Hormone Therapy and Heart Disease

“Women who initiate hormone therapy aged older than
60 years or more than 10 or 20 years from menopause
onset are at higher absolute risks of CHD, VTE, and…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy and Heart Disease Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Coronary Heart Disease
  • Heart Disease
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Ischemic Heart Disease
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)

Cardiovascular Diseases

What are cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)?

DotS the definition of CVDs may vary. The World Health Organization’s definition is:

“Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. CVDs are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions. More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age”.2

Type

Hormone Therapy and Heart DiseaseHormone Therapy and heart Disease What can it be important to be clear about with hormone therapy (HT) and heart disease risk information?

It can be important to be clear about the type of HT and whether heart disease risk information is about – Estrogen Plus Progestogen HT or Estrogen-Alone HT.

Younger Than Age 60 or Not

What can it also be important to be clear about with HT and heart disease risk information?

It can also be important to be clear about whether HT and heart disease risk information is about women “younger than age 60 years or within 10 years of menopause” or not.

Younger Than Age 60

For women younger than age 60 or within 10 years of menopause, what is the association between HT and heart disease risk?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks, published July 2022, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) (now the Menopause Society) explain:

“Some studies suggest that HT might be good for your heart if you start before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause”.3

On page two in the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

  • “Evidence from Cochrane database analysis suggests that HRT started before the age of 60 or within 10 years of the menopause may result in reduction in atherosclerosis progression, coronary heart disease and may lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality”.4

After Age 60

For women after age 60 or further than 10 years from menopause, what is the association between HT and heart disease risk?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks the NAMS also note:

“However, if you start HT further from menopause or after age 60, HT might slightly increase your risk of heart disease. Although there are risks associated with taking HT, they are not common, and most go away after you stop treatment”.5

On page 780 in The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society: Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality – Key Points published July 2022 and “endorsed by more than 20 well-respected international organizations”, one of the key points is:

“Women who initiate hormone therapy aged older than 60 years or more than 10 or 20 years from menopause onset are at higher absolute risks of CHD, VTE, and stroke than women initiating hormone therapy in early menopause. (Level I)”.6

What is Level I?

In this context “Level I: Based on good and consistent scientific evidence”.

What is CHD?

CHD can be an abbreviation for Coronary Heart Disease.

What is VTE?

VTE can be an abbreviation for Venous Thromboembolism.

Health Care Provider

If I choose to use HT what are my risks of heart disease?

In Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You? The Bottom Line: Hormone Therapy Isn’t All Good or All Bad the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

“To find out if menopause hormone therapy is a good option for you, talk to your healthcare professional about your symptoms and health risks. You also can ask your healthcare professional for help finding a certified menopause expert. Or check with a professional organization such as The Menopause Society. Be sure to keep the conversation going throughout menopause.

As researchers learn more about menopause hormone therapy and other menopause treatments, recommendations may change. But if you have menopause symptoms that disrupt your sleep or get in the way of daily life, it’s worthwhile to talk to your healthcare professional about treatment options”.7

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hormone Therapy and Heart Disease?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

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New or Updated

  1. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Effects of Menopausal Hormone Therapy on Cardiovascular Diseases
  2. BMS TV: Bioidentical Hormones
  3. BMS TV: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  4. BMS TV: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  5. BMS TV: Menopause Explained
  6. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  7. Cardiovascular Disease
  8. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Menopause and Heart Disease
  9. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  10. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  11. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Healthcare Visit
  12. Coronary Heart Disease [+ Know the Difference]
    Hormone Therapy and Heart Disease
  13. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  14. Deep Vein Thrombosis
  15. Different Heart Diseases
  16. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Impact of Estrogen Deficiency on Quality of Life In Asia and the Role of Continuous Combined MHT In Treatment (EN)
  17. February Is American Heart Month
  18. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  19. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society: Australia and New Zealand]
  20. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  21. From Cardiovascular Protection To Cardiovascular Risk: The Metamorphosis of Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  22. Getting Serious About Heart Health
  23. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
  24. Guidance on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  25. HRT Questions Answered
  26. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  27. HRT: Benefits and Risks – What You Should Know
  28. Heart Disease and Stroke In Women
  29. Heart Disease, Family Health History, and Familial Hypercholesterolemia
  30. Heart Disease: It’s Not Just for Men
  31. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  32. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives To Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  33. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  34. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  35. Hormone Therapy
  36. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  37. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  38. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  39. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  40. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  41. Know Your Numbers They Could Just Save Your Life
  42. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video] [Other Languages and Formats]
  43. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Treating Menopause Symptoms [+ Video: Does the Menopause Happen Suddenly?] [Other Languages and Formats]
  44. Life’s Essential 8
  45. Listen To Your Heart: Women and Heart Disease
  46. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  47. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video]
  48. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  49. Mayo Clinic Minute: Menopause and the Heart Connection [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  50. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is Heart Disease? [+ Video]
  51. Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs of Coronary Artery Disease, How To Reduce Your Risk [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  52. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  53. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  54. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  55. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  56. Menopause
  57. Menopause
  58. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  59. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  60. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  61. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  62. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  63. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  64. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  65. Menopause and Cardiovascular Disease and Using HRT To Treat Menopause Symptoms
  66. Menopause and Heart Disease
  67. Menopause and Heart Disease
  68. Menopause and Heart Disease: Does HRT Affect Your Risk of Heart and Circulatory Disease?
  69. Menopause and Your Heart
  70. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
  71. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024
  72. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  73. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  74. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
  75. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know
  76. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  77. Rethinking Menopausal Hormone Therapy: For Whom, What, When, and How Long?
  78. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  79. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  80. The Benefits and Risks of Menopause Hormone Therapy for the Cardiovascular System In Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  81. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy [September 2024]
    Hormone Therapy and Heart Disease
  82. The Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Trials and Clinical Practice
  83. Video: Leslie Cho, MD, Discusses CV Risks, Benefits of Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  84. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  85. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Cardiovascular Disease In Women
  86. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Heart Disease, Risk Factors of Developing Heart Disease, and Can I Take Hormones?
  87. Webinars: Previous – Cardiovascular Disease
  88. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  89. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  90. Webinars: Previous – Recommendations on Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
  91. Webinars: Previous – The Early Menopausal Patient
  92. What Is Cardiovascular Disease?
  93. What Is Cardiovascular Disease?
  94. ‘What’s Normal Has Changed’: Navigating Menopausal Hormone Therapy As CVD Risk Grows
  95. Women & CVD
    Hormone Therapy and Heart Disease
  96. World Menopause Day 2023
  97. World Menopause Day 2023: Patient Information Leaflet – Cardiovascular Disease: What Women Need To Know [Multiply Languages]
  98. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  99. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women – The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)
    Hormone Therapy and Heart Disease

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society: Cardiovascular Disease and All Cause Mortality – Key Points. 2022: 780 North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/nams-2022-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf Accessed: 25 February 2025
  2. Cardiovascular Diseases. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases#tab=tab_1 Accessed: 25 February 2025
  3. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 25 February 2025
  4. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayesena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 25 February 2025
  5. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 25 February 2025
  6. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society: Cardiovascular Disease and All Cause Mortality – Key Points. 2022: 780 North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/nams-2022-hormone-therapy-position-statement.pdf Accessed: 25 February 2025
  7. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You? The Bottom Line: Hormone Therapy Isn’t All Good or All Bad. 18 April 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372 Accessed: 19 April 2025
Topic Last Updated: 19 April 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 25 February 2025

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