How should someone decide whether to try hormone therapy, and when?

Deciding whether and when to try hormone therapy (also called MHT or HRT) is a very personal decision, and here at Alloy, we believe it should be based on your symptoms, your health goals, and a clear understanding of the benefits and risks.

Here’s how you can approach the decision:

Symptom-Driven: The main reason to consider hormone therapy is if you are experiencing bothersome symptoms of perimenopause or menopause—such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, or joint pain—that are affecting your quality of life. If you feel well and have no symptoms, you likely don’t need hormone therapy just for prevention, except in specific cases like osteoporosis risk.
Timing: The optimal window to start hormone therapy is before age 60 or within 10 years of your last menstrual period. Starting within this window maximizes benefits for symptom relief, bone health, and possibly heart health. However, even if you are outside this window, it may still be possible to start hormone therapy after a careful review of your personal and family medical history with a menopause-trained provider.
Individualized Assessment: Your decision should be made together with a knowledgeable healthcare provider, considering your personal risk factors (such as history of breast cancer, heart disease, or blood clots) and your preferences. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and ongoing assessment is important.
No Arbitrary Stop Date: There is no set time when you must stop hormone therapy. As long as you are healthy and still benefit from treatment, you can continue as long as you wish, with regular check-ins.
No Need for Hormone Testing: You do not need blood tests to decide when to start hormone therapy. The decision is based on your symptoms and needs, not lab values.

If you’re ready to explore your options, Alloy offers a range of FDA-approved, bioidentical hormone therapies, including estradiol pills, patches, gels, sprays, and vaginal creams. You can take our online assessment to find the best treatment for you: Alloy Solutions.

For a deeper dive into this topic, check out these helpful resources:

Hormone Therapy 101 with Dr. Corinne Menn (YouTube) – especially the chapter on Restarting Hormone Therapy and Individualized Care.
Hormones: They're More Than Just Hot Flashes! | Dr. Darwana Ratleff Todd (YouTube) – see the chapters on Who Should Start Hormone Therapy? and When to Start Hormone Therapy and the Role of Testing.

You can also read more about the signs that you might benefit from menopause hormone therapy on our blog: Do You Need Menopause Hormone Therapy?

At Alloy, we’re here to empower you with science-backed information and expert care so you can make the choice that’s right for you. If you’re interested in learning more about our products, visit our product page or take our online assessment to get started.

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