Tread Carefully with HRT

Not so long ago, the belief that giving post menopausal women estrogen would help prevent heart disease was well publicised.

Now, however, the findings are that giving supplemental estrogen actually increases the risk of heart disease (along with the risk of stroke, breast cancer, blood clots in the legs, and dementia).

So in fact no woman should still be taking hormones to lower her risk of heart attack or stroke.

Even though hormones do have benefits in some people, generally, however, the risks outweigh the benefits.

The Women’s Health Initiative found that the increased risk of heart attack and blood clots began as early as the first year of hormone use. That means most women who use hormones to control symptoms do face some heart risk (as well as an increased risk of breast cancer).

If you do need to take estrogen for severe menopause related problems, then try and use the pills for no more than three years unless your severe symptoms are persistent and your endocrinologist advises you to do so.

Tread Carefully with HRT...