The unusual link between HRT and women’s immune health

When I entered menopause, one of the most difficult decisions I had to make was whether to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for my symptoms.

I’d heard such mixed reviews as to how safe HRT was that it scared me off for years. But I’ve since come around, now that HRT no longer carries the stigma it once did.

In fact, studies show HRT can help support cardiovascular health and even improve mild cognitive impairment in post-menopausal women.

It has also been linked to a lower risk of osteoporosis and fractures and decreased incidence of colon cancer.

And now there’s evidence HRT could give a boost to another critical system vital to keeping you well…

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Menopause and your immune system

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London were particularly interested in how aging and sex differences affected monocytes, a key group of immune cells that act as the body’s first responders to infection.

When analyzing blood samples from young adults less than 40 years of age and older adults aged 65 and above, the researchers found that after menopause, women develop more inflammatory types of monocytes that are less effective at clearing bacteria.

Specifically, the changes were linked to lower levels of complement C3, an immune protein that helps monocytes destroy harmful microbes. By contrast, men of the same age didn’t show these changes — suggesting that menopause can disrupt female immunity.

To find out whether HRT could influence this decline, the researchers studied peri- and post-menopausal women taking HRT. The findings were very interesting…

They saw that these women had healthier immune profiles, with fewer inflammatory monocytes and a stronger ability to fight infections, compared to age-matched control groups.

Levels of complement C3 were also higher in those taking HRT, bringing their immune status close to that of younger women.

“Our findings highlight menopause as a critical turning point for women’s immunity,” says lead author Dr. Emma Chambers of Queen Mary University of London. “While aging affects everyone, the loss of female hormones appears to accelerate immune decline in women. Encouragingly, hormone therapy seems to restore key aspects of immune health, offering benefits that go beyond easing menopausal symptoms.” 

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Weighing your options

While promising, the researchers shared that the study doesn’t mean HRT should be explicitly prescribed for immune health. Further research is needed to confirm their findings and investigate how different types and routes of HRT administration may impact the immune system.

There are some risks associated with HRT, like blood clots. And it’s not recommended for women at high risk of breast cancer. For these and other reasons, some women may not want to take HRT. Thankfully, there are other natural alternatives for boosting immunity.

One of the best is vitamin D3. This “sunshine vitamin” appears to stimulate the type I interferon signaling system in the body — a key part of the immune system that provides a first line of defense against bacteria and viruses.

Because so many of us are deficient in vitamin D3, it’s probably a good idea to supplement with a therapeutic dose of 5,000 IU per day — especially if you’re older, since it gets harder for the body to convert sunlight to vitamin D3 as you age.

Just be sure not to make a common mistake that can weaken your vitamin D defenses.

Green tea is another great immune booster. It contains L-Theanine, which helps the immune system fight foreign invaders. Menopausal women may also appreciate the impact green tea has on burning fat and balancing their metabolism.

Sources:

Hormone replacement therapy may help restore immunity in menopausal women — EurekAlert!

Age-Associated Inflammatory Monocytes Are Increased in Menopausal Females and Reversed by Hormone Replacement Therapy — Aging Cell