<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Women face an increased risk of broken bones in the years after stopping menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), according to a new study.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The associated decline in hormone levels also elevates the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/austin-doctor-fresh-charges-laid/99aa57bc-ae66-44d8-a1b9-693894b14ddd"><strong><span>Fresh charges laid against doctor accused of filming colleagues in toilet</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>MHT is often prescribed to mitigate these effects.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/health/study-risk-broken-bones-menopause-treatment/48d2d77c-6981-46a7-8bd4-da8d40881e46" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Experts say long-standing concerns about MHT and breast cancer risk are exaggerated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We know that MHT does not cause breast cancer, it may make an existing breast cancer appear a little bit sooner," Eden said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>This article was produced with the assistance of</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><em><span>9ExPress</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>