I’m 70. Is it too late to start HRT?

There’s an idea that if you didn’t start HRT around the time of menopause, you’ve simply missed your chance.

So what happens if you’re now in your 60s or 70s and still experiencing symptoms?

Is it too late?

No, turning 70 does not automatically close the door on HRT.

But starting systemic HRT later is a different conversation from starting it around the time of menopause, and it deserves an individual assessment rather than a blanket yes or no.

NHS guidance says that if someone wants to start HRT over 60, a GP may recommend a lower dose and a patch or gel rather than tablets to reduce some risks.

The British Menopause Society similarly says that, when HRT is used in women over 60, lower doses should be started and transdermal oestrogen is generally preferred.

NICE emphasises tailoring the discussion to age, medical history, symptoms and individual risk factors.

So the useful question is not simply:

“Am I too old?”

It is:

“Given my symptoms, health history and personal risk factors, do the potential benefits make HRT worth considering for me, and if so, what form and dose make sense?”

In one of our recent Get In Good Nick Clinics, a member described starting HRT around 70 and feeling a major personal improvement.

That is a valuable real-life experience, but it is not proof that HRT is right for every woman of the same age.

It is proof that age alone should not stop you having the conversation.

"At 70, HRT is not an automatic yes and it is not an automatic no. It is an individual risk-benefit conversation."

- Danielle Frost

RESEARCH / USEFUL SOURCES

•  International Menopause Society review: Understanding weight gain at menopause
•  Meta-analysis: Fat mass changes during menopause