Confused by Conflicting Information on Hormone Replacement Therapy? The Facts You Need to Know

Have you ever heard anyone talk positively about menopause? It’s a big transition and one that can be terribly uncomfortable. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is effective in treating the symptoms of menopause, but conflicting information has made some doctors stop recommending it and caused some women to avoid it.

At A Woman’s Wellspring, Stephanie Taylor, MD, PhD, and her team address your health as a whole person rather than simply considering your symptoms. Menopause symptoms can be extremely disruptive, and whether or not you should consider HRT depends on a host of individual factors. Dr. Taylor recommends HRT—or not—on a case-by-case basis after evaluating your specific circumstances and overall health. 

The source of confusion

The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) is the largest study of women’s health conducted in the United States. It looked at the health of more than 68,000 women who were enrolled in clinical trials between 1993 and 1998. The original study was halted suddenly because it found that women taking a specific combination of estrogen and progestin were experiencing stroke and breast cancer at higher rates.

The original intent of the study was to find out if HRT helped protect women from heart disease and other health issues. When the results of stroke and breast cancer came out, doctors stopped recommending HRT, and many women stopped taking it very abruptly.

The WHI has since followed up with those women for up to 20 years, and published additional information. One of the most important things that researchers have found is that different types of hormones, at different doses, are safe and still effective in alleviating symptoms.

Using a different type of progestin specifically helped lower the rate of breast cancer in women taking HRT. Researchers also found that women who used a patch or cream rather than taking a pill had a lower risk of pulmonary embolism or blood clots. 

Another important factor in whether or not HRT is safe for you or not has to do with your age and the time you experience menopause. For most women, the most effective and safest time to use HRT is between the ages of 50 and 60. After 60, more risks are associated with HRT. 

HRT and you

When Dr. Taylor discusses HRT with patients, she considers your personal risk factors for various conditions. For example, if you have a family history of osteoporosis, HRT could be more beneficial for you, but if you have a family history of breast cancer, it could be too risky. 

The severity of your symptoms matters, too. If you’re not sleeping well due to night sweats, you have vaginal dryness that’s causing extreme discomfort or your professional life is impacted by hot flashes, the benefits of alleviating those symptoms could outweigh the potential risks. 

Because doctors now have more information and options for prescribing HRT, the overall risk of negative outcomes is much lower. By working with you as an individual and considering all of the different aspects of your symptoms and your health, Dr. Taylor recommends a specific HRT for you.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of menopause, schedule an appointment at A Woman’s Wellspring. Dr. Taylor offers numerous services to help you navigate this big life transition with supportive care.