Now that the FDA lifted a black box ban, patients are flocking to the treatment for all sorts of health benefits
SAN ANTONIO — Hormone replacement therapy is a big deal for both women who lose estrogen as they age, and men who lose testosterone. Recent relaxes in warnings from the FDA about the therapy has led to a huge surge in sales, resulting in a shopping shortage for the drugs.
More than a million women in the U.S. go through menopause every year. That means symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes that affect every aspect of life. That’s where hormone replacements typically come in. And experts are finding hormone replacement can help your long-term health too.
Whitney Baker, a practitioner with Texas Bone Health and Wellness, told us, “Better cardiovascular health, decrease in some cancers, insulin resistance and improving insulin resistance, cholesterol and hypertension, all of those long-term chronic conditions we’re finding improve with hormone replacement.”
When it comes to menopause, the National Menopause Foundation says 62% of women say symptoms of menopause interfere with their quality of life. The foundation also reports 75% of women experience hot flashes during menopause. Their goal is to raise awareness and understanding of menopause through education, activism and community building.
In the early 2000s hormone therapy use plummeted, after the FDA placed a black box warning on estrogen products after a study by the Women’s Health Initiative. It found women on hormone therapy had elevated risks of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular issues. Breast cancer was a big concern too, but not anymore.
Baker added, “However, when they re-studied and looked at the data, it was found that one in eight women already are going to get breast cancer. And this study didn’t increase that number at all. So it stayed the same as the normal population.”
Health analytics company Truveta found at the end of February of this year, use of estrogen patches increased by 26%. Since 2023, they say estrogen patch use has increased by 184%, and vaginal creams 122%. All of this leading to shortages that could last several years.
Baker says if you are still concerned about side effects there are other methods of taking the medication. “But we found that if you’re not taking it through the oral route, if you’re taking it other ways that you can get rid of that risk for blood clots and cardiovascular disease as well,” Baker said.
If you are looking for hormone therapy that your pharmacy isn’t able to fill, experts say ask your provider about different forms that are currently not in short supply.