SXHH Marketing, Author at HerKare

Hormones and Your Heart Health

by SXHH Marketing | Feb 12, 2026 | Uncategorized

By Carolyn Moyers, D.O., FACOG

Are you taking, or considering, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat bothersome menopause symptoms? How does this impact your heart health?

There has been controversy around hormone replacement therapy (HRT) over past decades. HRT has gone from a standard treatment for hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause to a decision each woman must weigh carefully based on her body and health history.

Some research has linked HRT to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer, while other studies have shown hormone replacement may lower the risk of osteoporosis and improve other aspects of health.

Read the literature on this and your head will be spinning. Recent studies are showing benefits to women, particularly women who use HRT close to the onset of menopause, although, the duration of therapy and relationship to heart health awaits further study.

Hormone replacement therapy – estrogen, estrogen + progesterone, and dare you add testosterone – It’s all so confusing. “What are my risks?” patient’s often ask.

Risks in perspective

The risk of heart disease to an individual woman taking hormone therapy is very low.
Your individual risk of developing heart disease depends on many factors, including family medical history, personal medical history and lifestyle practices.
If you stopped having periods or lost normal function of your ovaries before age 40, you have a different set of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) health risks compared with women who reach menopause near the average age of about 50. This includes a higher risk of coronary heart disease.

Talk to your provider about your personal risks. If you’re at low risk of heart disease, and your menopausal symptoms are significant, hormone therapy is a reasonable consideration.

HRT risks may vary depending on:

Whether estrogen is given alone or with a progesterone
Your current age and age at menopause
The dose, type of estrogen and how you take it (oral, transdermal, transvaginal)
Other health risks, such as your family medical history and cancer risks

Who should NOT take hormone therapy?

If you’ve already had a heart attack, HRT is not for you. If you already have heart disease or you have a history of blood clots, the risks of hormone therapy have been clearly shown to outweigh any potential benefits.

Menopause symptoms: What are they and why are women seeking treatment?

As women age, they find themselves with sudden sensation of extreme heat in the upper body, face, neck and chest, referred to as a hot flush. The unwelcome sweating, flushing, chills, clamminess, anxiety and even heart palpitations accompany this. These unwelcome vasomotor symptoms vary in how often and how long they last. Patients report symptoms lasting anywhere from 4-10 years around menopause. While menopause is defined as not having cycles for 12 months, symptoms do not end with the end of menstrual cycles. Sigh . . . The low estrogen levels leads to changes in the vagina– vaginal or vulvar dryness, discharge, itching and painful intercourse. The lack of estrogen leads to a loss of superficial epithelial cells, vaginal folds and elasticity and narrowing and shortening of the vagina. In addition, the pH of the vagina even changes and can lend to more urogenital infections. “Really?!” I hear you asking yourself. All these changes have women feeling frustrated, fatigued and often questioning their sanity.

HRT and the Heart

The consensus at this time is that menopausal hormone replacement therapy should not be used for the primary prevention of coronary heart disease. There is some data that supports a “timing hypothesis” – meaning, the cardiovascular benefit is most profound when HRT is used at the onset of menopause versus someone who has been menopausal 10 years or more. We do not know the affects of the duration of HRT at this time.

Your provider will likely recommend a heart healthy lifestyle to reduce your cardiovascular risks.

Don’t smoke or use tobacco products.
Get regular physical activity.
Eat a healthy diet focusing on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat protein.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Get regular health screenings to check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels to detect early signs of heart disease.

We also understand that quality of life must be considered when prescribing HRT. Lifestyle changes and over the counter solutions don’t always provide the relief you so desperately desire. HRT must be individualized based on each woman’s risk-benefit ratio and clinical presentation.

How is HRT different at HerKare?

A customized treatment plan specific to each patient is designed to improve symptoms. The goal is to achieve a balance of hormones, vitamin deficiencies, and thyroid function.

A balancing act

Among U.S. women, nearly 1 in 4 deaths each year is due to heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. Women of all ages should take heart disease seriously.

