Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may consist of oestrogens alone or in combination with progestin. HRT slows bone turnover and increases bone mineral density(BMD) at all skeletal sites in early and late postmenopausal women [1, 2]. The anti-fracture efficacy of HRT has been assessed in observational studies, case-control studies, meta-analyses and randomized clinical trials: (Womens Health Initiative), Heart and Estrogen/progestin Replacement Study (HERS), Womens Interventional Study of long Duration Oestrogen after Menopause (WISDOM). Overall, these analyses (except HERS) show that HRT decreases fragility fracture risk by 20-35% [3-5]. Discontinuation of HRT results in acceleration of bone turnover, decrease in BMD and eventual loss of anti-fracture efficacy. However, despite this anti-fracture efficacy and a decrease in the risk for colon cancer, overall health risks generally outweigh benefits from HRT in older postmenopausal women with a higher incidence of cardiovascular events (unstable angina, thromboembolic stroke, venous thromboembolism including pulmonary embolism) and increased incidence of the endometrial and breast cancer [3-6]. HRT can also induce vaginal bleeding and breast tenderness. Finally, HRT may increase the risk of myocardial infarction, ovarian cancer as well as deterioration of the global cognitive function; however, the evidence is weaker. More recent studies show that even low doses of … Continue reading →

Many women do not need treatment for their menopause symptoms. You may find that your symptoms go away by themselves. Or you may not find the symptoms uncomfortable. If you are bothered by your symptoms, talk to your doctor or nurse about ways to relieve them. You can work together to find a treatment that is right for you. Some women find that changing their eating habits and getting more physical activity can help. Others may need medicine to help relieve their symptoms. If your menopause symptoms bother you, talk to your doctor or nurse. Your doctor or nurse can suggest medicines to help with your symptoms. All medicines have risks, and your doctor can help you figure out which medicines are best for you. Menopausal hormone therapy is prescription medicine to help relieve your menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, if they are severe enough to disrupt your daily life. Menopausal hormone therapy is sometimes called hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy. During menopause, your ovaries make very low levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Menopausal hormone therapy replaces some of the hormones no longer made by your ovaries with artificial estrogen and progesterone. Topical … Continue reading →

As women age, significant changes take place as a result of fluctuating hormone levels. Lower estrogen levels can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Youre probably familiar with menopause, a condition that affects every woman at some point, but you may not know that women also experience a transition period called perimenopause. Women are officially menopausal when theyve gone 12 consecutive months without a period. For most, this happens starting at around age 50. About 10 years before menopause, however, women can also start experiencing many of the same symptoms as menopause to a lesser degree. This is known as perimenopause, and if youre dealing with this natural transition, then you may benefit from the natural relief afforded by bio-identical hormone replacement therapy or BHRT. Perimenopause is a transitional time period that usually starts when women are in their 40s. You may notice symptoms as early as your mid-30s depending on your personal and family medical history. If youre experiencing any of the following symptoms, then you may be dealing with perimenopause: During perimenopause, your hormones fluctuate like they do during menopause, but you can still become pregnant as long as you have periods, even if theyre irregular. For many … Continue reading →

Current or recent past users of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Before the link between HRT use and breast cancer risk was established, many postmenopausal women took HRT for many years to ease menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, fatigue) and to reduce bone loss. Since 2002, when research linked HRT and risk, the number of women taking HRT has dropped dramatically. Still, many women continue to use HRT to handle bothersome menopausal symptoms. There are two main types of HRT: Each type of HRT seems to have a different effect on breast cancer risk. Combination HRT increases breast cancer risk by about 75%, even when used for only a short time. Combination HRT also increases the likelihood that the cancer may be found at a more advanced stage, as well as increasing the risk that a woman diagnosed with breast cancer will die from the disease. Breast cancer risk increases the most during the first 2 to 3 years of taking combination HRT. Higher-dose combination HRT increases breast cancer risk more than lower-dose combination HRT. Breast cancer risk goes back down to average about 2 years after you stop taking combination HRT. … Continue reading →