Hormone Therapy Shows No Added Heart Risk
A large Israeli study of more than 52,000 women found menopause hormone therapy did not raise rates of heart attack or stroke.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Women’s Health
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Researchers tracking more than 52,000 women in Israel for an average of 12 years found menopause hormone therapy was not linked to higher heart attack or stroke rates. About 4.4% of women on therapy had a heart event, compared with 4.6% of those not taking it.
Why it matters
Concern about heart effects is a common reason women decline treatment for menopause symptoms, so these findings may inform that decision. The results were presented at medical meetings and should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The cohort tracked more than 52,000 women for an average of 12 years, with some followed up to 23 years, and blood clot rates were similar between groups. Results remain preliminary pending peer-reviewed publication, and the study does not address outcomes beyond the tracked population.
The players
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a leading U.S. nonprofit focused on cardiovascular health research, public education, and annual scientific meetings.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is the federal agency that regulates drugs, including hormone therapy products, and removed their black box warnings.
American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists
The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists is a professional medical organization that issues clinical guidance on women's health, including menopause treatment.
The details
Half of the women in the study used hormone therapy, usually as patches or pills, and their health was compared with women not using it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has removed black box warnings from hormone therapy products, and the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists recommends starting therapy within 10 years of menopause onset and before age 60.
Timeline
Nov. 2, 2026: Study results announced in a news release.
Nov. 6-9, 2026: Presented at the American Heart Association annual meeting in Chicago.
Health Landscape
The FDA's removal of black box warnings from menopause hormone therapy products set the stage for newer long-term evidence on heart outcomes. This Israeli cohort adds a large, long-duration data point to a debate that has shaped how clinicians and women weigh treatment.
For women weighing menopause treatment, the findings suggest hormone therapy did not raise heart attack or stroke rates in this cohort, though heart concerns remain a common reason treatment is declined. Decisions about starting therapy are best made with a clinician, particularly given the recommended window of within 10 years of menopause onset and before age 60.
The takeaway
The evidence in this large cohort points away from heart risk as a reason to avoid menopause hormone therapy, but timing and individual factors still matter. Women with questions can raise them with a clinician before deciding.
Further reading
For more on related research and treatment questions, explore the Women's Health section.
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Would you feel comfortable discussing menopause hormone therapy with your doctor?
