An updated report on the benefits and harms of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) has found that estrogen plus progestin and estrogen alone reduce fracture risk but raise the risk of stroke, gallbladder disease, urinary incontinence and thromboembolism events.
Full Answer
What are the pros and cons of HRT?
Hormone Therapy, The Pros And Cons - An Updated Report An updated report on the benefits and harms of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) has found that estrogen plus progestin and estrogen alone reduce fracture risk but raise the risk of stroke, gallbladder disease, urinary incontinence and thromboembolism events.
Who is not suitable for a HRT treatment?
HRT is not suitable for everyone. Women with a history of breast, ovarian or womb cancer, or a history of blood clots, liver disease or high blood pressure, may be recommended an alternative to HRT.
Does HRT increase the risk of cancer?
While oestrogen-only HRT does not carry the same increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease, it sharply increases the risk of womb cancer, so is only recommended to women who have undergone a hysterectomy. HRT can also cause side effects such as headaches, abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding, which some women prefer to avoid.
What is hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to relieve women of symptoms associated with the menopause. HRT replaces the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone which fall as a woman approaches the menopause.
What are the pros of HRT?
HRT can be beneficial, according to ACOG, by: Helping with vaginal dryness. Protecting against bone loss that can lead to hip and spine fractures. Reducing the risk of colon cancer.
What are the cons of HRT?
What are the risks of taking hormone therapy (HT)?An increased risk of endometrial cancer (only if you still have your uterus and are not taking a progestin along with estrogen).Increased risk of blood clots and stroke.Increased chance of gallbladder/gallstone problems.More items...•
What are the risks of the use of hormone replacement therapy HRT in the treatment of perimenopausal discomfort?
Taking HRT has some risks. For some women, hormone therapy may increase their chances of getting blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and gallbladder disease. Certain types of HRT have a higher risk, and each woman's own risks can vary, depending upon her medical history and lifestyle.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of estrogen?
The advantages of vaginal estrogen cream include lower plasma levels and greater effectiveness than with oral treatment. Disadvantages include compliance issues due to the application process itself and its messiness; as a result, the silastic vaginal ring (Estring) and vaginal tablets (Vagifem) were developed.
Is HRT worth the risk?
Long-running studies Over the last 15 years, these studies, and others, have found little or no evidence that HRT reduces the risk of heart disease. In fact, they have found evidence for an increased risk of blood clots and stroke. They also found an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women using HRT.
Who is not a good candidate for HRT?
Not-so-good candidates for hormone replacement therapy Smokers and those with a family history of blood clots aren't good candidates for HRT. If you've ever had a form of reproductive cancer, you're likewise not a good candidate for HRT. Breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers often respond to estrogen.
What are side effects of HRT?
These side effects will often pass after a few weeks....Side effects of oestrogenbloating.breast tenderness or swelling.swelling in other parts of the body.feeling sick.leg cramps.headaches.indigestion.vaginal bleeding.
What are the benefits for a post menopausal female on hormone replacement therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is effective for relieving vasomotor symptoms such as hot flash and vaginal atrophy and for preventing bone loss in postmenopausal and bilaterally ovariectomized women.
What is HRT and how does it work?
How HRT works. Your body stops making a hormone called oestrogen when you go through the menopause, or if you have surgery to remove your ovaries. HRT replaces oestrogen to help with the symptoms of the menopause. You can also have HRT if medical treatment causes the menopause (a medical menopause).
Should a 65 year old woman take estrogen?
Women older than 60 or 65 don't automatically have to stop taking HRT and can consider continuing HRT beyond age 65 for persistent hot flashes, quality-of-life issues, or prevention of osteoporosis after appropriate evaluation and counseling of the benefits and risks of HRT.
Can you get through menopause without HRT?
Avoid potential triggers, such as spicy food, caffeine, smoking and alcohol, take regular exercise, and try to maintain a healthy weight. For mood changes, self-help measures, such as getting plenty of rest, taking regular exercise and doing relaxing activities such as yoga and tai chi, may help.
When does a woman need hormone replacement therapy?
