This article will help you decide if hormone therapy is right for you to help you relieve menopause symptoms.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was
supposed to be the wonder drug that would
increase women's quality of life at menopause
and decrease risk of many diseases. The Heart
& Estrogen-progestin Replacement Study (HERS)
enrolled more than 2700 women with
heart disease, and randomly assigned half
to the HRT (Prempro) and half to a sugar pill
(placebo). More heart attacks and strokes
occurred in women on the PremPro.
The next study on 27,000 women found that
women on the HRT had more heart attacks,
strokes and blood clots in the lungs than
did the women on placebo.
What about quality of life?
A recent analysis of the HERS data
that looked at depression and quality of
life and published in the February 6, 2002
issue of the JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION found that women on HRT reported
having less energy than women on
the placebo did.
What HRT does do better than placebo is
reduce hot flashes during menopause and it
can reduce symptoms of depression.
On her web site, Dr. Susan Love states:
We now know that HRT:
*If used for more than five years,
increases the risk for invasive breast
cancer.
*Increases the risk for heart attacks,
strokes and blood clots.
*Increases the rate of incontinence and
uterine prolapse.
*Doesn't appear to prevent heart disease.
*Has not been proven to prevent
Alzheimer's disease.
*Does not improve quality of life in women
who do not have menopausal symptoms.
What does Dr. Susan Love suggest?
She says on her web site: "I believe it is
okay for women to take HRT for three to five
years for symptom relief during menopause...
start tapering off over a 6-9 month period
or start taking the lowest dose of Premarin
(.3 or .15 mg) that you can."
Dr. Steven R. Goldstein, M.D., Professor
of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the New York
Medical Center in Manhattan states
that "every woman should reevaluate exactly
why she is on HRT to see whether the
benefits outweigh the risks...Hot flashes,
sleeplessness and vaginal dryness prevent
some women from carrying on day-to-day
functions...the actual risk of cardiovascular
problems and breast cancer vary depending upon
the individual's lifestyle and family medical history...
Consider the case of a 56-year-old menopausal
woman who goes to her doctor complaining
of hot flashes. If she is overweight, a smoker
and doesn't exercise, I might suggest she invest
in a personal fan."
The Society for Women's Health Research
reminds us that "hot flashes and the
like generally subside a few years after a
woman enters menopause."
Weigh the discomfort of hot flashes,
vaginal dryness and sweating against the
possible dangers of heart attack, stroke and
blood clots, knowing that there are
natural treatments available that can
tone these symptoms down.
Remember, that when you go off hormones, you
will likely experience hot flashes and possibly
other menopause symptoms. So HRT may only
delay the inevitable---menopause.
Knowing what you know now and remembering
that medical science is a work in progress,
see if hormone replacement is right for you.
1. Hot flashes and sweating prevent
me from functioning.
__TRUE __FALSE
2. I am at the weight I was in high school.
__TRUE __FALSE
3. I avoid smokers, smoky places and smoking.
__TRUE __FALSE
4. I exercise for at least 20 minutes every day.
__TRUE __FALSE
5. My family has no history of breast cancer,
stroke, blood clots or heart disease.
__TRUE __FALSE
Overweight is a risk factor for heart and circulatory
diseases and breast cancer, so are a history of
these conditions, not exercising, and smoking.
If you have none of these risk factors and are
incapacitated by hot flashes and sweating, you
might want to consider taking hormone replacement
therapy at menopause.
(If you answered "TRUE" to all 5, you can
probably safely take HRT. If not, reconsider.
Even if you answered "TRUE" to all 5,
consider that there are also safe natural
alternatives to taking hormones.
More information on reducing menopause symptoms
increase sex drive
sweat away hotflashes
no more menopause tummy
yoga for spine strength before and after menopause
exercise
myths
holistic approaches to menopause
free menopause newsletter
hot flashes
permimenopause
menopause info on this web site
hormone therapy
more on hotflashes
not ovary failure
not low estrogen disease
black cohosh for hotflashes and vaginal atrophy
flaxseed for hotflashes
bladder control
prevent breast cancer
anti-aging yoga for spine health
My Holistic & Wellness Self-Care web site
my BellaOnline Holistic Health web site
Got a question you're burning to get an answer to? Go right to the Menopause Forum and ask away...
Some References if you want more information:
Writing Group for the Women's Health Initiative Investigators.
Risks and Benefits of Estrogen Plus Progestin in Healthy Postmenopausal Women.
Principal Results From the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Trial.
Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002;288:321-333.
Fletcher, S. Editorial.
Failure of Estrogen Plus Progestin Therapy for Prevention.
Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002;288.
Grady D, Herrington D, Bittner V, et al.
Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes During 6.8 Years of Hormone Therapy Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study Follow-up (HERS II)
Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002;288:49-57
Hulley S, Furberg C, et al.
Noncardiovascular Disease Outcomes During 6.8 Years of Hormone Therapy Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study Follow-up (HERS II)
Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002;288:58-66
Media Coverage: Researchers Stop HRT Study Due to Breast Cancer Risk
"Citing Risks, US Will Halt Study of Drugs for Hormones."
By Gina Kolata.
New York Times,
July 9, 2002.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/09/national/09HORM.html
"Risk Prompts End to Hormone Study."
Associated Press.
Los Angeles Times.
July 9, 2002.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-070902estrogen_wr.story
"Hormone Replacement Therapy Study a Shock to the Medical System."
By Gina Kolata with Melody Petersen.
New York Times.
July 10, 2002.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/10/health/10HORM.html
"Hormone Treatment Is Called Harmful: Menopause Study Cites Health Risks."
By Susan Okie.
July 10, 2002.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46579-2002Jul9.html
"Risks of Hormone Therapy Stop Study"
by Rosie Mestel.
Los Angeles Times.
July 10, 2002.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-hormone10jul10.story
"Hormone Replacement Gets New Scrutiny"
Finding of Increased Risks Prompts Federal Effort
by Mark Kaufman
Washington Post
August 13, 2002.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14702-2002Aug13.html
"Race to Fill Void in Menopause Drug Market"
By Gina Kolata
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/01/health/womenshealth/01MENO.html
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