GLP-1 Medications & HRT in Menopause: Is This a Winning Combo?
Stubborn Weight Gain in Menopause?
Menopause brings more than hot flashes and mood changes. Falling estrogen levels often cause weight gain around the belly, insulin resistance, and higher cholesterol, increasing the risk for diabetes and heart disease.
Two therapies are showing promise in helping women take control of their health:
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – restores estrogen balance.
GLP-1 medications (like semaglutide and liraglutide) – improve blood sugar, support weight loss, and reduce cravings.
The Research: Estrogen + GLP-1 = Better Together
A recent study looked at how estrogen and GLP-1 medications affect metabolism.
Here’s what they found:
Estrogen protects metabolism. Before menopause, women typically store fat in the hips and thighs. After menopause, fat shifts to the belly, raising risk for diabetes and heart disease.
GLP-1s regulate fat and sugar use. These medications help the pancreas release insulin, lower appetite, and improve fat metabolism in the liver and adipose (fat) tissue.
Together, they may be more effective. Both estrogen and GLP-1 act on similar pathways in the body, improving fat burning, reducing fat storage, and keeping blood sugar steady.
In the study, animals without estrogen gained more weight and had changes in fat metabolism. When treated with a GLP-1 medication, many of these changes improved. This suggests GLP-1s may help counteract the metabolic risks of menopause.
What This Means for You
If you’re in perimenopause or postmenopause and noticing:
Stubborn weight gain (especially around the middle)
Sugar cravings or fatigue
Rising cholesterol or blood sugar
Difficulty losing weight despite diet and exercise
…then a personalized plan that includes hormone therapy, metabolic support, and lifestyle strategies could be right for you.
Key Takeaways
Estrogen and GLP-1 medications both improve metabolism.
Used together, they may offer powerful protection against obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes in postmenopausal women.
This is a promising area of care for women who want to feel strong and healthy through midlife and beyond.
Are you ready to take the next step in your health journey?
Book a visit at Kultivate Women’s Health today to explore whether HRT, GLP-1 therapy, or a combination is the right fit for you.
Reference
Model, J. F. A., Normann, R. S., Vogt, É. L., Von Dentz, M., de Amaral, M., Xu, R., Bachvaroff, T., Spritzer, P. M., Chung, J. S., & Vinagre, A. S. (2024). Interactions between glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and estrogens regulates lipid metabolism. Biochemical Pharmacology, 230, 116623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116623