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Hormone Replacement TherapyHormone replacement therapy uses medication to supplement hormone production in the human body. The vast majority of HRT is for menopause symptoms. It's used more rarely for testosterone deficiencies or as part of gender-affirming care for transgender people. HRT formulations may include injections, patches, gels, creams, sprays, and pills.
HRT was extremely popular for treating menopausal symptoms and lowering certain women's health risks in the 1990s, but its use plummeted in the early 2000s after the well-known Women's Health Initiative found it increased the incidence of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke in some women. Those findings were subsequently found to be overblown and largely disproved: In 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration removed its warning label about such risks, and in 2026, supply of estradiol patches—which have lower blood clotting risks than other estrogen formulations—has been unable to keep up with demand.
Testosterone therapy for men with "low T"—typically defined as below 300 nanograms per deciliter of blood—has been buoyed by recent positive cardiovascular safety data and the FDA's 2025 related decision to drop its cardiovascular warning. Prescriptions for testosterone, though low overall, roughly doubled for injectable formulations between 2019 and 2025.
The third typical use for HRT is gender-affirming care. About 1% of America's adults, or more than 2 million people, identify as transgender and estimates vary on what percentage of the transgender community may use HRT. Transgender women may use estrogen and anti-androgens (to suppress testosterone) and transgender men may use testosterone, causing physiological changes somewhat similar to puberty.Explore Hormone Replacement Therapy
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It's never too late to start hormone replacement therapy for menopause symptomsThis board-certified gynecologist discusses how it's ideal to start estradiol as soon as possible after menopause to maximize its benefits, but that if older women have healthy hearts they can still start these medications later, in consultation with their doctors, and the products could be useful if women are continuing to suffer from symptoms of menopause or want to fight bone loss. Dr. Susan Hardwick-SmithMenopause can exacerbate anxietySome research shows that menopause can fuel anxiety and also that pre-existing anxiety can boost the chances of experiencing other menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, insomnia, and brain fog. But treatments including hormone replacement therapy, breathing exercises, and other forms of exercise can alleviate some of these symptoms. SELF
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