Hormone Therapy Isn’t What We Thought

The concept of hormone therapy has always made me uneasy. Mainly because I've always heard that it's dangerous. If you’ve ever been told that, you’re not alone. For more than 20 years, women navigating menopause were warned about breast cancer, blood clots, and other risks, often with little context or updated information.

As I go through my own journey through perimenopause, I often think about my mother. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 18, and I remember the shock of it, the surgery, the fear, the silence that followed. I wish I had the curiosity or courage then to ask more questions, to understand what kind of cancer she had, how it changed her body, and how she felt moving through it. But I didn’t.

Maybe that’s why I care so much about being informed now. About understanding my body, my risks, and how to take care of myself through this hormonal transition, not just for me, but for all of us who didn’t grow up with these conversations.

The Story Is Changing

In July 2025, the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Marty Makary, made headlines when he stated that hormone therapy has never been linked to breast cancer in any clinical trial. He called the original warnings “one of the greatest mistakes in modern medicine.”

“Dr. Marty Makary, the agency’s commissioner, said too many women avoid hormone therapy because the risks have been overstated.”
— The New York Times, July 17, 2025

That’s huge.

This marks a potential turning point in how we approach menopause, and for many women, it could open the door to treatment options they’d written off years ago.

Why So Many Women Stopped Hormone Therapy

In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study caused widespread panic after reporting a slight increase in breast cancer risk among women using hormone therapy. Doctors stopped prescribing it. Women stopped overnight.

But here’s what got missed:

That study only looked at one combination, synthetic estrogen plus a synthetic progestin (specifically, conjugated equine estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate), and mostly in women over 60.

More recent analysis shows that women who took estrogen-only therapy (typically after hysterectomy) actually had a reduced risk of breast cancer and lived longer.

What We Know Now, In Plain Terms

For years, hormone therapy was thought to increase breast cancer risk. But more recent research tells a different story.

What we’ve learned is this:

• The real concern was with an older combination of synthetic hormones.

• Newer approaches, like estrogen patches or gels combined with natural progesterone, don’t appear to carry the same risks.

• In fact, some studies suggest that certain women may actually benefit from hormone therapy when it’s started earlier in the menopause transition.

And perhaps most importantly: It wasn’t estrogen that was the problem.The risk seems to be tied to specific synthetic progestins, not to hormone therapy as a whole.

This shift in understanding is why the FDA is now reconsidering the warning labels that have been on HRT for over 20 years.

Beyond Cancer: Why Hormones Still Matter

Menopause isn’t just hot flashes. Hormonal decline affects:

• Bone density, increasing fracture risk

• Heart health, raising cardiovascular risk

• Brain function, linked to memory and focus changes

• Mood, sleep, and energy

Used properly, hormone therapy can help protect against many of these. And for many women, it’s the only thing that brings real relief.

What This Means for You

If you’re going through menopause or perimenopause, here’s what to keep in mind:

1. The risks may not be what you were told. Especially if you’re using newer forms like transdermal estrogen and natural progesterone.

2. Timing matters. Starting hormone therapy within 10 years of menopause onset (or before age 60) appears safest and most effective.

3. You have options. There are different delivery methods (patch, pill, gel) and different hormones. Talk to a provider who stays updated on menopause care.

4. You deserve to feel good. Sleep, energy, intimacy, strength, mood — these are not superficial. They’re the foundation of daily life. You deserve support.

A reminder that support, not solutions, is what matters most.

What’s Next?

The FDA is reconsidering its warning labels. That doesn’t mean HRT is right for everyone, but it does mean we can start making decisions based on facts, not fear.

If you’ve been avoiding hormone therapy, or unsure about it, now is a good time to revisit the conversation, with better tools, better understanding, and better care.

Educational content only. Always consult your clinician before starting or stopping any medication, including hormone therapy.

Ready to feel stronger and supported through your hormonal transition?

If you’re navigating perimenopause or menopause and want personalised support for strength, recovery, and long-term health, we’re here to help. The Rebound M program is built for exactly this stage of life.

Explore Rebound M programs.

Or reach out directly for any questions: info@re-bound.ch

You don’t have to figure it out alone.