Hormone Therapy and Stopping

Hormone Therapy and Stopping

“Women should be counseled that there is no definitive,
evidence-based guideline on the optimal method for
discontinuing MHT, and VMS may recur in up to 87%…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy and Stopping Umbrella include?

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

  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  • Stopping Hormone Therapy

Right Time

Is there a right time to stop HT?

In Hormone Therapy: Stopping Hormone Therapy the (United States) Menopause Society (formerly The North American Menopause Society) explain:

“There is no “right” time to stop HT. Many women try to stop HT after 4 to 5 years because of concerns about a potential increased risk of breast cancer. Other women may lower doses or change to nonpill forms of HT. Hot flashes may or may not return after you stop HT”.2

On page five in Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 3. When Should MHT Be Started or Stopped? When To Stop? the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024, the IMS explain:

  • “There is no set rule for when to stop MHT. Some women use it for only a few years, while others may need it longer
  • It’s important to regularly check with your healthcare professional to see if continuing MHT is the right choice for you”.3

Right Age

Is there a right age to stop HT?

On page two in the The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement published 07 July 2022, the North American Menopause Society note:

  • “Hormone therapy does not need to be routinely discontinued in women aged older than 60 or 65 years and can be considered for continuation beyond age 65 for persistent VMS, quality-of-life issues, or prevention of osteoporosis after appropriate evaluation and counseling of benefits and risks
  • For women with GSM, vaginal estrogen (and systemic if required) or other nonestrogen therapies may be used at any age and for extended duration, if needed”.4

What is VMS?

VMS can be an abbreviation for Vasomotor Symptoms such as hot flushes or night sweats.

What is GSM?

GSM can be an abbreviation for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause.

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:

  • “The decision whether to take HRT, the dose and duration of its use should be made on an individualised basis after discussing the benefits and risks with each patient. This should be considered in the context of the overall benefits obtained from using HRT including symptom control and improving quality of life as well as considering the bone and cardiovascular benefits associated with HRT use. Discussions with women should also cover aspects such as when to consider stopping HRT and how this can be done (by gradually reducing the dose of HRT). No arbitrary limits should be set on age or duration of HRT intake”.5

Age 65

Is stopping HT routinely at the age of 65 recommended?

The IMS note:

“There are no arbitrary limits regarding how long MHT can be taken – it can be taken for as long as the woman feels the benefits outweigh the risks for her, and decisions must be made on an individual basis. Stopping routinely at the age of 65 is not recommended”.6

Right Way

Is there a right way to stop HT?

The Menopause Society explain:

“Although not proven by studies, slowly decreasing your dose of estrogen over several months or even over several years may reduce the chance that your hot flashes will return. You and your healthcare professional will work together to decide the best time to stop HT”.7

2025 Recommendations

What do the International Menopause Society (IMS)’s recommendations, published online 23 December 2025, include?

In the International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause: 4A. Vasomotor Symptoms/Hormone Therapy, Recommendation 4A includes:

“Women should be counseled that there is no definitive, evidence-based guideline on the optimal method for discontinuing MHT, and VMS may recur in up to 87% of cases following the discontinuation of MHT. ⨁⨁◯◯ C”.8

Health Care Provider

What if I unsure about when and how to stop HT?

If you are unsure about when and how to stop HT, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. The Menopause Society explain:

“If very bothersome hot flashes or night sweats return when you stop HT, you will need to reassess your individual risks and benefits to decide whether to continue HT. Because there may be greater risks with longer duration of use and as you age, you and your healthcare professional will work together to decide what is the best option for you”.9

Health Topics A-Z

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

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy and Stopping?

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Links

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New or Updated

  1. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  2. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  3. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  4. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  5. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  6. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Management
  7. FDA Direct: Removing Black Box Warnings for HRT (Part 1/2)
  8. FDA Direct: Removing Black Box Warnings for HRT (Part 2/2)
  9. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  10. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  11. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  12. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  13. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  14. HRT Questions Answered
  15. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  16. HRT: Types, Doses and Regimens
  17. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  18. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  19. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  20. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Vaginal Oestrogen
  21. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): When To Take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  22. Hormone Therapy
  23. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  24. Hormone Treatments After 70: Why You Don’t Need To Stop
  25. Hot Flashes
  26. Hot Flashes
  27. How Should You Come Off Your HRT?
  28. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  29. Is It Ever Too Late To Start HRT?
  30. Is It Too Late To Start HRT?
  31. 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
  32. Menopause
  33. Menopause
  34. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  35. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
  36. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  37. Menopause and HRT: Fact and Fiction
  38. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  39. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  40. Ongoing Individualized Hormone Therapy Appears To Have No Age Limit
  41. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  42. Practical HRT Tips | Dr Louise Newson
  43. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  44. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
  45. The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement
  46. Types of Hormone Therapy
  47. Updated 2024 NICE Menopause Guidance Summary
  48. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  49. What Are the Benefits and Risks of HRT?
  50. What Does Estrogen Do?
  51. What Types of Vaginal Oestrogens Are There?
  52. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy [Multiply Languages]
  53. Hormone Therapy and Stopping World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women – The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Panay, N., et al. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause: 4A. Vasomotor Symptoms/Hormone Therapy. Published Online: 23 December 2025 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2025.2585487#abstract Accessed: 10 June 2026
  2. Hormone Therapy: Stopping Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 10 June 2026
  3. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: When Should MHT Be Started or Stopped? When To Stop? October 2024:4. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf?v=8bcc25c96aa5 Accessed: 10 June 2026
  4. The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement. 07 July 2022:2. North American Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/press-release/ht-position-statement-release.pdf Accessed: 10 June 2026
  5. 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 Online 10 June 2022 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 10 June 2026
  6. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: When Should MHT Be Started and Stopped? Long-Term Use. October 2024:6. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf?v=8bcc25c96aa5 Accessed: 10 June 2026
  7. Hormone Therapy: Stopping Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 10 June 2026
  8. Panay, N., et al. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause: 4A. Vasomotor Symptoms/Hormone Therapy. Published Online: 23 December 2025 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2025.2585487#abstract Accessed: 10 June 2026
  9. Hormone Therapy: Stopping Hormone Therapy. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/hormone-therapy Accessed: 10 June 2026
Topic Last Updated: 10 June 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 10 June 2026

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