The US will eliminate warnings about hormone replacement therapy for menopause.

American health authorities announced on Monday (10) that they will ask manufacturers of hormone replacement therapy for menopause symptoms to remove a warning about potential associated risks, considering that they were exaggerated.

During menopause, which marks the end of a woman's reproductive period, the drop in estrogen levels can cause hot flashes, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, and pain during sexual intercourse—symptoms that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helps to alleviate.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was commonly used until 2002, when a study raised concerns by indicating that it increased the risk of breast cancer and stroke.

Since then, they have included a warning from the agency that regulates food and drugs in the United States (FDA) about the risks, and prescriptions have decreased drastically.

But the topic continued to divide the medical community. Critics pointed out flaws in the 2002 study. Furthermore, there are now new forms of HRT with reduced doses.

“We are questioning outdated ideas and reaffirming our commitment to evidence-based medicine that empowers rather than restricts,” said U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., when presenting the decision.

– More affordable –

Many members of the medical community urged the FDA to reconsider its warning about HRT, which could dissuade women for whom the benefits might outweigh the risks.

Marty Makary, head of the FDA, assembled a panel of experts in July to reassess the recommendations.

"HrTs have helped women alleviate menopausal symptoms for decades," said Makary, who advocates for prescribing these medications.

According to him, these treatments could help reduce cognitive decline, prevent osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease.

FDA officials emphasized that the new recommendations will allow for a more nuanced discussion between patients and doctors.

The president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Steven Fleischman, stated in a press release that this decision "will improve the lives of women in perimenopause" (the phase before menopause) by making treatments "more accessible" and eliminating "unnecessary obstacles."

"Like all medications, systemic estrogen products are not without risks, and their use should be based on an individualized conversation between patients and their doctors," he added.

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