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Menopause · Updated 2026-05-17

HRT eligibility: are you a candidate?

Written byEditorial Team, HormonalHealth PortalReviewed byEditorial Medical Review, MD, NAMS-CMP· Updated May 17, 2026

Short answer: Most healthy women under 60 OR within 10 years of menopause are candidates. Contraindications: active breast cancer, recent VTE, unexplained vaginal bleeding, active liver disease.

1 min read

Key takeaways

  • Window of opportunity: under 60 OR <10 years post-menopause
  • Absolute contraindications rare — most women eligible
  • Transdermal estrogen safer for those with migraine, smoking, mild VTE history

Absolute contraindications

Active or history of breast cancer (case-by-case). Active venous thromboembolism. Unexplained vaginal bleeding. Active liver disease with impaired function. Pregnancy (excluding postmenopause obviously).

Relative contraindications

Migraine with aura — prefer transdermal. Hypertension uncontrolled. Diabetes with vascular disease. History of DVT/PE (consider transdermal). Smoking — transdermal preferred.

Who benefits most

Severe vasomotor symptoms, premature menopause (POI), perimenopausal mood/cognitive symptoms, established osteoporosis risk.

SC
Reviewed by Editorial Medical ReviewBoard-certified OB/GYN · NAMS-certified · Updated 2026-05-17

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