Most healthy women can safely take HRT for menopausal symptoms without significantly increasing the risk of heart disease. If you experience classic menopausal symptoms talk to your provider about how you can relieve troublesome symptoms without putting your health at risk.

FDA Removes Black Box Warning on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: What Women Need to Know

by SXHH Marketing | Dec 12, 2025 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness

For years, menopausal hormone therapy carried a warning label that did more than flag risk. It shaped perception. It ended conversations before they started. For many women, it quietly reinforced the idea that relief came with a price that was simply too high.

The FDA has now removed the black box warning from certain menopausal hormone therapy products, and the significance of that change goes beyond labeling. It signals a long-overdue recalibration in how women’s hormone care is understood.

How we got here

The warning traces back to the Women’s Health Initiative studies published in the early 2000s. Those findings linked specific hormone therapies to increased risks of blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer in certain populations.

What mattered then, and still does, is context.

The study primarily examined older women, often more than a decade past menopause, and prescribed oral hormone formulations that reflected clinical norms of the time. The results were meaningful, but their application became sweeping. A single narrative took hold, flattening nuance and leaving little room for clinical judgment or individual variation.

Why the warning no longer made sense

Two decades later, menopausal hormone therapy looks fundamentally different.

Research has continued. Clinical practice has evolved. The conversation around timing, formulation, dosing, and patient selection has grown more precise. We now understand that hormone therapy initiated closer to menopause carries a different risk profile than therapy started years later. We understand that delivery method matters. We understand that cardiovascular and metabolic health cannot be separated from hormone decisions.

The FDA’s decision to remove the black box warning reflects this accumulation of knowledge. It acknowledges that the label no longer aligned with how menopausal hormone therapy is prescribed or evaluated today.

Why this matters to women now

The black box warning informed, but it also created fear in women who could have benefited from HRT.

For many women, it became shorthand for danger, reinforcing hesitation even as symptoms mounted. Brain fog. Disrupted sleep. A persistent sense of being off balance. Mood changes that felt unfamiliar. A body that no longer responded the way it once did.

The removal of the warning does not suggest that hormone therapy is universally appropriate. What it does is restore the possibility of discussion without fear of being the loudest voice in the room.

What has not changed

Hormone therapy remains a medical intervention that requires discernment.

Women considering menopausal hormone therapy should expect:

An individualized medical evaluation
Careful attention to health history and risk factors
Dosing that reflects both symptoms and physiology
Ongoing monitoring over time

The shift is not toward casual prescribing. It is toward care that reflects current science rather than outdated generalizations.

Where HerKare stands

At HerKare, menopausal hormone therapy is approached as a collaborative, patient-focused process. Care is shaped by how a woman feels, what her labs reveal, and how her health evolves.

Menopause Awareness Month: How to Recognize the Symptoms and Take Control of Your Health

by SXHH Marketing | Oct 23, 2025 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Sleep, Wellness

Every October, National Menopause Awareness Month encourages women to understand the changes happening in their bodies, and to know that help and hope are available.

Menopause is a natural life stage, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to navigate. At HerKare, we believe every woman deserves care, compassion, and accurate information during this transition.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles, confirmed after 12 months without a period. The average age is 51, but symptoms can begin years earlier during perimenopause.

As estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate, your body may react in ways that feel unfamiliar. Recognizing these changes early can make them easier to manage.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Hot flashes or night sweats
Irregular or missed periods
Mood changes or anxiety
Fatigue and low motivation
Vaginal dryness or discomfort
Weight gain or slower metabolism
Hair thinning or dry skin
Memory lapses or “brain fog”

Every woman’s experience is unique. Some may only notice mild changes, while others face symptoms that affect sleep, work, and relationships.

Why Menopause Awareness Matters

For decades, conversations about menopause were quiet, even taboo. Women were told to “push through.” Today, Menopause Awareness Month reminds us that these symptoms are real—and treatable.

