Decline in Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy Use Among U.S. Postmenopausal Women

This important study focused on the utilization patterns of menopause hormone replacement therapy (MHT) among postmenopausal women in the United States from 1999 to 2020. According to research published online on September 27 in JAMA Health Forum, the prevalence of MHT use among women dropped significantly from 26.9 percent to 4.7 percent over this period.

Detailed Findings on MHT Usage

Conducted by Lin Yang, Ph.D., from Cancer Care Alberta, the study analyzed demographic data from 13,048 U.S. postmenopausal women gathered through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Trends Observed

• MHT use was predominant among women aged 52 to 65 until 2002.
• By 2005, younger women (under 52) began to show higher rates of MHT use.
• Reported declines included 23.5 percent for younger than 52 years, 31.4 percent for 52 to younger than 65 years, and 10.6 percent for 65 years and older.

Demographic Variability in MHT Usage

Across different ethnic groups, significant declines were recorded: Hispanic women fell from 13.8 to 2.6 percent, non-Hispanic Black women from 11.9 to 0.5 percent, and non-Hispanic White women from 31.4 to 5.8 percent. Interestingly, prevalence remained highest among non-Hispanic White women.

The disparity in MHT usage was further influenced by family income-to-poverty ratios and health insurance coverage.