Hormone replacement is a treatment indicated for women who experience symptoms related to hormonal decline, especially during menopause and menopause. Hot flashes, changes in sleep, irritability, intimate dryness and loss of quality of life are among the most common signs that lead patients to seek medical assistance. Despite this, the subject still generates insecurity and doubts, largely because of old information that continues to circulate outside the current context of medicine.

Bruna Paschoalim, gynecologist and specialist in female intimate aesthetics, states that much of the resistance to treatment arises from misinterpretations of studies published decades ago. According to her, many fears continue to be reproduced even after important updates to international guidelines.

The informative material “Menopause Topics: Hormone Therapy”, published by The Menopause Society, reinforces that hormonal therapy It can bring significant benefits when well indicated and individually monitored, especially for women with moderate or intense menopause symptoms. The material highlights that age, clinical history and moment of initiation of treatment make a difference in the safety of therapy.

Next, check out the main myths about hormone replacement and what modern medicine says about the subject!

1. Hormone replacement increases the risk of cancer

Mito. According to Bruna Paschoalim, the main myth that appears in the office is still the automatic association between hormone replacement and cancer. “There is a lot of taboo regarding hormone replacement due to old studies that generated fear in patients. Today, medicine has revisited a lot of things and better understands which women can benefit from the treatment and which ones need more caution”, he explains.

She recalls that, last year, the FDA (The Food and Drug Administration), a regulatory agency in the United States, once again reinforced the importance of hormone therapy in indicated cases, which helped increase patients’ confidence during consultations. Even so, many women still come to the office believing that any type of replacement will inevitably cause weight gain or health problems.

2. Sexual replacement only serves to improve sexual desire and aesthetics

Mito. Another common mistake, according to the specialist, is to see the treatment only from an aesthetic or sexual perspective. “Many patients think that hormone replacement only serves to increase the sexual desire or improve body aesthetics, when, in fact, it can have a significant impact on quality of life, sleep, mood and even disposition”, he states.

3. Treatment is the same for all women

Mito. Hormone therapy also does not work the same for all women. There are different types of hormones, routes of administration and therapeutic strategies that vary depending on age, symptoms, family history and clinical examinations. Therefore, individualized assessment is considered an essential part of the process.

Updated information as an ally

Another point that experts tend to reinforce is that menopause should not be treated just as an inevitable phase of discomfort. Many women spend years living with intense symptoms without seeking help, precisely out of fear or misinformation. This scenario contributes to the fact that old myths continue to circulate more strongly than updated data.

The discussion about hormone replacement has changed as new research expands the understanding of safety and indications for treatment. Still, quality information and medical monitoring continue to be fundamental to avoid decisions based on fear, isolated experiences or content without scientific support.

By Eluan Carlos