Hormone therapy: What women need to know today

[Star Tribune, November 21, 2025] Perimenopause and menopause have become hot topics as more women become vocal about the changes they experience as they age. As a result, there are increased questions about hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Indy Lane, MD, FACOG, vice president, Allina Health Women’s Health, is working to help educate women about these topics. She participated in an interview for this Minnesota Star Tribune column - Garrison: Hormone therapy isn’t so risky after all. I tried it and it changed my life.

In the article Dr. Lane said:

“This is lifesaving care,” said Indy Lane, M.D., vice president of women’s health at Allina Health. “Women are often focused on breast cancer risks and we want all women to be aware of those risks, but it’s also true that 1 in 3 women die of cardiovascular disease. We know (now) that HRT can reduce that risk if started at the appropriate time.”

What is HRT?

HRT replenishes the hormones depleted during perimenopause and menopause. Before 2002, it was a common tool used to help women during the perimenopause and menopause.

Why the controversy?

A 2002 study linked HRT to an increased risk for breast cancer and stroke. All HRT was sold with a black box warning, which led women and clinicians to turn away from this option.

What changed?

Now, more than twenty years later, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says the 2002 study was conducted on women over 60 and used an HRT formula no longer in use.

The FDA removed the black box warning, and now it’s time to educate women and providers about HRT.

“It’s going to take some work to get everyone rowing in the same direction,” Lane said. “It will take providers understanding how to better treat women in this phase. It will take medical schools and systems to embrace what we know about HRT and begin teaching all their students. Not just doctors, but nurse practitioners, too, so that we are all armed with the info we need.”

Note: The Star Tribune article may be behind a pay wall.