The Truth About Hormone Replacement Therapy: Clearing Up Decades of Misinformation
For more than 20 years, women have been told that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is dangerous—linked to breast cancer, heart attacks, and stroke. And for just as long, millions of women have been left to navigate menopause alone, without adequate relief or honest conversation.
But here’s what you need to know: the fear around HRT is based on misinformation, outdated research, and a healthcare system that still doesn’t talk nearly enough about menopause.
It’s time to clear the air.
Despite affecting half the population, menopause is still not taken seriously in medicine—or in society.
The Study That Started It All: The 2002 WHI Report
In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) published the results of a large clinical trial that sent shockwaves through the medical world. The study was halted early, and the headlines were alarming:
“HRT causes breast cancer.” “Hormones increase heart attack risk.” “HRT is too risky.”
Almost overnight, doctors stopped prescribing HRT. Women who had been using it safely for years were told to stop immediately. And many who could have benefited from it were left with no safe path forward.
But here’s the part the headlines didn’t explain.
What the WHI Got Wrong—and Why It Matters
The original WHI study had serious flaws—yet those flaws were never communicated clearly to the public or to many clinicians.
Let’s break it down:
The average participant was 63 years old, more than a decade past menopause. This is not the group most doctors treat with HRT. Most symptoms—hot flashes, night sweats, mood shifts—are strongest in the 40s and 50s, not the 60s.
Many participants already had underlying health conditions (such as high blood pressure or vascular disease), which increased their risk for heart issues regardless of HRT.
The study used one specific type of HRT: conjugated equine estrogen and medroxyprogesterone acetate (brand name Prempro)—which we now know isn't the safest or most effective option for all women.
The results were overgeneralized to all women, all hormones, and all formulations.
Even the original researchers later clarified that younger women who started HRT closer to the onset of menopause had very different outcomes—including improved heart health and lower mortality rates.
But by then, the damage was done.
Doctors Are Still Relying on Outdated Information
Here’s the troubling part: many providers are still using the 2002 study as their primary reference for HRT.
Why?
Because menopause barely gets covered in medical school. One recent survey found that less than 20% of U.S. medical programs include formal menopause training. And even fewer address HRT in depth.
This leaves countless women with unanswered questions, untreated symptoms, and doctors who are hesitant to prescribe therapy that could actually help.
So What Does the Research Say Now?
More recent studies paint a very different picture of hormone therapy when it’s prescribed appropriately.
Women who begin HRT within 10 years of menopause (typically between ages 45 and 55) may benefit significantly, with reduced risks for:
Osteoporosis and fractures
Colon cancer
Type 2 diabetes
Cognitive decline
All-cause mortality
Transdermal estrogen (through patches, gels, or sprays) combined with micronized progesterone is considered safer and better tolerated than the formulations used in the WHI.
HRT does not cause weight gain and does not increase breast cancer risk significantly when used under age 60, for fewer than 5–7 years, and with the right formulation.
The Bigger Problem: Menopause Is Still Taboo
Despite affecting half the population, menopause is still not taken seriously in medicine—or in society.
Here’s what I hear from women every day:
“My doctor told me to just deal with it.”
“I was told it’s all in my head.”
“No one warned me about what to expect.”
“I thought I was going crazy.”
This is unacceptable.
Menopause affects your sleep, mood, metabolism, heart health, bone strength, and sex life. It’s not just about hot flashes. And ignoring it doesn’t make it go away—it just makes it harder to manage.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you’re in perimenopause or menopause and wondering whether HRT is right for you, here are some steps you can take:
Find a Provider Who Specializes in Midlife Women’s Health
Not all OB/GYNs are up to date on the latest HRT research. Look for a menopause-trained provider or someone certified through the North American Menopause Society (NAMS).
Get the Full Picture
Ask about the type of hormones being used. Bioidentical hormones (which match your body’s own hormones) may be a better fit for many women.
Don’t Let Fear Be Your Guide
The decision to use HRT should be personal, thoughtful, and based on today’s evidence—not outdated fear from 20 years ago.
Final Thoughts
We’ve let one flawed study shape decades of treatment—and it’s time to change that.
You deserve honest, up-to-date information. You deserve real options. And you deserve a healthcare system that doesn’t tell you to “tough it out” when real, evidence-based solutions are available.
If you’ve been told HRT is unsafe without context—or if you’ve been left to suffer in silence—I see you. And you’re not alone.
There is help. There is relief. And you are absolutely not meant to navigate this chapter on your own.
Defy Menopause - Own the Change
Many women tell me: "One day I feel amazing. The next, I can barely get out of bed. Is this normal?"
Yes, it is. And no, you don’t have to suffer through it alone.
Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can make you feel like you’ve lost control of your body. But knowledge is powerful. And there are clear, science-backed ways to support your hormones, ease symptoms, and reclaim your energy.
That’s exactly why I created Defy Menopause: Own the Change — a 30-day program designed to give you the tools, knowledge, and support you need to move through these changes with clarity and confidence.
Inside, you’ll find:
Weekly access to Dr. Tracy Verrico at live, group sessions
Clear action steps for managing symptoms naturally
Because you deserve more than just "putting up with it."
You deserve to thrive.
Let’s Connect
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