Hormone Therapy After 65: What a Major 2024 Study Found

Many women are told they must stop hormone therapy at age 65—no discussion, no nuance, no alternatives. But a large new study says that advice may be outdated.

Researchers followed over 10 million women on Medicare and looked at what happened to those who continued hormone therapy after age 65. The results were surprising—in a good way.

Women using estrogen-only therapy had lower risks of death, fewer heart problems, and lower rates of breast, lung, and colon cancer. They also had slightly lower rates of dementia. The biggest benefits were seen with low-dose estrogen, especially when it was transdermal (patch) or vaginal, rather than oral pills.

What about combination therapy (estrogen plus progesterone or progestin)? The study confirmed a small increase in breast cancer risk, but importantly, that risk was not seen with low-dose, non-oral options.

The takeaway? Hormone therapy is not one-size-fits-all. Age alone shouldn’t determine whether treatment continues. The type, dose, and route of hormones matter—and so does your personal health history.

If you’re still having symptoms, still benefiting from therapy, or were told you must stop “because of your age,” this research supports having a more informed conversation.

You deserve care based on evidence—not fear.

Source: Baik SH et al., Menopause, 2024.
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