For years, many women were told that hormone therapy was something to approach cautiously as they got older, particularly after age 60. But the conversation around menopausal hormone therapy is changing, leaving some women with a surprising question: Is there actually an age when you are too old for hormones?
Online, women in their 60s and 70s are sharing stories about starting or continuing hormone replacement therapy, often called HRT, later in life.
“I have no intention of stopping [HRT] unless and until there’s a reason, a medical reason why I should stop hormone therapy,” Oprah recently said on her podcast.
Oprah is not alone.
“My 75-year-old mom started it last year. It’s been a game changer,” “squrlio” writes on Reddit, adding that her mother started hormone therapy at 74.
Meanwhile, MommaIsMad says she didn’t begin HRT until her mid-60s writing: “It’s been life-changing.”
According to LuLutink1, some doctors continue prescribing hormones to women well beyond the traditional menopause years “Some doctors will prescribe well into the 70s.”
So, how old is actually too old for hormone therapy?
Why the Advice Around Hormone Therapy Has Changed
Hormone therapy typically involves estrogen, sometimes combined with progesterone, to replace hormones that decline during and after menopause.
The treatment became far more controversial after results from the Women’s Health Initiative were released in 2002 and raised concerns about potential health risks. Hormone therapy usage subsequently fell dramatically.
In the years since, researchers have taken a closer look at the data. Today, the picture is more individualized. A woman’s age, how long it has been since menopause, her medical history, symptoms, and the specific type and route of hormone therapy can all affect its potential benefits and risks.
That also means there isn’t one age when every woman must automatically stop or start hormone therapy.
So, Can You Be Too Old for Hormones?
Dr. Mary Van, Clinical Director of THRIVEX Infusion & Wellness Center, believes age alone shouldn’t determine whether someone considers hormone therapy.
“You are never too old for hormones,” says Dr. Van. “Sex hormones are necessary for great muscle mass, good bone production, cardiovascular health and metabolic health.”
She says she has treated women across a wide age range, including patients who are decades past the typical age of menopause.
“I have had patients in their 60s and in their 90s,” Dr. Van says. “Anyone who wants to feel vital is who hormones are for.”
What About Women Already Taking Hormones?
Age alone does not necessarily mean a woman who is doing well on hormone therapy needs to stop.
Dr. Van encourages women to think about the bigger picture as they age, including maintaining their bones, muscles and overall quality of life.
“If you are interested in maintaining a long, healthy life, it doesn’t matter how old you are,” she says.