Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Cardiovascular Risk: Current Evidence and Clinical Implications

Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) effectively relieves vasomotor symptoms, but its cardiovascular safety remains influenced by timing, formulation, and route of administration.

This narrative review summarizes evidence from major randomized trials (WHI, HERS, ELITE, DOPS) and observational studies, along with mechanistic data on the vascular and metabolic effects of MHT.

Although early studies suggested cardioprotection, randomized trials showed no cardiovascular benefit, and in some cases, increased risks of coronary events, stroke, and venous thromboembolism, particularly in older women or those with established cardiovascular disease. The "timing hypothesis" indicates that early initiation after menopause may have neutral or modestly favorable effects, whereas late initiation is associated with adversity. Oral estrogen is linked to higher thromboembolic and stroke risk compared with transdermal formulations. Evidence on atrial fibrillation and heart failure remains limited.

MHT should not be used for cardiovascular disease prevention. Current evidence suggests that younger women in the early postmenopausal period may derive the greatest benefit with the lowest risk from individualized hormone therapy regimens, particularly those using transdermal estrogen. Treatment decisions should be guided by careful cardiovascular risk assessment and targeted to symptom relief and osteoporosis prevention.