J Menopausal Med. 2026 Aug;32(2):65-74. doi: 10.6118/jmm.26001.
ABSTRACT
This review aimed to summarize the biological rationale for the protective effects of estrogen, the robust evidence supporting the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), and the evolving regulatory and historical context shaped by the reinterpretation of the Women's Health Initiative data. This study outlines the risk-benefit profile of contemporary MHT regimens and presented a modern clinical framework for the use of MHT as a preventive strategy to support metabolic, cardiovascular, and skeletal health across and beyond the menopausal transition. Moreover, this review emphasized that menopausal symptoms should be recognized as a critical biological inflection point necessitating proactive intervention. Furthermore, the 2025 FDA regulatory shift reinforces the safety and efficacy of individualized MHT when initiated within the "window of opportunity," providing a definitive strategy for long-term prevention of chronic diseases in healthy women.
PMID:42711099 | DOI:10.6118/jmm.26001