Learn the risks of hormonal replacement therapy

Menopause means more than just coping with hot flashes. At midlife, a woman's risk of heart attacks, brittle bones, and other major health problems soars. We'll go over what you should consider before using Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) to ease the difficulty of menopause.

• Estrogen plummets during menopause, so doctors once believed that restoring this hormone to youthful levels would guard against the health risks that menopause brings. However, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may cause more problems than it solves. For example, taking HRT increases the risk of heart attacks and breast cancer. 
• HRT also increases the risk of ovarian cancer and other diseases.
• The Journal of the American Medical Association published two large studies showing that women who use HRT may be putting themselves at risk for serious health problems. One of the studies involved women over 50 who took estrogen and progestin. Compared to other participants who took placebos, women on combination HRT were 26 percent more likely to develop breast cancer, 29 percent more likely to have heart attacks and 41 percent more likely to have strokes. Their risk of developing blood clots in their legs or lungs doubled.
• The second study found that postmenopausal women who used estrogen-only therapy (prescribed to women who have had their uteruses removed) were 60 percent more likely to develop ovarian cancer. A later study of women on estrogen-only HRT showed an increased risk of strokes and blood clots in the leg.
• Reduced use of these drugs may be paying off. For example, a 2007 study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine found that when women gave up HRT, their breast cancer rate fell 8.6 percent.
• A second study of women in the Pacific Northwest showed an even greater decrease of 18 percent in breast cancer rates. Other factors undoubtedly contributed to this trend, but adding estrogen does fuel the growth of breast cancer.

A growing body of research is showing that Hormonal Replacement Therapy carries several serious health risks. Make sure that you properly weigh the benefits and risks before you choose to undergo HRT, then make the choice that's right for you.