Menopause and HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)

This topic has been a huge debate for many years now and I have spent a long time looking into the “Why’s and Why not’s” and the “pros and cons” of taking HRT and looking at the safety aspect of it too. Over a decade ago there were massive headlines in the papers linking HRT to Breast Cancer and overnight women stopped taking it. Today less than 10% of women take HRT, and as one of the most effective treatments for most symptoms of the Menopause, I am flabbergasted that we have all been given false information for so long!

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HRT – Hormone Replacement Therapy

• The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Study.

The trial that was carried out 20 years ago was to look at the risks and benefits of older women taking HRT. Most of the women were an average age of 63, (women normally take HRT at a much younger age than that) so cannot be used to determine risks with women under that age, many were also categorized as obese in this study too meaning the study is unrepresentative of the whole female population.

Two of the authors have recently published apologies for their misinterpretation of the study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

• Suffering in Silence.

All the negative press and publicity led health professionals, doctors and GP’s to be concerned about the potential risks of HRT, leading to thousands of women suffering horrendous effects of the Menopause and increased risk of Osteoporosis and Cardiovascular disease due to not taking HRT.

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What is HRT?

HRT is a treatment that contains hormones, every woman is different and there are different ways you can take it (this is covered below). They all contain Oestrogen, which is the hormone that depletes due to your ovaries no longer making it after the Menopause. 

How can I take It?

HRT comes in lots of different forms, you can take it in tablet form, patches you can stick to your skin or gels you rub on your skin.

If you still have your womb – you will also need to take Progesterone, if you just take Oestrogen the womb lining can thicken and this can increase your risk of cancer of the Uterus. Some HRT products are combined and contain both Oestrgoen and Progesterone.

If your still having periods when you take HRT, you will be given a HRT that gives you regular periods. If a year has passed with no periods, or you have been taking HRT for more than a year, you will be given a HRT that will continue to not give you any periods.

Testosterone is another hormone that women produce, in lower amounts than men but It is still equally important.  Low levels of Testosterone can cause women going through Menopause to have bad concentration, reduced libido, and no energy. This can be given as a cream that you can use daily.

Benefits of taking HRT.

HRT can help with, if not improve massively, symptoms like Hot Flushes, Low Libido, Mood Swings, Night Sweats and even Bone Density improves with HRT, which is huge in the battle against Osteoporosis. The benefits and risks of HRT vary depending on age and any other health problems you have. ALWAYS speak to your GP about any concerns or issues you have.

HRT has changed a lot over the years and taking it under 60 years old can reduce your risks of Cardiovascular Disease. Starting HRT early can benefit your health, do not wait until it becomes unbearable. You can take HRT for as long as necessary and it does not delay your Menopause. Your quality of life is so important, and HRT can make you feel normal again and you can carry on living your life to the full again.

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HRT Risks.

For most women, the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks by a mile but so many women are badly informed and have been frightened into believing HRT is linked to Breast Cancer and is not safe to take. Like everything Menopause, EVERYONE is different and there is no ONE treatment fits all! It is so important to have a one to one with your GP or Menopause Specialist to discuss your risks, if any.

Women who take some tablet forms of HRT have a small risk of developing a clot, but factors like obesity or having had a clot or stroke previously or smoking, are also risk factors that could make it more likely to suffer a clot or stroke. If you have suffered from these conditions before, you are more likely to be offered Oestrogen in a patch or gel form as opposed to the tablet HRT.

Many women worry about the link with HRT and Breast Cancer, some types of HRT do not increase the risk at all, and there may be a small number which do. The risk is so tiny it has been compared to the increased risk associated with drinking two small glasses of wine a night. There is still no study that proves that taking HRT can increase the risk of death from Breast Cancer. 

These are usually very mild problems that occur in a few women, they usually appear in the first few months, and often settle down when the body gets used to the HRT. Initially, you may get some breast discomfort, feel a little nauseous, and patches may irritate the skin. Changing brand can often help or the type of HRT you are using.

Whatever your thoughts are on taking HRT, speak to your GP or Menopause Specialist about your options and symptoms. Most women will spend a third of their life Post-Menopausal and with 80% of women having several symptoms, lets not suffer in silence, there is help out there.

*DISCLAIMER*This page does not provide medical advice; it is intended for informational purposes only and is based upon my opinion and experiences. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on The Executive Menopause Coach website. Always seek professional medical advice.