The Bottom Line: Hormone therapy is an acceptable option for the relatively young (up to age 59 or within 10 years of menopause) and healthy women who are bothered by moderate to severe menopausal symptoms. Individualization is key in the decision to use hormone therapy.
What is the term for hormone replacement therapy?
When a woman is approaching the menopausal age, her ovaries produce lesser female hormones. Nowadays, the so called Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) becomes more popular to women who want to relieve the symptoms and effects of menopause.
Is hormone replacement therapy for women?
And another fact about Hormone replacement is it is not for all women.
Is HRT good for menopause?
1. For women who are premenopausal or postmenopausal, HRT is considered the best treatment for menopausal symptoms especially when the condition is severe. 2. Lowers risk of osteoporosis because of the important role estrogen plays in maintaining the levels of calcium in bone. 3.
What is HRT in women?
For many decades, women and health professionals were taught about the benefits and risks involving the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Essentially, HRT had been administered to alleviate most of the physical symptoms associated with the menopausal transition (short-term HRT), and to help in preventing the clinical consequences ...
What are the differences between hormonal therapies?
As already seen with distinct classes of antidepressants, the use of different hormonal therapies result in significant differences in terms of absorption, metabolism, and bioavailability.
Can HRT cause somatic symptoms?
Menopausal women who undergo an abrupt discontinuation of HRT may experience the occurrence or reemergence of intense somatic symptoms (as observed, for instance, among those who undergo a surgical menopause), interfering significantly with their sleep pattern, physical well-being and most probably their mood.
Is HRT good for menopause?
It appears that HRT still plays an important role in promoting well-being among menopausal women. It is now imperative to better delineate its clinical indications, and to learn more about risks and benefits associated with different hormonal preparations. Cláudio N. Soares, M.D., Ph.D.
What is HRT in medical terms?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a complicated clinical issue that requires an in-depth risk/benefit assessment. The term HRT includes both oestrogen plus progestin therapy (OPT) and oestrogen-only therapy (OT). Much research has been done with the former, but additional research is still needed for the latter. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the key risks and benefits in order to assist clinicians and patients confronting this issue. In approaching the vast amount of data on HRT a caveat is in order: many of the issues involved are not black and white. The clinical data are often conflicting and careful analysis is required. Despite the discrepancies between the various HRT studies, there is much to be gleaned from a close examination of the data. The primary risks associated with HRT use are related to breast cancer and cardiovascular health. Recent clinical trial data have pointed to a slight increase in the number of breast cancers among women using HRT compared to placebo. With regard to cardiovascular health, the data have shown an increase in stroke and (VTE) but there is also evidence of a possible cardioprotective effect. The major benefits include relief of menopausal symptoms (including vasomotor instability, sexual dysfunction, mood, fatigue and skin issues) and a decrease in fracture risk.
Does HRT increase breast cancer?
Recent clinical trial data have pointed to a slight increase in the number of breast cancers among women using HRT compared to placebo. With regard to cardiovascular health, the data have shown an increase in stroke and (VTE) but there is also evidence of a possible cardioprotective effect.
Why is menopause not recommended today?
As background information, the researchers explained that menopausal hormone therapy to prevent chronic diseases is not recommended today, because of the high risk of serious adverse events.
Does estrogen cause cancer?
An updated report on the benefits and harms of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) has found that estrogen plus progestin and estrogen alone reduce fracture risk but raise the risk of stroke, gallbladder disease, urinary incontinence and thromboembolism events. Estrogen plus progestin raise the chances of developing breast cancer and probably dementia, while estrogen alone decreases breast cancer risk.
Pros of HRT-Estrogen Therapy
According to the North American Menopause Society, most healthy and recently menopausal women can use HRT to alleviate hot flashes and vaginal dryness symptoms if they want. Provided, women should know the related facts about it. The pros of HRT listed below contain the major points to agree with the facts.
Some of Cons of HRT to Consider
While estrogen therapy has many benefits, it's not without risks either such as cancer, blood clots, or even elevated blood pressure. So make sure you keep in mind some cons of HRT before getting started with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Combined HRT is linked to a modest increase in the incidence of breast cancer. The increased risk decreases after you stop taking HRT, and it is linked to how long you take it. You must go to all your breast cancer screening appointments if you're using HRT since this has an elevated chance of developing into breast cancer.
