What You Need to Know About HRT
The science is clear. The benefits are proven. The access barriers are a policy choice — and policy choices can be changed. Here is what the evidence says.
The Basics
What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
HRT restores estrogen, progesterone, and in some cases testosterone to levels that decline during perimenopause and menopause. It is the most effective, most studied treatment available — and its benefits go far beyond symptom relief.
Cardiovascular Protection
When started early in menopause, HRT has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease — the leading cause of death in Canadian women.
Bone Density Preservation
Estrogen loss accelerates bone loss. HRT significantly reduces the risk of osteoporosis and fractures — conditions that cost the Canadian healthcare system over $4.6 billion annually.
Cognitive Health
Early HRT use is associated with reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The brain is an estrogen-sensitive organ — and it needs support during the transition.
Sleep & Mental Health
HRT addresses the root cause of sleep disruption, mood disorders, and anxiety linked to hormonal shifts — rather than treating each symptom separately with multiple drugs.
Workforce Participation
Women who receive effective treatment maintain higher levels of employment and productivity. Untreated menopause costs Ontario's workforce billions annually.
Reduced Healthcare Costs
Preventing osteoporosis, cardiovascular events, and cognitive decline through HRT is far less costly than treating these conditions after the fact. Coverage pays for itself.
Setting the Record Straight
Myths vs. Facts
Decades of misinformation have kept women from accessing effective care. Here is what the current evidence actually says.
HRT causes breast cancer. Every woman should avoid it.
The 2002 WHI study that created this fear has been widely discredited. For most women under 60 who start HRT within 10 years of menopause, the absolute risk increase is minimal and outweighed by the benefits. Type and timing matter enormously.
Menopause is natural. Women should push through it without medication.
Diabetes, high blood pressure, and thyroid disease are also natural conditions — and we treat them. Denying effective treatment because the cause is "natural" is not medicine. It is neglect.
HRT is only for severe hot flashes. Most women don't need it.
HRT has proven benefits for cardiovascular health, bone density, cognitive function, and mental health regardless of hot flash severity. Waiting until symptoms are "bad enough" means missing the window for maximum protective benefit.
There are age limits on HRT. Women over 60 should not use it.
Current Canadian Menopause Society guidelines confirm there is no blanket age restriction. Treatment decisions should be individualized — made between a woman and her physician based on her specific health profile.
By the Numbers
The Scale of This Crisis in Canada
The Evidence Is In. Now It's Time to Act.
Armed with the facts, add your name to the petition calling on Ontario to cover HRT for every woman who needs it.
🖨️ Print & Sign the Petition