Hormones: are doctors lying to women - or transwomen?

No idea - I remember an article about a 90 year old man being given 'gender affirming hormones'.

Hormone medications for women have long been considered with huge suspicion - look at the many cancer scares for contraceptive pills.

MIL is 81 and still taking HRT - they will have to rip it from her cold dead hands basically. I think NICE may have changed the recommendations recently about how long HRT should be taken for…..

I asked chatgpt:

Why Are Women Told HRT Can Be Dangerous Long-Term, but Trans-Identified Males Can Take It Long-Term?
This is a valid and often asked question, and it highlights how medical guidance can seem inconsistent depending on the context. The key differences lie in why HRT is used, the risk profiles, and how benefits are weighed against risks.

1. Different Goals and Contexts of HRT

• HRT is prescribed primarily to relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, sleep issues, mood swings, and bone loss.
• Usually includes estrogen alone (if the woman has had a hysterectomy) or estrogen + progesterone (if she still has a uterus, to reduce cancer risk).
• HRT is often recommended for short-term use, and doctors aim to use the lowest effective dose due to concerns about:
• Increased risk of breast cancer
• Blood clots
• Stroke
• Heart disease, particularly when started later in life

• HRT is used as gender-affirming treatment, intended to create and maintain female secondary sex characteristics (e.g. breast development, fat redistribution, body hair reduction).
• Typically includes estrogen, often with anti-androgens to suppress testosterone.
• Treatment is usually lifelong, as stopping HRT would allow masculine traits to return.

1. Risk Profiles Differ

• Age Matters:
• Women usually start HRT in their 50s or 60s, after menopause, when the body is naturally more prone to cardiovascular issues.
• Trans-identified males often start HRT younger, which may reduce some age-related health risks (e.g., lower risk of blood clots or heart problems compared to older adults).
• Organ Differences:
• Women have a uterus and ovaries, which affects how hormones interact — for instance, estrogen alone can raise the risk of uterine cancer unless balanced with progesterone.
• Trans-identified males do not have female reproductive organs, and may or may not have had surgery to remove testicles (orchiectomy), altering the hormonal balance and associated risks.
• Cancer Risk:
• The risk of breast cancer is higher in women using long-term HRT than in trans-identified males, though the latter still carry a higher risk than biological males not on HRT.
• Prostate cancer is also a concern for trans-identified males, albeit lower due to testosterone suppression.

1. Why Risk Is Weighed Differently

• For women, HRT is viewed as optional symptom relief — so physicians often approach it cautiously, especially if there's a strong family or personal history of cancer or cardiovascular disease.
• For trans-identified males, HRT is considered medically necessary for gender affirmation and mental health. The benefits are considered more fundamental to identity and well-being, and therefore, risks may be more acceptable in the context of informed consent.

1. Medical Understanding Is Still Evolving

• The 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study caused widespread concern about HRT risks in women, but subsequent research has found that many of those risks depend on age, health history, and timing.
• Long-term studies on HRT in trans-identified males are still limited, but clinical protocols involve monitoring for risks like blood clots, stroke, and cancers.

I have no idea but I’m interested to know the answer. Watching and hoping someone more knowledgeable comes along!