{"id":717,"date":"2026-01-26T11:34:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T11:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/?p=717"},"modified":"2026-04-08T20:27:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T20:27:04","slug":"fda-deems-hrt-safe-for-menopause-removes-black-box-warnings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/fda-deems-hrt-safe-for-menopause-removes-black-box-warnings\/","title":{"rendered":"FDA deems HRT safe for menopause, removes black box warnings"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"css-12va8w7\" data-testid=\"tabbed-article-section\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"css-7j3c6j\"><figcaption class=\"css-1nzy6lj css-whkgel\">The FDA has decided to remove \u201cblack box\u201d warnings for hormone replacement therapy for menopause. PER Images\/Stocksy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Currently, menopause symptoms are treated through lifestyle changes, alternative therapies, medications, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>In January 2003, the U.S. The Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA) issued \u201cblack box\u201d warnings for HRT about the potential increased risk for certain health conditions.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Earlier this week, the FDA announced it would be removing these warnings from HRT products due to more recent research disproving these initial risks.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>According to the European Institute of Women\u2019s Health, about\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/eurohealth.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Menopause-Policy-Brief.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">25 million women<\/a>\u00a0around the world enter\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/155651\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">menopause<\/a>\u00a0each year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div data-preamp=\"serena-chatbot\">Menopause is a natural occurrence for cisgender women ages 45 to 55, when their\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/326906\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">menstrual cycle<\/a>\u00a0ends, ending their reproductive years.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Past research shows that about\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK285446\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">85% of women<span class=\"css-16y17d3 icon-hl-trusted-source-after\"><span class=\"sro\">Trusted Source<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0experience a variety of symptoms during menopause, such as\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/322351\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hot flashes<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/321615\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vaginal dryness<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/menopause-and-insomnia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sleeping issues<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/menopause-and-depression\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">depression<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/317566\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mood swings<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10952331\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">weight gain<\/a>, and\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10561270\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">difficulty concentrating<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Currently, menopause symptoms are treated through lifestyle changes, alternative therapies like yoga and meditation, certain medications, and\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/181726\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hormone replacement therapy (HRT)<\/a>, also called menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or hormone therapy (HT)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>In\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC154933\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">January 2003<\/a>, the U.S. The Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA) issued \u201cblack box\u201d warnings for HRT medications based on the results of the\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whi.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Women\u2019s Health Initiative (WHI) study,<\/a>\u00a0with warnings about the potential increased risk for health conditions like\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/37136\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">breast cancer<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/142214\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dementia<\/a>, and\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/257484\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cardiovascular disease<\/a>\u00a0when taking HRT.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Earlier this week, the FDA\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/news-events\/press-announcements\/hhs-advances-womens-health-removes-misleading-fda-warnings-hormone-replacement-therapy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">announced<span class=\"css-16y17d3 icon-hl-trusted-source-after\"><span class=\"sro\">Trusted Source<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0it would be removing these warnings from HRT products due to more recent research disproving these specific risks.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><em>Medical News Today<\/em>\u00a0spoke with five women\u2019s health experts to find out more about what HRT is, what are the \u201cblack box\u201d warnings being removed, and what does this mean for women\u2019s access to HRT for menopause symptoms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-pp6cpn css-sg2j7y\">\n<aside class=\"css-1s8spa1\" data-testid=\"sticky-inline-ad\" data-sticky=\"false\">\n<div class=\"css-1xdhyk6\">\n<div class=\"css-1n8gtoc\" data-empty=\"true\">\n<div><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"css-1b7bwed\">What is hormone replacement therapy?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1avyp1d\" data-testid=\"tabbed-article-section\">\n<div>\n<p>According to\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/doctors.hackensackmeridianhealth.org\/provider\/susan-marie-pacana\/1315205\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Susan Marie Pacana, MD<\/a>, a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon and OB\/GYN at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, HRT is prescription\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/277177\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">estrogen<\/a>,\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/progesterone-hrt-side-effects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">progesterone<\/a>, and sometimes\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/276013\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">testosterone<\/a>\u00a0therapy prescribed for\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/perimenopause\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">peri<\/a>\u00a0and\/or\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/postmenopause\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">postmenopausal<\/a>\u00a0women to replace the hormones that decline with menopause.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cThe typical reasons for taking HRT include relief of symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness,\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/324861\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">decreased libido<\/a>, and mood changes,\u201d Pacana added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cDuring the menopause transition, the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone which are the hormones responsible for reproduction, periods, and other important bodily functions,\u201d\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sjpp.org\/find-a-doctor\/sheryl-ross-md\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sherry Ross, MD<\/a>, a board certified OB\/GYN and Women\u2019s Health Expert at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, explained to\u00a0<em>MNT<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote class=\"is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow css-34gtoi\"><p><strong>How HRT can help menopause symptoms<\/strong>\u201cLosing these important female hormones affect almost every organ in our body and are profoundly affected by their absence. A tsunami of bothersome symptoms occur that can be reversed and avoided if you are prescribed hormone therapy. Taking hormone therapy, including estrogen and progesterone can minimize the majority of disruptive symptoms experienced by women.\u201d<br \/>\n\u2014 Sherry Ross, MD<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u201cDecades ago, beginning around 1945, a product called\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/drugs-premarin-cost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Premarin<\/a>, derived from the urine of pregnant horses, was commonly prescribed along with synthetic progesterone,\u201d\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.drprudencehall.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Prudence Hall, MD<\/a>, an OB\/GYN in private practice in Santa Monica, CA, and author of\u00a0<em>Radiant Again &amp; Forever: Overcome Menopause &amp; Restore Your Radiance,\u00a0<\/em>told<em>\u00a0MNT.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><em>\u201c<\/em>Today, we have far better, more natural options. The form of HRT I use is\u00a0<a class=\"content-link css-90fpmc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/319465\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bioidentical<\/a>, meaning these hormones are molecularly identical to those naturally produced by a woman\u2019s body,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"mb8563779-c9cc-4dd3-99d6-b10a38f8393bmpd_firstQuarter_8de0a4ae-3232-4040-bbd3-496e994d4356\" class=\"\" data-testid=\"driver\" data-placement=\"firstQuarter\">\n<div>\n<form action=\"data:,\" novalidate=\"\" data-testid=\"newsletter-form\">\n<div data-testid=\"newsletter-email-container\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The FDA has decided to remove \u201cblack box\u201d warnings for hormone replacement therapy for menopause. PER Images\/Stocksy Currently, menopause symptoms are treated through lifestyle changes, alternative therapies, medications, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In January 2003, the U.S. The Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA) issued \u201cblack box\u201d warnings for HRT about the potential increased risk [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=717"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/717\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":719,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/717\/revisions\/719"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portfolio.zenkoders.com\/ai-powered\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}