There’s no age limit

WHEN should you stop taking hormones? The oldest woman I am treating is 88, the oldest man is 86, writes New York-based Dr Erika Schwartz.

Like other specialists in natural hormones, I am convinced by the benefits and safety of bioidentical hormones. I am very happy for my patients to keep taking them indefinitely.

Their quality of life is better than their peers. It’s also helping to prevent the deterioration caused by ageing and illness.

Follow-ups are key, as are eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep and dealing with stress. I have patients who have been taking natural hormones for 30 years, and I am prepared to use them myself for 50!

The official position in the UK used to be that women on any type of HRT should try coming off it after five years, but the NHS now says there’s no limit.

A study published last year showed that women who’d taken HRT for 18 years were at no higher risk of dying early.

British Menopause Society advice is that older women on HRT long term ‘ should be reviewed annually’. But I believe staying on it is life-saving, and that taking women off it at any age is more risky than keeping them on it, particularly with bio- identicals — ‘ natural’ hormones derived from plants.

In my practice, I advise taking a break of three to four days (a hormone holiday) every three to four months.