When women who did not take any hormone therapy were compared with those who did use hormones, women in their 50’s experienced 10 fewer diagnoses of diabetes per 1000 women, 4 fewer cases of heart disease, 5 fewer bone fractures, and 2 fewer cases of colon cancer per 1000 women.
In those that took only estrogen, there was no increased risk of developing breast cancer; but there were 7 more cases of breast cancer per 1000 women in those who took estrogen plus progestin for 5 years. The researchers made the conclusion that estrogen plus progestin did not likely cause a breast tumor; but may stimulate a preexisting tumor to grow to a size where it becomes detectable. This data should make women feel more comfortable and less stressed about choosing to start bioidentical hormone therapy to relieve their symptoms at the onset of menopause, rather than trying to cope with it for years and then deciding to “give in” to treatment. Please make an appointment to go and discuss your situation with a medical professional if you have questions about menopausal symptoms and the treatment options available to you.
