5 Myths About Menopause

You'll get less hot and bothered by this normal life phase if you have the cold, hard facts.

- By Kate Rockwood

1 MYTH: Hormone replacement therapy is dangerous.

MYTHBUSTER

For healthy women under 60 or less than 10 years out from menopause, the risks of HRT are low, and it can safely provide relief from menopause symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disruption, and vaginal/bladder issues, says Sherry Ross, M.D., an ob/gyn and author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. Period. In fact, an 18-year follow-up to the study that sparked widespread fear of HRT found no increased risk of death from any cause for women who took HRT for five to seven years compared with those who took a placebo. The original 2002 study got a lot of attention because it found elevated heart disease and breast cancer risks, but the findings applied only to older women on HRT, a fact that got lost in the messaging. When it's used for the shortest possible time at the lowest effective dose, Dr. Ross adds, "the benefits of HRT often outweigh the risks when it comes to quality of life." (HRT is not recommended for women with a history of blood clots, heart disease, liver disease, or certain cancers.)

2 MYTH: Menopause symptoms don't last long.

MYTHBUSTER