What Every Woman Deserves to know about Hormone Therapy - Top 5 HRT Myths

Dr. Barbara Hanna is CEO and co-founder of MyMenopauseRx.

Let’s face it. When it comes to menopause hormone therapy (MHT), there’s a lot of

misinformation out there. From social media “experts”, outdated healthcare

practitioners, to well-meaning friends, myths about hormone therapy have been

circulating for decades, leaving too many women confused, scared, and even suffering in silence.

As a board-certified OB/GYN, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and co-founder of MyMenopauseRx, I’ve spent years helping women navigate the truth about perimenopause and menopause treatment, not because it is now trendy or cool, but because women deserve better evidence-based care.

Now, let’s set the record straight and replace your fears with facts!

Menopause effects all parts of our body.

Myth #1: “Hormone therapy causes breast cancer.”

Nope! It doesn’t.

Sadly, this is the reason so many women avoid treatment that could improve their

quality of life and health span.

Here is the truth and what our current research shows:

● Estrogen alone (for women without a uterus) does not increase breast cancer

risk in a woman who does not have breast cancer. In fact, estrogen alone has

been shown to decrease your risk!

● Estrogen + a progestin, a synthetic progesterone, i.e. medroxyprogesterone

acetate, slightly increases your risk after about 5 years of use, but that risk is still

super low and similar to drinking alcohol daily or being overweight.

● Estrogen + micronized body-identical progesterone, has not been shown to

increase breast cancer risk, but we really do need more studies. In other words,

it’s not black and white.

Hot Flashes are just one symptom of Perimenopause and Menopause.

Myth #2: “Hormone therapy is only for hot flashes.”

Absolutely untrue - it helps sooooo much more!

While hormone therapy is FDA-approved and the most effective treatment for hot

flashes and night sweats (known as vasomotor symptoms), the benefits go far beyond that.

Hormone therapy can help:

● Improve sleep and mood

● Protect against bone loss and osteoporosis

● Support urogential health (reducing vaginal dryness, burning, or pain with

intimacy and preventing UTIs)

● Improve joint pain in some women and fatigue

● Support your metabolic health, decreasing your risk of Type 2 Diabetes

● Improve your overall quality of life and sexual wellbeing.

Hormone therapy isn’t just about comfort. It’s about health span: protecting your body as it loses its ovarian estrogen production.

Myth #3: “You should tough it out - menopause is natural”

Uhhhhhh, come on now.

Yes, menopause is a natural part of the aging process. But so is high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, and we still treat them. Let’s not forget about erectile dysfunction. Those wanting treatment are not shamed or told to tough it out! Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it has to be suffered through.

Declining estrogen impacts more than just your periods. Your estrogen deficiency affects your brain, heart, bones, and metabolism. MyMenopauseRx clinicians help you navigate this natural next phase with grace, confidence, and energy. No toughing it out required.

There's no reason to tough it out. Just because something is natural, doesn't mean you shouldn't treat it.

Myth #4: “Compounded bioidentical hormones are safer because they’re natural.”

This myth is misleading, brilliant marketing on behalf of the compounding industry, and frankly, unsafe. Compounded hormones lack testing for purity, consistency, and safety. Dosing can vary from batch to batch, which increases one's risks. Because compounded medications are not FDA-approved, they are not required to include the side effect package inserts, giving patients the illusion that there are fewer risks.

Let me be clear, I am not anti-compound for those who need it. Compounded

medications are lifesavers when an individual can’t use an FDA-approved product due to an allergy or such.

FDA-approved bioidentical hormones (like estradiol and micronized progesterone) are:

● Scientifically tested for consistency, effectiveness, and safety

● Monitored for quality and strength

● Come in a variety of forms (pills, patches, gels, rings, sprays, inserts)

● Covered by health insurance.

MyMenopauseRx clinicians prescribe FDA-approved hormone therapy and send

prescriptions to the pharmacy of your choice. You deserve treatments backed by

research and science, not marketing hype.

Myth #5: “I need to have my hormone levels checked to begin hormone therapy.”

False.

According to every major medical society, including The Menopause Society, you can safely begin hormone therapy without testing your estrogen, progesterone or

testosterone levels. Hormone therapy is prescribed and adjusted based on your symptoms, not a lab value.

Many women in perimenopause will have normal hormone levels on paper but still experience hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood changes, brain fog, and more. And, if you are over age 45 and haven’t had a period in 12 months, I don’t need a lab test to tell me your estrogen or progesterone levels are low. You have confirmed menopause.

When it comes to hormone therapy, MyMenopauseRx clinicians focus on how you feel, not just what your labs say. We design personalized treatment plans that evolve with your symptoms and stage of life.

That said, we do recommend checking your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). An

underactive thyroid can mimic menopause symptoms such as fatigue, weight changes, hair loss, and mood swings, so it’s important to rule that out before starting treatment. Those with Hashimoto's are also tricky, so keeping track of one’s TSH is important.

The Bottom Line

Hormone therapy is not the villain some make it out to be. When prescribed

thoughtfully, at the right dose, it is usually LIFE-CHANGING and the benefits outweigh any risks.

MyMenopauseRx menopause-certified OB/GYNs and nurse practitioners are here to help you feel like yourself again - sleeping better, thinking clearer, and living your best life. We are here for you along your journey, offering the same level of trusting care as an in-person visit.

Book a virtual visit at MyMenopauseRx and discover insurance-covered, expert menopause care that meets you where you are - virtually and on your schedule.

Menopause is the start of your next, best chapter. We got you!

Many women think MRT causes weight gain, it does not.