What are the risks of HRT?
There are also risks to HRT, according to the ACOG. Some risks include: 1 Breast cancer (small but increased risk) 2 Deep vein thrombosis (small but increased risk) 3 Gallbladder (small but increased risk) 4 Heart attack (small but increased risk) 5 Stroke (small but increased risk) 6 Uterine lining growth, which can increase the risk of uterine cancer
What is the difference between local and systemic hormone therapy?
With systemic therapy, hormones are released into the bloodstream and go to the organs and tissues that need it, according to the ACOG. Local therapy is for women who are only suffering from vaginal dryness, according to the ACOG. HRT can be beneficial, according to the ACOG, by:
Is HRT good for vaginal dryness?
HRT can be beneficial, according to the ACOG, by: Helping with vaginal dryness. Protecting against bone loss that can lead to hip and spine fractures. Reducing the risk of colon cancer. Relieving hot flashes, especially at night. There are also risks to HRT, according to the ACOG. Some risks include:
Can women take HRT?
It’s recommended that women take time to weigh the risks and benefits and talk with their doctor about the best option for their individual health needs. The ACOG also recommends that women who do chose to use HRT use the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible amount of time.
Can estrogen be used for menopause?
One option for combating some of the symptoms of menopause is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). With HRT, you can relieve menopause symptoms with estrogen and/or progestin, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Women can take estrogen only ...
What is HRT therapy?
What is HRT? First introduced in the 1940s, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to relieve the symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings and lack of libido by replacing the hormones that are at a lower level. Treatments can take the form of gels, patches or - most commonly - tablets.
How does HRT therapy work?
HRT therapy works by boosting declining hormones and levelling out the peaks and troughs to relieve the symptoms of menopause and protect against longer-term health risks , such as osteoporosis and heart disease , which can rise significantly in women after the age of 50.
How much did the HRT decline?
It led to a 50% decline in HRT prescriptions. The findings of the Million Women Study were followed by a separate report conducted in the US in 2003, which found women taking combined oestrogen-progestogen HRT had a 26% higher risk of breast cancer.
How many cases of breast cancer have been caused by HRT?
These results suggest the risk of breast cancer is double what women are currently being told, and means that as many as a million cases of breast cancer could have been caused by HRT since the 1990s, the BBC reports. Furthermore, the scientists revealed that this increased cancer risk lasts for more than a decade after treatment stops.
Does HRT cause breast cancer?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may raise the risk of breast cancer in women by a third, a new study has found. Researchers at Oxford University analysed data from more than 108,000 HRT users who had developed breast cancer and, in a report published last week, revealed that around one in 20 cases of breast cancer in the UK are due to HRT. ...
Can I take Progesterone with Mirena?
Progesterone can also be administered via the Mirena coil to balance the effect of extra oestrogen and reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. Women who are heavy smokers, very overweight, or at high risk of stroke or have high blood pressure are also advised to speak to their GP before starting HRT treatment.
Is it safe to use HRT cream?
The study concluded this was the safest form of HRT treatment yet it appeared “underused”, with just 20% of prescriptions for this type of therapy.
Benefits to Consider
While HRT cannot take care of all your menopause symptoms, or the postmenopausal health risks that arise, experts have confirmed that beginning hormone therapy shortly after you’ve entered menopause can help in two important aspects:
Why HRT May Not be the Right Choice
Since its inception in the 1970s, right up until the beginning of the 21st century, HRT was a clear choice for menopausal women. It promised to eradicate many uncomfortable symptoms and set the stage for a long and healthy post-menopausal life.
The Alternatives to Conventional HRT
If you decide that HRT isn’t for you, don’t despair — there are other options. Some women find that plant-derived estrogen (from soy or other substances) improves their symptoms and helps ease the transition, and these may carry fewer risks than HRT.
Resources
Daily Mail (So is it safe to take HRT?) Mayo Clinic (Menopause hormone therapy: Pros and cons) Healthy Women (The Pros and Cons of Hormone Therapy) WebMD (The Pros and Cons of Hormone Therapy)