Benefits & Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) uses female hormones to replace the natural hormones no longer made by the body. It is primarily used to treat menopause symptoms caused by the natural reduction of estrogen and progesterone. There are two types of replacement therapy: estrogen replacement therapy and combined hormone replacement therapy. As suggested, the first type of therapy uses only estrogen hormones to raise estrogen levels in the body. Combined therapy uses both estrogen and progestin, a synthetic hormone that mimics progesterone made naturally by the female body.

Benefits

• According to the Mayo Clinic, short-term hormone replacement therapy may help prevent osteoporosis, as bone loss tends to increase after menopause. HRT may also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and heart disease in younger women. Some additional beneficial side effects of hormone therapy include lessening of vaginal dryness, itchiness and unpleasant or painful intercourse. Furthermore, hormone therapy reduces the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Estrogen therapy also increases collagen levels in skin.

Risks

• Estrogen-only and combined hormone therapies increase uterine and breast cancer risks in women. The American Cancer Society notes that even after therapy is discontinued, risks remain higher for developing these two types of cancer. The Women’s Health Initiative Estrogen and Progestin study concluded that hormone replacement therapy amplifies the risk of invasive breast cancer, citing a 24 percent risk increase. Likewise, the Women’s Health Initiative found that after hormone therapy dropped in recent years, the rate of breast cancer also decreased. Additionally, ovarian cancer risks may increase when taking hormone replacement therapies. The National Library of Medicine lists other risks as blood clots, stroke and gallbladder disease. In some cases, urinary incontinence is reported.

Side Effects

• Like most medicines, hormone replacement therapy may come with some side effects, such as bloating, nausea, mood swings, headaches, water retention, irregular bleeding and breast soreness. These side effects may differ from person to person.