Why it was a mistake to stop prescribing HRT to menopausal women

It took a loud public outpouring about menopause symptoms to reverse the impact of two flawed but influential studies warning against hormone replacement therapy

Female sign made from medicine pills

Menopause is a fact of life for women. On average, women in Ireland become menopausal at 51. At that stage, they will have gone 12 consecutive months without having a period.

They will likely have experienced perimenopause in the years leading up to that point. Starting in a woman’s mid-40s, it’s caused by declining levels of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, manifesting in symptoms ranging from hot flushes and night sweats to disrupted sleep, brain fog, and painful sex.