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Timing Hypothesis Menopause

Meaning

The Timing Hypothesis in Menopause posits that the overall benefit-to-risk ratio of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women is critically dependent on the age of the patient and the time elapsed since the final menstrual period. Specifically, this hypothesis suggests that initiating HRT closer to the onset of menopause, within a defined “window of opportunity,” yields greater cardiovascular, metabolic, and neuroprotective benefits with fewer adverse effects. This concept has significantly informed modern clinical practice guidelines for menopausal hormone therapy.