HRT- Hormone Replacement Therapy

Millions of women at menopause are faced with distressing symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness and night sweats. These and other problems of the menopause make menopause so uncomfortable.
Replacing hormones that decline at menopause makes transition more comfortable at this very important phase of a woman's life.
HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy has many more benefits for the post menopausal women.
Osteoporosis - bone weakening condition, which causes millions of fractures yearly in elderly, is prevented by HRT.
Ishaemic Heart Disease - which is a big killer. Risk of IHD is lowered.
Colorectal Cancer - risk may be lowered.

But with all these benefits, women on HRT are at increased risk of Breast Cancer. The Risk may be 30% higher as compared to those who have never used postmenopausal hormones.

The Risk is 40% higher in those who take estrogen plus progestin.

Only women who are currently using hormones and had been taking them for five years or more had an elevated risk, a risk that increased with a woman's age; those who had taken hormones in the past but are not currently using them had no increased risk, even if they had used hormones for more than five years.

Thus women over 55 should "carefully consider" the risks and benefits of long-term hormone therapy.

Just consider -- In a group of 100 women over age 55, we'd expect to see 3.5 cases of breast cancer during a 10-year period; if all of those women took hormones, the number with breast cancer might climb from 3.5 to 5.

With this number in mind, remember that focusing only on the risk of breast cancer may not be justified, because hormone therapy clearly has tremendous benefits.

Its worth mentioning that a randomized, placebo-controlled trial is under way, however, that will compare the rates of heart disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer and other conditions in postmenopausal women taking either hormone replacement therapy or a dummy pill. This carefully designed study, part of the Women's Health Initiative, should yield solid answers by the year 2005, or perhaps earlier.

Many experts still think the overall benefits of HRT do outweigh the risks for the average woman. Remember, heart disease is the leading killer of women, taking about six times as many lives each year as does breast cancer. Add to this toll more than a million osteoporosis-related fractures each year in women. Osteoporosis, and probably heart disease, are diminished by hormone replacement.

However, those on hormone therapy, it is very important to have yearly Pap smears, pelvic examinations, and mammograms. These screening tests will help pick up serious problems early, making them more amenable to treatment.

Also see Prevention & Treatment of Osteoporosis

	Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy
	Findings of WHI in relation to HRT

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