Do most women go on Hormone Replacement Therapy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only the vaginal estrogen does not have the cancer risk.

Can you elaborate? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, most women are not on HRT. Long term use has been proven to cause breast cancer, blood clots/MIs/strokes. If you have a hysterectomy with ovaries removed prior to menopause, then HRT may be necessary to lessen the initial shock of instant menopause, but even then it should be closely monitored by a physician. Once natural menopause would have occurred , the HRT should be tapered off.

This is just not true.

Please explain how this is untrue.

NP here. I have the so called “breast cancer” gene — though no breast cancer yet — and my gynecological oncologist, who specializes in working with people who are BRCA+ (with or without cancer), is fine with her patients doing HRT, so long as they have not already had a particular kind of breast cancer that is estrogen positive. (Ideally, she says, a few years of it, not decades, mind you.)

NB: She’s at one of the major research universities you and everyone else knows. She helped write national guidelines for women at high risk of breast cancer due to genetic factors. She’s a pretty sterling source on whether or not HRT raises your breast cancer risk.

But a woman would be safer taking nothing than taking any form of estrogen. Estrogen has been proven to increase breast cancer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, most women are not on HRT. Long term use has been proven to cause breast cancer, blood clots/MIs/strokes. If you have a hysterectomy with ovaries removed prior to menopause, then HRT may be necessary to lessen the initial shock of instant menopause, but even then it should be closely monitored by a physician. Once natural menopause would have occurred , the HRT should be tapered off.

This is just not true.

Please explain how this is untrue.

NP here. I have the so called “breast cancer” gene — though no breast cancer yet — and my gynecological oncologist, who specializes in working with people who are BRCA+ (with or without cancer), is fine with her patients doing HRT, so long as they have not already had a particular kind of breast cancer that is estrogen positive. (Ideally, she says, a few years of it, not decades, mind you.)

NB: She’s at one of the major research universities you and everyone else knows. She helped write national guidelines for women at high risk of breast cancer due to genetic factors. She’s a pretty sterling source on whether or not HRT raises your breast cancer risk.

But a woman would be safer taking nothing than taking any form of estrogen. Estrogen has been proven to increase breast cancer.

This is true, but according to my doc, if you have a family history of cardiac disease or dementia (against both of which estrogen has a protective effect), you may find the trade off worth it. I do.

[Anonymous]

No. No one wants cancer.

[Anonymous]

Different poster. If you have BRCA1, if you do develop cancer, it will most likely be triple negative -- that is, not responsive to estrogen, or progesterone, or HER2. So the additional estrogen of HRT would not make a difference.

[Anonymous]

No, not routine. I'm 49 and we discussed this recently (dr and I) and she was against it for me, and I felt the same. With a family history of breast cancer and stroke, no way.

I try to eat well (quarantine and stress has not helped this!), excersize and get enough sleep. Do I succeed? No not always lol, but it helps.

[Anonymous]

Try drinking 2 big mugs of spearmint tea per day. This helps me

[Anonymous]

The spearmint naturally increases estrogen levels and lowers testosterone and androgens.

[Anonymous]

I asked my primary about HRT for hot flashes, insomnia, and joint pain.

About a month ago, she put me on a low-dose birth control pill instead, since I am in perimenopause, and my symptoms are much more tolerable. I plan to do HRT in the future.

This woman gave a TED talk and has done research on menopause and Alzheimer’s:

https://www.lisamosconi.com/videos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not if they have a risk or history of hormone positive cancer.

Risk or history doesn't matter. I know way too many people who had no risk factors who did HRT and got breast cancer. Not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it is a thing of the past unless you have severe symptoms. In fact, the whole idea of it being "replacement" therapy sounds like it is a deficit, so it is now referred to as HT- hormone therapy. Women at menopause have what is for them a normal level of hormones at that time of life, and nothing needs to be "replaced" -so that language is even out of favor. -an MD mom.

And this is a shame, because you can feel better even with mild symptoms. Why suffer through menopause?

Why? Menopause is annoying, not sufferable. Chemo and surgery is "suffering."

You are making blanket statements that don't apply to everyone. For many women, menopause is far beyond "annoying." And many/ most women who end up choosing some form of HRT do not end up with cancer, strokes or anything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So If HRT is not done anymore, what is the new effective treatment right now?

SSRIs can be very helpful for women with menopause symptoms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So If HRT is not done anymore, what is the new effective treatment right now?

SSRIs can be very helpful for women with menopause symptoms.

Some info on the above:
https://www.healthline.com/health/antidepressants-for-menopause

[Anonymous]

Menopause Confidential is great at explaining what hormone replacement options could be used and when. Also clears up the old information about breast cancer and HRT. It is a concern but not just a blanket “HRT will give you breast cancer!”

Short answer: for peri-menopause ask your gynecologist to put you on continuous birth control to skip your periods and regulate your estrogen for mental and physical well-being. HRT is for menopausal women.

[Anonymous]

Women have huge doses of estrogen floating around in their bodies for almost 40 years. Then they will take 6 months of HRT, get breast cancer, and blame it on the HRT. Oh, really? They also would not stick old men on SSRIs to shut them up. Men are routinely offered Viagra and testosterone therapy not told to drink spearmint tea.

If you don't want to take it, then don't.