When hormones decline, it can impact bone health, heart health, metabolism, and mental well-being. Awareness leads to proactive care and better long-term health.

“At HerKare, our message is simple: Menopause isn’t the end of feeling like yourself—it’s a new beginning,” says Michael Seay, MSN, APRN, NP-C. “When you understand your hormones, you can take control of your energy, mood, and confidence again.”

How HerKare Can Help

HerKare offers a full spectrum of care for women in perimenopause and menopause, including:

Comprehensive hormone testing
Individualized hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Lifestyle and nutrition guidance
Ongoing follow-up care to track progress and fine-tune your treatment

Our goal is to help you rediscover balance, clarity, and comfort, so you can feel strong and joyful through every stage of life.

This Menopause Awareness Month, make yourself a priority. Schedule a free consultation and start feeling like you again.

HRT and Breast Cancer: Separating Fact from Fear

by SXHH Marketing | Oct 15, 2025 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Wellness

Every October, we come together to honor those affected by breast cancer and to raise awareness that empowers women, not frightens them.

At HerKare, we know that breast cancer awareness also means supporting women’s confidence in their health choices. One of the biggest sources of confusion and fear is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and whether it increases breast cancer risk.

It’s a complicated topic, and it’s easy to feel torn between wanting relief from menopausal symptoms and wanting to protect your long-term health. So this Breast Cancer Awareness Week, let’s look at the real science behind HRT and separate fear from fiction.

Myth 1: “HRT Always Causes Breast Cancer”

Fact: The truth is more nuanced. Some forms of HRT, especially those that combine estrogen and progesterone, have been shown to slightly increase the risk of breast cancer when used long-term (usually more than five years).

However, estrogen-only HRT, which is prescribed to women who’ve had a hysterectomy, has not shown the same increase. Some studies even suggest it might lower risk in certain cases.

And here’s the important part:
When therapy is stopped, the risk gradually returns to normal over the next few years.

Myth 2: “If You Have a Family History of Breast Cancer, HRT Is Off-Limits”

Fact: A family history doesn’t automatically disqualify you from using HRT.
For many women, especially those using short-term, low-dose therapy, the added risk is minimal, even with family history.

Your provider can help you understand your personal risk profile and choose a plan that works for your body and your comfort level.

Myth 3: “All HRT Is the Same”

Fact: Hormone therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all.
The type of hormones, the way they’re delivered (pill, patch, gel, or cream), and the dose all make a difference.

For example, transdermal estrogen (through the skin) and bioidentical hormones may offer similar benefits with a lower impact on breast cancer risk compared to some older formulations.

Myth 4: “Once You Take HRT, You’ll Always Be at Higher Risk”

Fact: Thankfully, that’s not true.
After stopping HRT, most women’s breast cancer risk returns to baseline within about five years, and often sooner for those who used lower doses.

Myth 5: “Estrogen-Only HRT Is Completely Safe”

Fact: While estrogen-only HRT carries less breast cancer risk, it can increase the risk of uterine cancer in women who still have their uterus, which is why progesterone is added for protection.

The safest HRT plan depends on your complete medical history, which is why individualized care is most important.

A Word from Our Medical Team

“At SynergenX, we believe women deserve the full picture — not fear. The risks of hormone therapy are often overstated, and with the right supervision, HRT can help women feel healthy, balanced, and vibrant through menopause and beyond.”
— Michael Seay, MSN, APRN, NP-C

The Bottom Line

For many women, HRT can safely ease the symptoms of menopause (improving sleep, focus, energy, and mood) while the associated breast cancer risk remains small, temporary, and manageable.

If you’re struggling with hot flashes, mood swings, or other menopause symptoms but worried about HRT, remember this:
Knowledge is empowerment. Your provider’s job is to help you find balance, not make you choose between comfort and safety.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Week, take time to schedule your screenings, learn your options, and make informed decisions about your health, your way.

