Hormone replacement therapy: Large study finds HRT does not increase risk of dying early

A study of 300,000 people shows that HRT for menopause symptoms doesn’t increase the risk of early death, helping to overturn outdated fears about its safety

By Alice Klein

A large UK study has provided reassurance that taking hormone replacement therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms doesn’t increase the risk of dying early, and may even be slightly protective.

Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is used to relieve hot flushes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, sleep issues and other symptoms that many women experience as they approach menopause due to declining levels of the hormone oestrogen.

HRT works by replacing oestrogen, which can be administered using various methods, including patches, pills and gels. Unless …