Long-term Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is most often used for women undergoing menopause, either natural or surgical-induced.  It is used to improve the symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes, mood swings, dry vagina, and urinary problems.

Women undergoing menopause experience these symptoms due to the lack of estrogen and/or progesterone.  Women who have had hysterectomies usually take estrogen while women who still have their uterus need to take a combination of estrogen and progesterone.

Research
HRT was widely used until 2002, when research indicated that it could be harmful and cause women to be at higher risk of certain diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer.  Most of the research, however, was done on women in their 60’s instead of in their 40’s and 50’s.  It is thought that the younger groups of women are at lower risk of getting these diseases than the older group.  On a brighter note, however, women’s risk levels for the other diseases go back down once they have been off of HRT for 4 to 5 years.

At one time, doctors thought that HRT was good for women and protected them from osteoporosis and breast cancer.  It was touted to keep women younger feeling and younger looking.  There still is evidence that it protects against osteoporosis but recent evidence suggests that a few years after stopping the HRT, the risk for the disease goes back up.

Osteoporosis
There was a period of time when doctors prescribed HRT to cure osteoporosis but, since the research on HRT was completed in 2002, it is rarely prescribed for that purpose anymore. It is generally only used now for women who have unbearable menopausal symptoms.

The maximum length of time recommended to take HRT is around 5 years.  Women already in their 60’s should probably consider stopping because that is the time period where the risks grow greater for certain diseases.  Doctors now suggest that women use the least possible dose for the least possible amount of time.

Other remedies
There are other natural products that relieve menopausal symptoms in some women.  Natural health and herbal stores carry many supplements and creams that specifically target the symptoms of menopause.  You can also find remedies online by performing a search for natural menopause remedies.

Women considering HRT should discuss the long term effects, which are the increased risks of heart attack, stroke, and cancer, with their doctors because not all women are in high risk groups for these diseases.  Some can take it safely for a few years if they are low-risk and don’t experience any other problems with it.  A consultation with your doctor will reveal whether or not you can safety take HRT.

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