Sources

Beral V. et al. Type and timing of menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer risk. The Lancet. 2019;394(10204):1159–1168. The Lancet
National Institute for Health and Care Research. Risk of breast cancer with HRT depends on therapy type and duration. NIHR Evidence
NHS. Benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). NHS UK
Cancer Research UK. Does hormone replacement therapy increase cancer risk? CancerResearchUK.org
BreastCancer.org. HRT and Breast Cancer Risk. BreastCancer.org
ICR. Short-term HRT use and family history of breast cancer. icr.ac.uk

The Science of HRT: How Hormone Therapy Helps Women Perform at Their Best

by SXHH Marketing | Sep 9, 2025 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Sleep, Uncategorized, Wellness

Hormone changes can leave you feeling tired, unfocused, or not quite yourself. At HerKare, we help women restore balance and vitality with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), designed to support energy, mood, bone health, and sexual wellness. And right now, every *free* consultation also enters you into the TRT MVP Giveaway, your chance to win signed memorabilia, tickets, and more this season.

1. Restoring Energy & Vitality

Declining estrogen during perimenopause and menopause can trigger fatigue, hot flashes, and poor sleep quality. These changes affect day-to-day energy and long-term wellness.

HRT restores estrogen levels, which can improve sleep, reduce hot flashes, and increase daytime energy.
Research shows that women on HRT report higher vitality and improved quality of life compared to untreated peers.

With restored hormone balance, many women feel more energized and capable of meeting daily demands.

2. Supporting Mood & Mental Clarity

Hormonal changes can contribute to mood swings, anxiety, and “brain fog.”

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) notes that estrogen therapy can help improve mood and cognitive symptoms in some women.
Clinical studies have shown reduced depressive symptoms and improved mental clarity in women using HRT during menopause.

HRT may not replace lifestyle approaches like stress management, but it provides an important foundation for emotional stability.

3. Sexual Health & Confidence

Low hormones often impact intimacy—leading to vaginal dryness, pain with intercourse, or decreased libido.

Estrogen therapy restores vaginal tissue health, improves lubrication, and relieves discomfort.
In some cases, adding low-dose testosterone has been shown to improve sexual desire and arousal in women experiencing hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).
Restored sexual wellness often translates to greater confidence and improved quality of life.

4. Bone Health & Physical Resilience

Estrogen plays a critical role in maintaining bone density. After menopause, the rapid drop in estrogen accelerates bone loss, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.

HRT has been shown to significantly reduce bone loss and fracture risk in postmenopausal women.
By strengthening bone mineral density, HRT helps preserve physical resilience and long-term independence.

5. The Role of Androgen Therapy for Women

Though HRT is most often estrogen-plus-progestogen, some women may also benefit from small amounts of testosterone therapy.

Studies show that low-dose testosterone in women can improve energy, sexual function, and muscle tone, though research on long-term safety continues.
For some women, this carefully tailored addition helps restore performance across physical, emotional, and sexual health.

Why Women Choose HerKare

At HerKare, our providers focus on personalized hormone care that addresses your whole health:

Comprehensive labs and medical evaluation.
Custom-tailored HRT plans (estrogen, progesterone, and/or testosterone when appropriate).
Ongoing monitoring to ensure safety and results.

And this season, every free consultation enters you into the TRT MVP Giveaway, your chance to win signed sports memorabilia, game tickets, and more.

Book your free HRT consultation today at your nearest HerKare clinic and take the first step toward feeling balanced, confident, and strong again.

References

The North American Menopause Society. “The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement.” Menopause. 2022.
NIH: National Institute on Aging. “Menopause: Medicines to Help You.” 2021.
Mayo Clinic. “Hormone Therapy: Is it right for you?” 2022.
Rossouw JE, et al. “Risks and benefits of estrogen plus progestin in healthy postmenopausal women.” JAMA. 2002.
Kingsberg SA, et al. “Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women.” Climacteric. 2019.
Cauley JA, et al. “Effects of Estrogen Replacement Therapy on Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women.” NEJM. 2003.
Santoro N, et al. “Menopausal symptoms and hormone therapy use in women.” Endocr Rev. 2015.

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