Hormone Replacement Therapy
Also called: Estrogen replacement therapy, HRT, Menopausal hormone therapy.
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her period stops. It is a normal part of aging. In the years before and during menopause, the levels of female hormones can go up and down. This can cause symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Some women take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve these symptoms. HRT may also protect against osteoporosis.
Recently, HRT is also making news as a possible risk factor for ovarian cancer.
Most readers are aware of the decrease in breast cancer since hormone replacement therapy has decreased. However, most readers are probably not aware of the link between HRT and ovarian cancer. Some studies have suggested that women who take estrogen by itself (estrogen without progesterone) for 10 or more years may have an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The Million Women Study has found that those receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were, on average, 20% more likely to develop and die from ovarian cancer than women who never received therapy.
Therefore, if you do decide to take HRT, it should be the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time needed. Taking hormones should be re-evaluated every six months.
Having a risk factor does not mean that a woman will get ovarian cancer. Most women who have risk factors do not get ovarian cancer. On the other hand, women who do get the disease often have no known risk factors, except for growing older. Women who think they may be at risk of ovarian cancer should talk with their doctor.
The Lancet, April, 2007.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/555597?src=mp
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hormonereplacementtherapy.html
National Institute of Health
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ovariancancer.html
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