“I want help with hot flushes and night sweats, but could hormones cause a blood clot?” It is a reasonable question. The way a medicine is taken and your health history both matter.
What are the different options?
Menopause hormones can be taken by mouth or delivered through the skin using a patch, gel or spray. Symptoms, medical history, dose and treatment regimen all help guide the choice.
What did the recent study find?
A Danish study published in The BMJ on September 23, 2026 examined women aged 50–69. Oral therapy was associated with a higher risk of venous blood clots; transdermal therapy showed no overall increase in venous clot risk.
This observational study cannot guarantee an individual's outcome. A patch is not risk-free, and the findings should not simply be applied to someone who has already had a clot.
Should I stop my medicine?
Do not stop or switch treatment on your own because of a research headline. Bring your medication list or a photo of the packaging to your prescriber. Discuss how much treatment helps, your clot risk, and whether a different route makes sense. Benefits and risks need regular review.
What should I tell my clinician?
Mention any personal or family history of clots, known clotting disorders, and recent surgery or limited mobility.
Guidelines advise considering transdermal rather than oral therapy when clot risk is increased. A strong family history or inherited clotting disorder may warrant specialist assessment first.
When should I seek urgent help?
Seek prompt care for new swelling, pain, warmth or discoloration in one leg. Sudden breathlessness, chest pain, coughing blood or fainting needs emergency care. In Taiwan, call 119 if needed. Do not wait for every symptom to appear.
A useful question for your next visit
“Given my history, is this treatment suitable for me, and what alternatives are available?” This article helps prepare that discussion; treatment decisions still need an individual assessment.
References
- Berggreen J, et al. Contemporary menopausal hormone therapy and thrombotic disease: nationwide nested case-control study. BMJ. 2026;394:e100688. Published September 23, 2026. View source
- NICE NG23. Menopause: identification and management. Recommendations. Updated April 15, 2026. View source
- CDC. About Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots). March 5, 2025. View source
Related reading
Global VTE burden in 2026: interpreting DVT, pulmonary embolism and data gaps