Nisha Pandey

Combining GLP-1 & Hormone Therapy During Menopause? Know About Its Benefits And Side Effects

For many women, menopause can bring a string of uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, changing body composition and weight gain.

Now, researchers are looking at whether combining GLP-1-based weight-loss medicines with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) could offer greater benefits, particularly for women struggling with obesity after menopause.

A recent Mayo Clinic study, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology &amp; Women's Health, found that postmenopausal women taking tirzepatide along with hormone therapy lost about 35% more weight than those taking tirzepatide alone.

Researchers studied 120 <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/post-menopausal-women-face-a-higher-risk-of-fatty-liver-disease-how-falling-oestrogen-levels-impact-liver-health-article-155388945" data-type="tilCustomLink">postmenopausal women</a> with overweight or obesity who had been taking tirzepatide for at least 12 months. Forty women were also using MHT, while 80 were not.

Women taking both treatments lost around 17-19% of their body weight, compared with about 14% among those taking tirzepatide alone. About 45% of women on the combination achieved at least 20% weight loss, compared with 18% in the tirzepatide-only group.

“This study provides important insights for developing more effective and personalized strategies for managing cardiometabolic risk in postmenopausal women,” said Dr Regina Castaneda, first author and Mayo Clinic researcher. 

However, this was just an observation in the study, not a randomized clinical trial. Therefore, it cannot prove that hormone therapy itself caused the additional weight loss. 

“It is possible that women using <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/decoding-the-fertility-markers-article-155385864" data-type="tilCustomLink">hormone therapy</a> were already engaged in healthier behaviors, or that menopause symptom relief improved sleep and quality of life,” said Dr Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, senior author of the study.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/postmenopausal-women-may-face-more-severe-dry-eye-disease-how-do-hormones-contribute-article-155591379" data-type="tilCustomLink">Postmenopausal Women May Face More Severe Dry Eye Disease; How Do Hormones Contribute?</a>

During menopause, declining oestrogen levels can change fat distribution, appetite, metabolism and muscle mass. GLP-1 medicines, meanwhile, reduce appetite and slow stomach emptying, helping with weight management. 

Researchers believe there could also be a biological interaction between oestrogen and GLP-1 signalling. “Preclinical data suggest a potential synergy, with estrogen appearing to enhance the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1,” Castaneda said. 

Earlier research has also suggested greater weight loss among postmenopausal women using semaglutide alongside hormone therapy. 

A 2026 review similarly concluded that GLP-1 medicines may help reduce weight and abdominal fat in <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/how-menopause-changes-heart-health-risks-article-155218445" data-type="tilCustomLink">menopausal women</a>, but larger studies are needed.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/experimental-menopause-drug-shows-promise-mid-stage-trial-reduces-hot-flashes-by-83-article-155573134" data-type="tilCustomLink">Experimental Menopause Drug Shows Promise Mid-Stage Trial, Reduces Hot Flashes By 83%</a>

<h2>Are There Any Side Effects Of Combining These Drugs?</h2>

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GLP-1 medicines may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/mood-swings-anxiety-brain-fog-during-menopause-expert-recommends-looking-beyond-hot-flashes-article-155133060" data-type="tilCustomLink">abdominal pain</a> and reduced appetite. These effects often surface when the dose is increased.

Hormone therapy has its own side-effects and it is also not suitable for everyone. Depending on the patient's medical history, MHT can increase the risk of complications like blood clots and stroke. 

Hormone therapy should not be started simply to fuel weight loss from a GLP-1 drug. It is primarily used to treat certain menopause symptoms and should be prescribed after considering a woman's age, symptoms, medical history and individual risks. 

As Hurtado Andrade noted, researchers now want to determine whether the combination offers benefits beyond weight loss, including improvements in cardiometabolic health.

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For many women, menopause can bring a string of uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, changing body composition and weight gain. Now, researchers are looking at whether combining GLP-1-based weight-loss medicines with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) could offer greater benefits, particularly for women struggling with obesity after menopause. A recent Mayo Clinic study, published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women's Health, found that postmenopausal women taking tirzepatide along with hormone therapy lost about 35% more weight than those taking tirzepatide alone. What Are The Study's Findings? Researchers studied 120 postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity who had been taking tirzepatide for at least 12 months. Forty women were also using MHT, while 80 were not. Women taking both treatments lost around 17-19% of their body weight, compared with about 14% among those taking tirzepatide alone. About 45% of women on the combination achieved at least 20% weight loss, compared with 18% in the tirzepatide-only group. “This study provides important insights for developing more effective and personalized strategies for managing cardiometabolic risk in postmenopausal women,” said Dr Regina Castaneda, first author and Mayo Clinic researcher. However, this was just an observation in the study, not a randomized clinical trial. Therefore, it cannot prove that hormone therapy itself caused the additional weight loss. “It is possible that women using hormone therapy were already engaged in healthier behaviors, or that menopause symptom relief improved sleep and quality of life,” said Dr Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, senior author of the study. Also read: Postmenopausal Women May Face More Severe Dry Eye Disease; How Do Hormones Contribute?Could The Combination Work? During menopause, declining oestrogen levels can change fat distribution, appetite, metabolism and muscle mass. GLP-1 medicines, meanwhile, reduce appetite and slow stomach emptying, helping with weight management. Researchers believe there could also be a biological interaction between oestrogen and GLP-1 signalling. “Preclinical data suggest a potential synergy, with estrogen appearing to enhance the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1,” Castaneda said. Earlier research has also suggested greater weight loss among postmenopausal women using semaglutide alongside hormone therapy. A 2026 review similarly concluded that GLP-1 medicines may help reduce weight and abdominal fat in menopausal women, but larger studies are needed. Also read: Experimental Menopause Drug Shows Promise Mid-Stage Trial, Reduces Hot Flashes By 83%Are There Any Side Effects Of Combining These Drugs?   GLP-1 medicines may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain and reduced appetite. These effects often surface when the dose is increased. Hormone therapy has its own side-effects and it is also not suitable for everyone. Depending on the patient's medical history, MHT can increase the risk of complications like blood clots and stroke. Hormone therapy should not be started simply to fuel weight loss from a GLP-1 drug. It is primarily used to treat certain menopause symptoms and should be prescribed after considering a woman's age, symptoms, medical history and individual risks. As Hurtado Andrade noted, researchers now want to determine whether the combination offers benefits beyond weight loss, including improvements in cardiometabolic health.

combining glp-1 & hormone therapy during menopause? know about its benefits and side effects

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