Some experts agree about hormone replacement therapy!

The consensus of opinion at a recent (07-09-2012) gathering of experts is that "short-term, low dose hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is acceptable and relatively safe for healthy, symptomatic, recently postmenopausal women.  Details and a list of all participants can be found at the "statement of agreement" link in the final paragraph at http://www.endo-society.org/media/press/2012/Ten-Years-after-WHI-Doctors-Say-Patient-Concerns-and-Misinformation-Impede-Treatment-of-Menopausal-Women.cfm.  

The new guidelines were endorsed by the North American Menopause Society, the Endocrine Society and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine among others. 

They reiterated two major vascular risks of estrogen-alone or estrogen and progesterone combined therapy:

• cardiovascular events (more strokes and heart attacks)
• venous thromboembolism (more clots in the legs and lungs)

and then noted that these risks were "rare" in younger women (50-59 years).

They also reiterated the increased risk of breast cancer with combined HRT (estrogen and progesterone) use more that 5 years.

The specific recommendations suggest that for younger, healthy, immediately postmenopausal women, who have menopausal symptoms, HRT may be safe.  The dose should be the lowest and given for the shortest time needed, but certainly less than 5 years.

Again, note that this is individualized!  Symptomatic women, 50-59 years, who are low risk for blood clots, heart disease or strokes may safely take short-term, low dose hormone replacement therapy according to this consensus.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists did not endorse the new guidelines, citing their own opinions already posted online that those women of low risk for cardiovascular outcomes should be considered for HRT for "menopausal vasomotor symptoms" http://www.acog.org/Resources_And_Publications/Committee_Opinions/Committee_on_Gynecologic_Practice/Hormone_Therapy_and_Heart_Disease.


For some, who are not helped by those actions suggested in the prior bog, short-term, low dose HRT may be safe to relieve menopausal symptoms and not increase breast cancer risk.


Together we can prevent 75,000 breast cancer cases each year.




This is general medical content and not personal medical advice.  Talk to your doctor, if you think you would benefit from HRT, to find out if it is safe for you.