A new review has reinforced the importance of tailoring menopause hormone therapy (MHT) to individual needs, with findings highlighting significant differences in its impact across demographics.
Published in Clinical Endocrinology, the review was led by UK consultant endocrinologist Professor Annice Mukherjee and Monash University clinician researcher Professor Susan Davis AO.
“This review recommends tailored use of MHT for well-defined indications, recognising its value for menopause symptom relief and skeletal benefits for many midlife women,” state the authors.
“MHT may be used as long as benefits outweigh the risks, through shared decision-making.
“There is insufficient clinical evidence to support the long-term use of MHT in some contemporary cohorts of women accessing MHT in clinical practice.”
Professor Davis, Director of the Women’s Health Research Program at Monash University, emphasises the review’s focus on evidence-based recommendations for prescribing.
“This paper reviews the evidence-based recommendations for menopausal hormone therapy and recommended prescribing,” she says.
“It also highlights that prescribing estrogen in doses higher than approved may increase the likelihood of vaginal bleeding, and that no studies have shown higher than regulator-approved doses of menopausal hormone therapy to be safe with regards to breast cancer and other disease risks.”
These findings contribute to the ongoing discussions around best practices for menopause management, particularly for healthcare professionals navigating treatment options for midlife women.
