Women face an increased risk of broken bones in the years after stopping menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), according to a new study.

Menopause, which typically occurs around the age of 51 in Australian women, marks the cessation of menstruation and can be accompanied by debilitating symptoms such as night sweats and mood changes. 

The associated decline in hormone levels also elevates the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.

“Most women lose about 1 per cent of their bone mass per year, some can lose about 3 or 4 per cent which can eventually lead to hip fracture which can be nasty,” Conjoint Professor John Eden from the University of New South Wales said.

MHT is often prescribed to mitigate these effects.

However, the new research, using patient data with 25 years follow-up, indicates that for many women, the risk of bone fractures increases significantly for about three years after stopping MHT, compared to women who never used the therapy.

“There was a trend a few years ago of giving bone drugs to women around menopause and they have their own side-effects and MHT is a safer option for these women,” Eden said.

Experts say long-standing concerns about MHT and breast cancer risk are exaggerated.

“We know that MHT does not cause breast cancer, it may make an existing breast cancer appear a little bit sooner,” Eden said.