09/02/2026
HRT has a new name, and the shift matters.
For years, many people have called it hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. But in menopause care, the more precise term is now menopause hormone therapy, or MHT.
That language matters because menopause care is not about saying your body is “broken.” It is about treating symptoms, supporting quality of life, and, for the right patient, considering longer-term health factors with an individualized plan.
This terminology shift is happening alongside updated conversations about menopause treatment, including recent FDA labeling changes intended to clarify risk-benefit information for menopausal hormone therapy products. The FDA notes that MHT is also commonly referred to as HRT. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
To be clear: MHT is not one-size-fits-all, and it is not risk-free.
The right decision depends on your symptoms, age, menopause timing, uterus status, personal and family history, breast cancer risk, cardiovascular risk, clotting risk, and the specific type, dose, and route of therapy.
But the bigger point is this: the conversation is finally becoming more nuanced.
Women deserve accurate information, individualized care, and clinicians who know how to talk about menopause without fear, dismissal, or outdated assumptions.