Menopause, Hormones & what was in the "Black Box": What Your Mother Never Told You

For decades, menopause was something women were expected to simply “get through.” Hot flashes? Mood swings? Joint pain? All just part of getting older… along with your kaftan, your condo in Miami, and your perm, right? ok the condo might not be so bad, but what about the other stuff...

Except now, science is finally catching up and for the first time in history, women’s health after 40 is getting the attention it deserves.

Recently, the American FDA announced a major shift: they’re removing the black box warning from many hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products.

If you’ve been wondering what that means or what it means for you let’s break it down.

What the Black Box Warning Said

When the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study was released in 2002, the FDA required all estrogen and estrogen-progestin therapies to carry a “black box warning” the strongest caution a medication label can have.

The warning stated that estrogen therapy (ET) and combined estrogen-progestin therapy (EPT) were associated with increased risks of:

• Breast cancer

• Heart disease

• Stroke

• Blood clots

It also advised that hormone therapy should be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration possible to manage menopausal symptoms.

Why This Matters

For years, women were told "it's just part of life”, Hormones have been part of women’s lives from puberty to pregnancy, contraception, and eventually menopause. We’ve been on cycles of hormone therapy to manage life transitions, sometimes without truly understanding the impact on our whole body.

But menopause isn’t just the end of a reproductive chapter, it’s another whole-body transition.

Research is uncovering just how connected estrogen is to our joints, brain, skin, and sleep. It’s no wonder so many women describe feeling like strangers in their own bodies during this time.

What’s Changing Now

The FDA has announced that the black box warning will be removed or revised for many hormone therapy products. This doesn’t mean HRT is risk-free, but it does mean the conversation is finally evolving to reflect current science.

Here’s what we now know:

• Risks vary depending on age, timing, and type of therapy.

• Timing matters: Women who start HRT within 10 years of menopause or before age 60 often have more benefits than risks.

• Different therapies, different effects: Oral, transdermal, and vaginal hormones affect the body in unique ways.

• Beyond hot flashes: Estrogen supports bone density, cardiovascular health, mood, and even cartilage integrity.

Why the change? The original Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study mostly looked at women who started HRT long after menopause, often in their 60s or 70s. Newer research shows that starting closer to menopause can actually provide a favourable risk-benefit profile, supporting heart, bone, and cognitive health for many women.

This growing evidence led the FDA to revisit the black box warning, recognizing that the previous label painted an overly broad and often misleading picture of risk.

So, Is Natural No Longer the Way to Go?

Not at all.

“Natural” (living without supplemental hormones) isn’t just about herbs or supplements it’s about aligning your choices with what your body truly needs.

• For some women, lifestyle changes, nutrition, and stress support may bring balance naturally.

• For others, HRT might be the missing piece to restore vitality and comfort.

  
  

It doesn’t have to be one or the other it can be both, intentionally combined to support your best health.

How does removing the "block box" Affect Canadians?

In Canada, the equivalent regulatory body to the FDA is Health Canada. They make decisions based on Canadian studies, standards, and priorities not automatically based on FDA decisions.

When the FDA removes or changes a warning like a black box, it may influence Health Canada’s review, but there’s no guarantee of immediate change.

Canadians should still check Canadian-approved guidelines and consult with their healthcare providers, because regulatory standards and available medications may differ.

The Bottom Line

The removal of the black box isn’t a win for anyone but information itself.

It’s a win for curiosity, clarity, and confident choices for the ability to ask questions, weigh risks, and make decisions rooted in your unique body and health story.

Menopause deserves more than silence or fear. it deserves curiosity, compassion, and care that sees the whole woman.

Ready to Tune Into Your Body?

• Curious about what your body has been trying to tell you? Start by reconnecting with its signals:

• Wondering if your symptoms could be hormone-related? Book a Clarity Session to explore what’s happening and where to begin.

Want to learn more about your hormones? go to https://www.livingbetterwithjen.com/blog scroll to the bottom of the page and find: Is it your hormones? a simple guide

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