“You don’t have perimenopause because your labs are normal.”

FALSE: Symptoms of perimenopause can occur before abnormal hormone levels show up on the labs.

“Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is only for menopause and not needed in perimenopause”

FALSE: HRT is indicated to alleviate symptoms of perimenopause.

“HRT is no longer indicated in women due to the risk of blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks.”

FALSE: This comes from the Women’s Health Initiative study, which used oral conjugated equine estrogen in women who were on average 10+ years beyond menopause. Newer studies show that when transdermal estradiol is used in women less than 10 years from menopause, they have no increased risk of blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks. This is suspected to be due to the “timing hypothesis.”

“Statin drugs can be used for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in women.”

FALSE: Statins do not prevent first heart attack or stroke in women, but HRT does! Risk of cardiovascular disease increase 5X after menopause without HRT. HRT reduces diabetes, metabolic syndrome, colon cancer, depression, risk of dementia when given early enough, and death.

“Testosterone replacement therapy causes prostate cancer.”

FALSE: Testosterone replacement has not been proven to cause prostate cancer. It may cause existing prostate cancer from other causes to grow faster.

“Testosterone replacement therapy increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.”

FALSE: The largest trial of testosterone therapy in men (TRAVERSE trial) showed now difference in heart attack or stroke vs placebo.