New thinking on menopause and hormone therapy

Last month the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would remove its warning on hormone-based products used to treat menopause symptoms.  As women age, most will experience changes linked to the stop of their monthly menses, including hot flashes, bone density loss and sleep problems. But in the past two decades a strong “black-box warning” has scared many women off from seeking relief in hormone creams, patches, pills and other treatments. The warning was added following a landmark study that linked hormone therapy to an increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular problems. Now the FDA says the risks were overblown for most women. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about the FDA’s change, the risks and benefits of hormone therapy and what women should consider as they decide whether to try it. Guest: Dr. Jissy Cyriac is a primary care physician trained in internal medicine. She sees patients at the Menopause and Women's Sexual Health Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and is also a certified practitioner through The Menopause Society.