Hormone therapy is a medicine that contains female hormones

, However, previous research has shown that it is harmful to women's long-term health, leading to fears over its use.

However, the study published online today in the journal Menopause shows that no general rule exists for stopping hormone therapy in a woman based on age alone. “Risks after age 65 may vary for women according to the type, route, and dose,” researchers from the Menopause Society said in the study.

“This large observational study of women provides reassurance about the safety of long-term hormone therapy use and even potential benefits, particularly in women using estrogen alone. , also provides important insights about routes of administration and variations between formulations that facilitate individualization of treatment," said Stephanie Faubion, medical director of The Menopause Society.

Researchers followed 10 million elderly women from 2007 to 2020, and found that taking estrogen alone after age 65 was associated with a "lower risk of mortality, breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer congestive heart failure, venous thromboembolism, atrial fibrillation." There is a significant risk reduction." Acute myocardial infarction, and dementia".

On the other hand, combination estrogen and progestogen therapy increases the risk of breast cancer, but this "can be reduced by using low doses of transdermal or vaginal progestin".

Importantly, the use of progestin resulted in "significant risk reductions in endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, ischemic heart disease, congestive hearing failure, and venous thromboembolism".