractures, as well as potential benefits for heart health, brain fog and overall quality of life."
TREATMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE
Not all women can take hormone therapy, however. Some women have preexisting conditions that can make hormone therapy dangerous. There is also a time limit on hormone therapy — on average three to five years. Women of color, specifically Black or Hispanic women, may need to take hormone therapy longer. Again, the doctor and patient need to discuss their treatment. Women at risk for using hormone therapy are "those with estrogen sensitive breast or uterine cancer, and women who are at high risk for or have had a heart attack, stroke, blood clot, or pulmonary embolism." For those women who cannot or don't want to take hormone therapy, two drugs are available to relieve hot flashes. Lynkuet and Veozah can provide relief from symptoms when hormone therapy is not recommended.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO ADMINISTER ESTROGEN
Administering hormone therapy has also improved. It is not with pills anymore. Instead, the hormone is delivered via skin patches, creams or gels. This is believed to reduce the threat of blood clots.
Another improvement to the therapy of menopause is the use of low-dose estrogen products, rather than high-dose Systemic doses of estrogen. Systemic estrogen is considered more likely to produce side effects.
ALTERNATIVES TO HORMONE TREATMENT
There are several ways to reduce the onset of menopause without hormone therapy. They include limiting alcohol and caffeine and maintaining a healthy body weight. Some women find that herbal medications can be helpful in reducing hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, including sage, lemon balm, red clover and licorice.
Glenn Rogers, RLA,
Former President, Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods (CSFN)
Landscape Architect, License 3223
December 2025
