Menopausal Hormone Therapy Not Linked to Higher Death Risk

Menopausal Hormone Therapy Not Linked to Higher Death Risk

A large nationwide study has found that menopausal hormone therapy (also called MHT) was not linked to a higher risk of death.

According to research published in the BMJ, women in Denmark who used hormone therapy during menopause did not have higher overall mortality compared with women who did not use it.

The study followed nearly an entire generation of Danish women for more than a decade, offering reassuring information for women considering treatment for bothersome menopausal symptoms.

What Was Studied?

Researchers examined health records from 876,805 Danish women who were alive at age 45.

They followed these women for a median of 14 years.

About 12% filled at least one prescription for systemic menopausal hormone therapy (such as pills, patches, or gels that work throughout the body).

The researchers looked at:

• Death from any cause

• Death from heart and blood vessel disease

• Death from cancer

The goal was to understand whether hormone therapy increased long-term mortality.

What Did the Study Show?

The main finding was clear:

• Hormone therapy was not associated with higher overall death risk.

After adjusting for health conditions and other factors, the risk of death was similar between women who used hormone therapy and those who did not.

When researchers looked at duration of use:

• Short-term use did not increase risk.

• Use for 3 to 9 years was linked to slightly lower mortality.

• Use for 10 years or more did not increase risk.

Women Who Had Their Ovaries Removed

An important finding involved women who had both ovaries removed between ages 45 and 54.

Among these women:

• Those who used hormone therapy had a 27–34% lower risk of death.

• They lived several years longer on average than those who did not use hormone therapy.

Why Is This Important?

Hormone therapy use dropped sharply after early 2000s studies raised concerns about heart disease and cancer.

This new large study suggests:

• Modern menopausal hormone therapy does not increase long-term overall mortality.

• There were no clear increases in heart-related or cancer-related deaths overall.

• Certain groups, especially women with early surgical menopause, may benefit.

These findings may help women and caregivers feel more confident discussing options with their healthcare team.

Important Limits to Know

This study was observational. That means:

• Women were not randomly assigned to take hormone therapy.

• Lifestyle differences could still affect results.

• The average age at the end of follow-up was about 59 years, so very long-term effects into older age were not fully studied.

The study focused only on systemic hormone therapy (pills, patches, gels). It did not examine low-dose vaginal estrogen or non-hormonal menopause treatments.

What This Means for You

If you are experiencing moderate to severe menopausal symptoms:

• This study provides reassurance about overall safety.

• Women who had their ovaries removed before natural menopause may especially benefit.

• Decisions should still be individualized.

Talk with your doctor about:

• Your personal medical history

• Your risk factors for heart disease or cancer

• The type and length of treatment that may be appropriate

Source Reference

This study was published in 2026 in the BMJ as a nationwide registry-based cohort study from Denmark. The findings are based on long-term follow-up of prescription and health records. Readers can review the full study in the journal for more detailed information.

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CareCapture shares healthcare updates to help patients and caregivers better understand what is happening in medicine today. This content is for educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice.