Understanding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Unless you’re a medical professional, fully understanding HRT is nearly impossible. This is because there are different types of HRT treatment and there are also both risks and benefits of HRT. In the 1970s and 1980s, widespread use of HRT was common, but this was before all the negative press HRT received in the 1990s. The good news about HRT is that it is very effective in treating menopause and pre menopause symptoms, the bad news turned out to be that there were other serious health risks.

The two main types of HRT are estrogen only therapy and combined HRT which has both estrogen and progestin. In the Women Health Initiative Study started in 1991, the estrogen only therapy increased the risk of strokes by 39% and the risks of venous thrombosis by 47%. With estrogen only, the risk of hip fractures decreased by 39%. Health risks that remained unchanged by estrogen only HRT were colon cancer, heart disease, breast cancer, and death. With combined HRT there was a 26% increase in risk for breast cancer, a 41% increased risk for strokes, a 29% increased risk for heart attacks and a 50% increased risk of blood clots in both the lungs and legs. Combined HRT decreases the risk of colon cancer by 37% and the risk of hip fractures by 37%. Combined HRT showed no difference in death rates or total cancer rates.

So, what is the end result of all this data? The end result is that for many women and doctors, the risks of HRT use were just too great. If a hormone imbalance treatment is required usually only low dosages are used and only over a short time frame. Menopause symptoms for the most are just something that have to be endured as nothing has risen to take the place of HRT.  Unless your symptoms are bad enough to require something like HRT, anti depressants, prescription sleep aids or medical intervention for extreme hot flashes, for the most part, not a lot can be done.