Menopausal Hormone Therapy Use Among Postmenopausal Women

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Public Health
• Clinical Endocrinology

Background:

• Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is a primary treatment for menopause symptoms.
• Adoption of MHT is limited by perceived risks for acute and chronic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) utilization.
• To identify correlates of MHT use among US postmenopausal women.
• To examine MHT trends from 1999 to March 2020.

Main Methods:

• Serial cross-sectional analysis utilizing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data.
• Inclusion of noninstitutionalized US postmenopausal women across 10 NHANES cycles (1999-2020).
• Prevalence of MHT use determined from prescription data; formulations identified by hormone type.

Main Results:

• Overall MHT prevalence decreased from 26.9% in 1999 to 4.7% in 2020.
• Declines observed across all age and racial/ethnic groups, with minority groups showing lower use.
• Estrogen-only formulations constituted over 50% of MHT use during most study periods.

Conclusions:

• Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use has substantially decreased among US postmenopausal women over two decades.
• Significant disparities in MHT prevalence exist between racial/ethnic minority women and non-Hispanic White women.
• Understanding these trends is crucial for informing clinical practice and public health strategies regarding menopause management.