Georgetown Edition | January 2026

Health & wellness

BY CLAIRE SHOOP

Georgetown OB-GYN sees increased interest in hormone replacement

The takeaway

Sherman said the poor rollout and publicity of a study in the early 2000s turned doctors and patients away from hormone replacement. That study showed a potential increase in the risk of breast cancer in patients receiving hormone replacement. However, he said modern critics challenge these findings, and doctors today are more selective about the hormones they use to try to decrease risks. “We can never tell somebody that it doesn’t increase your risk [for breast cancer], but I think by being selective we can mitigate that,” he said. Sherman advised women as young as 35 to find a doctor who’s willing to do a full hormone panel. From there, Sherman reviews all of the data with his patients and presents possible treatment options. “If we educate our patients, they make good choices,” he said.

Dr. John Sherman has been specializing in hormone replacement for the last decade. He said he’s seen it fluctuate in popularity with more women seeking out information on the treatment recently. “Fast-forward to where we are today, I think there’s a revolution, if you want to call it, in hormone replacement,” said Sherman, a doctor with the practice Georgetown OB-GYN. Hormone replacement is often used to treat the symptoms of perimenopause, which women can experience starting in their mid-to-late 30s, and menopause, which typically occurs around age 48-52, Sherman said. Sherman said by testing a woman’s hormone levels, they are able to tailor hormone replacement treatment to the patient.

Hormone replacement therapy treats symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, which include:

Brain fog

Hot flashes

Sleep disturbances

SOURCE: DR. JOHN SHERMAN/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

Low sex drive

Fatigue

“Estrogen and progesterone in women who have a uterus ... really take care of the lion’s share of systems of menopause,” Sherman said.

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