{"id":204315,"date":"2025-10-11T04:00:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T04:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/204315\/"},"modified":"2025-10-11T04:00:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T04:00:11","slug":"when-to-start-hormone-therapy-what-experts-recommend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/204315\/","title":{"rendered":"When to Start Hormone Therapy: What Experts Recommend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hormone therapy<\/a> has long been one of the most misunderstood topics in women\u2019s health. But according to experts at the Flow Space Women\u2019s Health Summit<\/a>, the right timing can make all the difference\u2014not only in easing menopause symptoms<\/a>, but in supporting long-term health and longevity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Moderated by Flow Space editor-in-chief Galina Espinoza, the panel featured Dr. Jila Senemar<\/a>, a board-certified OB-GYN and founder of Jila MD<\/a>, and Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino<\/a>, a functional and integrative medicine physician and breast cancer survivor. Together, they broke down the latest science on when to start hormone therapy and why getting that window right could add healthy years to your life.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a> <\/p>\n

The Window of Opportunity<\/p>\n

Senemar began by demystifying the transition from perimenopause<\/a> to menopause<\/a>. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in your late 30s or early 40s, this shift can start to happen, and it can last between five to 10 years,\u201d she said. \u201cYour ovaries are still working\u2014they\u2019re just not as regulated as they used to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

And while, \u201cmenopause<\/a> itself is really one day in your life,\u201d she explained\u2014it\u2019s the years around that day that matter most.<\/p>\n

Tolentino emphasized what researchers now call the \u201cwindow of opportunity\u201d for starting hormone therapy: the first ten years after menopause. \u201cThe earlier you start hormone therapy in that window, the more likely you are to see benefits\u2014not just for your symptoms, but for your brain, bones, heart and metabolic health,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because estrogen<\/a> is a multi-system protector. When levels drop, women face increased risks for heart disease, osteoporosis and cognitive decline. Replacing those hormones sooner, rather than later, can help preserve long-term health.<\/p>\n

Why Waiting Too Long Can Cost You<\/p>\n

For two decades, the Women\u2019s Health Initiative (WHI) study discouraged many from pursuing hormone therapy\u2014leaving an entire generation to suffer in silence. \u201cWe\u2019re now realizing that hormones do not cause breast cancer,\u201d said Tolentino. \u201cThe narrative for the last 20 years has been the opposite, and so many more women are now coming forward and advocating, saying, \u2018There is an issue with the data.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Senemar added that waiting until symptoms are extreme or years after menopause may reduce the potential benefits. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to be in menopause in order to start,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you\u2019re 46 and having symptoms\u2014and your diet and exercise are on point\u2014but you still don\u2019t feel well, now we can experiment with some hormones and see how to get you feeling better.\u201d<\/p>\n

That timing isn\u2019t just about comfort\u2014it\u2019s about prevention. \u201cThe first 10 years after menopause are when you\u2019ll benefit most from hormone therapy,\u201d Senemar noted. \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean if you\u2019re 61, you can\u2019t have the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hormone Therapy as Part of a Bigger Picture<\/p>\n

While both experts championed early intervention, they also stressed that hormone therapy works best alongside foundational health habits. \u201cHormone therapy isn\u2019t a magic bullet,\u201d said Senemar. \u201cIt takes everything\u2014sleep, stress management, nutrition, movement. The foundation has to be set before you can add hormones.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tolentino agreed, noting that functional medicine\u2019s role is to treat the whole woman, not just her lab results. \u201cThe problem is that people see a doctor who might just be looking at one piece\u2014the headaches, the weight gain\u2014but not taking a step back to recognize that, holistically, this person might be in perimenopause<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

A New Era for Menopause Care<\/p>\n

Both experts agreed that the stigma around hormone therapy<\/a> is finally fading as more women speak up. \u201cMenopause equates aging, and who wants to be that?\u201d said Senemar. \u201cFor so long, it was all about reproduction. These are narratives that need to be shifted\u2014and that\u2019s what we\u2019re here for.\u201d<\/p>\n

The takeaway was clear: Knowledge is power, and the best time to act is sooner than most women think. \u201cWe are not a quiet generation<\/a>,\u201d Senemar said. \u201cWe\u2019re talking about it more, and the taboo has shifted.\u201d<\/p>\n

For women in their 40s and 50s, that shift could be life-changing\u2014literally.<\/p>\n