Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone Replacement Therapy After 2002

Q: What is the story about Hormone Replacement Therapy? (HRT)

A: In July of 2002 researchers stopped a large federally funded randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial called the Women's Health Initiative. It was studying whether hormone replacement therapy would prevent health problems some women may face after menopause. They found the health risks of HRT outweighed the possible benefits.

This study, along with several other studies since 2002 have made it clear that HRT was not the wonder drug that many researchers, doctors and women thought or hoped it would be. We now know without question that HRT 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
• Does not prevent heart disease or Alzheimer's disease
• Does not improve quality of life in women who do not have menopausal symptoms.

This means that HRT should not be used to try to prevent disease from occurring.

Are Bioidentical Hormones Safer (BHRT) then HRT?