Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke

“Some studies suggest that HT might be good for your heart if you start before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause. However, if you start HT further from menopause…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke 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)
  • Stroke

Cardiovascular Diseases

What are cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)?

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

“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”.2

TypeHormone Therapy and Heart Disease, Stroke PreventionHormone Therapy and Heart Disease, Stroke Prevention

What can it be important to be clear about with hormone therapy (HT), heart disease and stroke information?

It can be important to be clear about the type of HT – Estrogen Plus Progestogen HT or Estrogen Therapy.

Younger Than Age 60 or Not

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

It can also be important to be clear about whether HT, heart disease and stroke information is about women “younger than age 60 years or within 10 years of menopause”.

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 and stroke?

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

“As with all medications, HT is associated with some potential risks. For healthy women with bothersome hot flashes aged younger than 60 years or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits of HT generally outweigh the risks. Hormone therapy might slightly increase your risk of stroke or blood clots in the legs or lungs (especially if taken in pill form)”.3

After Age 60

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

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

“Some studies suggest that HT might be good for your heart if you start before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause. 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”.4

U.S. Preventative Services Task Force

In 2022, what did the (United States) U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) note in their final recommendations about the use of HT for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal persons?

In Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions, published 01 November 2022, the USPSTF’s recommendations include:


“Postmenopausal persons
The USPSTF recommends against the use of combined estrogen and progestin for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal persons”.5

In Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions, published 01 November 2022, the USPSTF’s recommendations also include:

“Postmenopausal persons who have had a hysterectomy
The USPSTF recommends against the use of estrogen alone for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal persons who have had a hysterectomy”.6

Health Care Provider

What if I choose to use HT and would like to lower my risk of heart disease and/or stroke?

If you would like to choose to use HT and lower your risk of heart disease and/or stroke, it may be in your best interest to also choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Together you can discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 4. Misunderstanding – MHT Increases the Risk of Heart Disease
  2. BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
  3. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  4. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  5. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  6. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  7. COVID-19 & CVD
  8. Cardiovascular Diseases
  9. Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  10. Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  11. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  12. DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
  13. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  14. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  15. Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
  16. EMAS Menopause Essentials
  17. EMAS Replay [Webinars: Multiply Languages]
  18. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Resources and Information: Quick Links – 1. Question Prompt List
  19. Estrogen & Hormones: Estrogen & Heart Disease
  20. Estrogen & Hormones: Estrogen & Heart Disease – Post-Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy
  21. Estrogen, Hormone Therapy and Menopause
  22. Family History
  23. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  24. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  25. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  26. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women]
  27. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  28. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  29. HRT: Summary
  30. Hormone Replacement Therapy
  31. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  32. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  33. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  34. Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  35. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  36. Hot Flashes
  37. Hot Flashes
  38. How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
  39. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  40. How To Prevent Heart Disease After Menopause
  41. 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
  42. Know Your Numbers? They Could Just Save Your Life
  43. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Postmenopause Health – The Menopause: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  44. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Postmenopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Myths]
  45. Learning To Cope With Hot Flashes
  46. Lifestyle and Behaviour Changes for Menopausal Symptoms
  47. Lifestyle and Behavioural Modifications for Menopausal Symptoms
  48. Life’s Essential 8
  49. Looking After Yourself
  50. Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks
  51. Managing Menopausal Symptoms—Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Not the Only Option!
  52. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video]
  53. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  54. Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs of Coronary Artery Disease, How To Reduce Your Risk [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  55. Mayo Mindfulness: Tackle Stress, Anxiety and Depression To Benefit Your Heart
  56. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  57. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  58. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  59. Menopausal Hormone Therapy – Fact Sheet
  60. Menopause
  61. Menopause
  62. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  63. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  64. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Stages of Menopause: Postmenopause
  65. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  66. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  67. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  68. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  69. Menopause Mindfulness: Embracing the Change of My Midlife
  70. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  71. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  72. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  73. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  74. Menopause Treatment
  75. Menopause and Heart Disease: Does Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Affect Your Risk of Heart and Circulatory Disease?
  76. Menopause and Cardiovascular Risk
  77. Menopause and Heart Disease
  78. Menopause and Your Health
  79. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  80. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cardiovascular Disease
  81. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chelation for Coronary Heart Disease: What You Need To Know
  82. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
  83. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  84. NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  85. Postmenopause
  86. Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
  87. Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis
  88. Report on Latest Menopause Science Looks At Heart Risks
  89. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  90. The Heart Truth
  91. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  92. Video Series-2020: What You Need to Know About Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  93. Video Series-2021: What You Need to Know About the #1 Cause of Death in Women
  94. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  95. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Prevention of Chronic Diseases In Women: Where Does MHT Fit In?
  96. Webinars: Previous – The Early Menopausal Patient
  97. Webinars: Previous – Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease With MHT – Where Are We Now?
  98. Webinars: Previous – The Heart of the Matter
  99. What Are the Benefits and Risks of HRT?
  100. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. 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: 19 December 2022
  2. Cardiovascular Diseases. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases#tab=tab_1 Accessed: 19 December 2022
  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: 19 December 2022
  4. 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: 19 December 2022
  5. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions. 01 November 2022. U.S. Preventative Services Task Force https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/menopausal-hormone-therapy-preventive-medication Accessed: 19 December 2022
  6. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions. 01 November 2022. U.S. Preventative Services Task Force https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/menopausal-hormone-therapy-preventive-medication Accessed: 19 December 2022
Topic Last Updated: 26 January 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 19 December 2022

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