Health risks of hormone replacement therapy persist after women in test stopped drugs

When I began to have hot flashes, I did research on whether to take hormones.

My decision? No.

I found a study that indicated women taking hormone replacement therapy had a 1 percent increase in their risk of developing breast cancer for every year if they took HRT.

It wasn’t worth the risk to me – taking HRT for five or 10 years and increasing my risk of getting breast cancer 5 to 10 percent.

My general practitioner berated me for years for not taking HRT. She said it would protect me from heart attacks and strengthen my bones. I told her I didn’t want to have strong bones to put in the grave when I died of breast cancer.

My gynecologist also nagged me about it.

The Women’s Health Initiative study in 2002 brought about a big change in the thinking about HRT. It found that the overall risks of long-term use of hormone therapy outweigh the benefits.

Ironically, when I asked my general practitioner about natural hormones after the study results were announced, she cautioned me against them because no research had been done.

New follow-up results from the Women's Health Initiative confirm that the health risks of long-term use of combination (estrogen plus progestin) hormone therapy in healthy, postmenopausal women persist even a few years after stopping the drugs and clearly outweigh the benefits.

Researchers report that about three years after women stopped taking combination hormone therapy, many of the health effects of hormones such as increased risk of heart disease are diminished, but overall risks, including risks of stroke, blood clots, and cancer, remain high.

The study found that when women who had stopped taking estrogen plus progestin were compared to women who didn’t take hormones during the study, they:

• Were about 27 percent more likely to develop breast cancer.

• Had a 24 percent increased risk of developing any form of cancer.

• Had a risk of developing cardiovascular disease that was significantly higher – from a 29 percent increase in heart attacks to a 41 percent increase in strokes and nearly twice the risk of serious blood clots.

If women decide to take HRT, the researchers recommend it be taken for the shortest time possible.

CNN had a story Wednesday on the follow-up study.

Ideas for dealing with hot flashed offered were:

• Wear layered clothing.
• Avoid spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol.
• Exercise and relaxation.