Oral menopause hormone therapy linked to increased blood clot risk

A large observational study conducted in Denmark, published in the British Medical Journal, has linked oral menopause hormone therapy (MHT) to an increased risk of serious blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks.

Analyzing medical records of nearly 100,000 women aged 50 to 69, researchers found that for every thousand women taking oral estrogen pills for one year, one additional person experienced a blood clot. The risk of heart attack and stroke was specifically associated with women taking high doses of oral estrogen for more than one year.

In contrast, the study found no increased risk of these conditions for women using transdermal methods, such as estrogen patches, gels, or sprays. Medical experts noted that transdermal estradiol is considered a safer delivery method because oral estrogen is metabolized by the liver.

Researchers acknowledged limitations in the study, noting it was an observational case-control study rather than a randomized controlled trial. The findings may not apply to all ethnically diverse populations, and the data lacked specific details regarding smoking status, obesity, and body mass index.