In this month’s update, a large real-world propensity-matched study presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found that postmenopausal women who initiated hormone replacement therapy within one year of their menopause diagnosis faced a significantly lower risk of osteoporosis over a five-year follow-up compared to non-users (OR 1.18 favoring HRT, p<0.0001), and a 13% lower risk of fracture at maximum follow-up. Drawing on data from more than 137,000 women under age 60 via the TriNetX Research Network, this is the largest study to date examining long-term bone outcomes with early HRT initiation in a real-world population. For BHRT providers, the findings add compelling population-level evidence that early hormone optimization following menopause diagnosis is a meaningful strategy for preserving skeletal integrity and reducing fracture-related morbidity.

Barsi J, et al. Early Hormone Replacement Therapy and Long-Term Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women: A Real-World Propensity-Matched Study. Presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting; March 2–6, 2026; New Orleans, LA.