Taking hormone therapy (HT) may be safe and promote long-term health in women, especially after 65 years of age, revealed a large study on Wednesday, challenging previous research that linked increased risks for various cancers and heart disease with the therapy.

Hormone therapy is a medication that contains female hormones -- oestrogen and progesterone -- and is widely used to treat menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal discomfort. However, previous research showed it to be detrimental to the long-term health of women, prompting fears about its usage.