QUESTION:
What are the risks associated with HRT?
ANSWER:
In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative reported that women on Prempro (combined
synthetic variants of estrogen and progestin) were at significantly increased
risk for breast cancer, heart disease, strokes, and blood clots. and a year later,
dementia was added to the list. The conclusion was that the risks outweighed the
benefits.
In the intervening years reanalysis and further research have presented more mixed
results. In 2007, a reanalysis of the original WHI results suggested a lower risk
for heart disease in younger women, but this new analysis did not look at other
risks. The question of whether it increases cancer risk is still under debate.
Apart from an increased risk of disease, the list of side effects associated with
synthetic HRT is a long one. At Women's Health Network, we believe a woman’s individual
health history and quality of life must be carefully weighed when considering whether
or not to use HRT. There are numerous alternatives to synthetic HRT, many of which
do not include hormone therapy. What’s most important for a woman to realize she
has very good options that support, rather than compromise her long-term health.
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