Menopause hormone therapy fears overblown, Women’s Health Initiative finds

More than two decades ago, shocking results from a major women’s health study called into question the safety of menopause hormones, and overnight, millions of women and their doctors ditched the drugs – a reluctance that persists today.

Now, long-term monitoring by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) shows that the reaction was greatly exaggerated. The new research found that for many young postmenopausal women – usually those under 60 – the benefits of medication likely outweigh the risks of short-term treatment of menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats.