Published: November 13, 2025
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Hormone therapy (HT) can have many benefits for women who are experiencing symptoms associated with perimenopause. Unfortunately, HT is widely misunderstood as a result of highly publicized research done more than 20 years ago.
Menopause is defined as when a biological woman experiences 12 months with no period. Leading up to that is perimenopause. During perimenopause, women tend to have bothersome symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats, which can cause sleep difficulty, as well as mood swings. Other symptoms may include vaginal dryness, weight gain and even joint pain.
“Therapies to help women navigate the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause can be extremely beneficial,” said R. Paige Walker, M.D., gynecologist with Norton Women’s Care.. “Recent studies have even shown they can improve aging, prevent osteoporosis and, of course, help with the symptoms experienced during this time.”
Many therapies have been misunderstood for years.In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in November 2025 it will remove the warnings that have been on HT since the early 2000s. Since then, studies have shown that when started within 10 years of the start of menopause, HT can be beneficial beyond menopause symptoms. It can reduce mortality, fractures, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
“Many women experience bothersome hot flashes and night sweats, sometimes for seven to eight years before menopause,” Dr. Walker said. “During this time in life, women have so much going on in their lives in addition to the loss of estrogen that leads to these symptoms. This can include having teenagers in the household, taking care of aging parents and dealing with aging themselves.”
There are several different treatment options your provider may discuss with you. This includes estrogen and progesterone in patches, creams and even pills. There are also nonhormonal treatments that can help with specific symptoms.
“It is so important to talk to your medical provider about everything going on so you can discuss treatment options and determine what is best for your situation,” Dr. Walker said.
When you visit your provider, Dr. Walker recommends discussing the following:
If you don’t have a provider and want to find one, call Norton Healthcare at (502) 629-1234.