Rethinking Hormone Therapy After 60
For a long time, the message was clear: once you hit 60—or it’s been 10 years since menopause—hormone therapy was off the table. But that advice was based on older data, and science has come a long way since then.
Today, we understand that age alone shouldn’t dictate whether a woman can continue or start menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). The decision should be based on your individual health history, symptoms, and goals—not a hard and fast age limit.
So… Is MHT Safe After 60?
According to the The Menopause Society there’s no universal age when MHT must stop. In fact, many women in good health continue to benefit from it well into their 60s and beyond.
A major 2024 study looked at over 10 million Medicare participants aged 65 and up. The findings? MHT can still be a safe and meaningful option for many women—especially when the treatment plan is personalized and thoughtfully managed.
The Full Picture: Health Benefits of MHT Beyond Symptoms
Most people associate hormone therapy with hot flash relief—and yes, it helps. But for women 65 and older, the benefits may extend beyond symptom control. New research shows that estrogen therapy (ET) can support long-term health in some pretty significant ways.
Women on estrogen therapy experienced:
• 19% reduction in overall mortality
• 16% lower risk of breast cancer
• 13% drop in lung cancer risk
• 12% decrease in colorectal cancer risk
• 5% reduction in congestive heart failure
• 3% lower risk of blood clots
• 4% drop in atrial fibrillation
• 11% reduced heart attack risk
• 2% decrease in dementia risk
-Baik SH, Baye F, McDonald CJ. Use of menopausal hormone therapy beyond age 65 years and its effects on women’s health outcomes by types, routes, and doses. Menopause. 2024;31(5):363-371.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38595196/
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Women are quitting work because of menopause. We need to talk about it
Updated 8:23 am EDT Oct. 8, 2025
Sarah Chavarria walked into a meeting with her board of directors, sat down and said: “We need to talk about menopause.”
Never mind that the board was almost all older men at that 2023 meeting, one of her first in her new role as CEO and president of Delta Dental Insurance Company.
They all fell silent.
She told them that the vast majority of women over 50 didn’t know that their dry mouth and sensitive teeth were due to menopause. Fewer than 2% of them had ever discussed menopause with their dentist.
And at her most recent appointment? Her own dentist was reluctant to talk to her about it.
“The board got through their first five minutes of being surprised and ‘Are we really talking about this?’ and then something amazing happened,” she says. “They had science and information about menopause to connect with their wives and daughters in new ways.”
Chavarria doesn’t shy away from sharing her own menopause stories – whether with her board or her 5,000 employees.
“You can’t ignore it when half of the population is going to go through menopause,” she says.
Even with more women 55 and older in the workforce than ever before, women often are afraid to talk about menopause in the office. They fear disclosing brain fog will make them appear less competent, that talking with younger or male coworkers who may not understand menopause will lead to discrimination.
While employer support is still low, fewer than 5% offer meaningful programs, more companies are adding improved coverage for hormone therapy, paid time off and even regulating the office thermostat. This summer Rhode Island became the first state to mandate that companies offer accommodations menopause symptoms.
With 1 in 10 women leaving the workforce because of menopause, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, and another 1 in 5 considering retiring early, researchers say it’s become the menopause penalty. It can lead to fewer women leaders at a time when they make up fewer than one-third of the spots.
Chavarria, who introduced Delta Dental’s first menopause report three years ago, says policies such as remote work can help. But what’s most important is that women see a health care provider that practitioners from dentists to primary care doctors know how to help, and that the treatment is covered.
“Sharing my own story can encourage others to talk about menopause at work, to get help or see their doctor,” she says. “But first we need to be OK talking about it.”
Laura Trujillo is a national columnist focusing on health and wellness. She is the author of "Stepping Back from the Ledge: A Daughter's Search for Truth and Renewal," and can be reached at ltrujillo@usatoday.com.
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What are 62 menopause symptoms?
Per Dr Naomi Potter, who paired with Essity, these are:
Palpitations
Chest pain
Breast tenderness
Itchy skin
Dry skin
Rosacea
Acne
Thin skin
Collagen loss
Crying
Brain fog
Memory loss
Poor concentration
Word finding difficulty
Anxiety
Low mood
Worsening PMS
Anger/rage
Irritability
Headache
Migraines
Joint pain
Joint stiffness
Vaginal dryness
Vaginal discharge
Vulval itch
Perineal itch
Vulval/vaginal electric shocks
Increase in thrush
Increase in BV
Poor libido
High libido
Weight gain
Scalp hair loss
Unwanted hair growth
Urinary infections
Urinary incontinence
Urinary urgency
Nocturia (getting up at night to pee)
Sexual dysfunction
Chest tightness
Constipation
Gastric reflux
Fatigue
Night sweats
Hot flushes
Cold flushes
Period increased frequency
Periods decreased frequency
Heavier periods
Muscle loss
Tinnitus
Dry eyes
Watery eyes
Burning mouth
Gum disease
Foot pain
Frozen shoulder
Insomnia
Histamine sensitivity
New allergy
Body odour change
What helps with menopause symptoms?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helps to replace the estrogen and progesterone your body loses during menopause and perimenopause.
The NHS says “The main benefit of HRT is that it can help relieve most menopause and perimenopause symptoms, including hot flushes, brain fog, joint pains, mood swings and vaginal dryness.”
It can improve a range of symptoms within a matter of weeks or months.
Taking HRT can even lower your risk of developing hormone-related health problems including osteoporosis and heart disease.
They add that the benefits usually far outweigh any risk ― speak to your doctor if you notice symptoms.
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/62-menopause-symptoms-explained_uk_6756fb9ee4b0a775f3921f26
