Can menopause affect medication absorption

Menopause can indeed affect how your body absorbs medications, and recent research shows some medications might also impact hormone therapy during this stage of life. Here’s what you need to know in simple terms:

**Hormone changes matter**
During menopause, estrogen levels drop. This can alter cholesterol, blood pressure, and even how plaque builds up in blood vessels[1]. While these shifts don’t directly change medication absorption, they influence overall health risks that doctors consider when prescribing treatments.

**The hormone therapy factor**
Many women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to manage symptoms like hot flashes. The type of HRT matters:
– **Pills**: Oral estrogen (like conjugated equine estrogens) gets processed by the liver first. This “first pass” can raise triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) and clotting factors[1].
– **Patches/gels**: Transdermal estrogen (applied through the skin) skips the liver process, reducing risks like inflammation or blood clots[1].

**New concerns with weight-loss drugs**
Popular GLP-1 medications like Ozempic® (semaglutide) or Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), which slow stomach emptying, might interfere with oral hormone pills:
– **Progesterone absorption**: Early data suggests delayed stomach emptying could reduce how well oral progesterone (often paired with estrogen in HRT) gets absorbed[5].
– **Contraceptive example**: Tirzepatide lowered peak concentration of birth control hormones by 55–66% in one study[5], raising questions about similar effects on menopause hormones.

**What this means for you**
If you’re taking both HRT and GLP-1 drugs:
✔️ Discuss formulations—transdermal options might avoid absorption issues linked to pills[1][5]
✔️ Monitor symptoms—unexpected bleeding or resurging hot flashes could signal reduced effectiveness[5]

While more research is needed, being aware of these interactions helps tailor treatments to your body’s changing needs during menopause. Always consult your doctor before adjusting any medications.