The decision to take, or not take, Hormone Replacement Therapy is a difficult one for most women. Complicating this even more is that every few weeks conflicting results from another research study are announced. So, how do you decide?
Often, it seems, women are on one end of the spectrum or the other when it comes to Hormone Replacement Therapy. Some women believe it’s wonderful; some women swear it’s unsafe and unnecessary.
When it comes your time, how do you decide? Well, for me, it came down to weighing the benefits against the risks that were known at the time. This is all any woman can do because the research and data are constantly changing.
For example, a few months ago, one study’s main finding, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, was that long-term estrogen use is linked to ovarian cancer; more specifically, “women who use post-menopausal estrogen had twice the risk of dying from ovarian cancer as women who never take them.”
Additionally, the author of the study I mentioned above, stressed that women should consider their overall risk for a variety of ailments balanced against the “quality of life” benefits from estrogen therapy.
What are “quality of life” benefits? Stopping hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and the like are the most common. Anyone who’s suffered with these will tell you, they do affect your life.
Then, just a few weeks ago, The American Heart Association started advising that HRT should not be used “for the sole purpose of preventing heart attacks and strokes.”
This was another shocker because the medical profession believed, for decades, in the benefits of HRT for a woman’s heart. The hormone’s would raise levels of good cholesterol and reduce the levels of bad cholesterol, thus helping against cardiovascular disease.
The new AHA guidelines suggest using HRT to treat common post-menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia, and to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. But women should not start therapy only to treat cardiovascular disease.
Most recently, another study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is reporting that frail, elderly women (over age 75) can benefit from estrogen replacement therapy. The study showed that estrogen therapy could improve bone density and help in preventing fractures in elderly women.
This study also points out that patients must weigh the potential benefits against the risks, which include a slightly increased chance of breast cancer.
In my case, I chose not to continue taking HRT. But it wasn’t an easy decision, and the way I decided wasn’t totally a result of studies like these, although I was aware of them. It was ultimately based of an adverse reaction and the fact that I was uncomfortable taking something that I didn’t feel was necessary.
I had no hot flashes, no night sweats, not any of the usual symptoms that HRT alleviates. My bone density test indicated that my bones were slightly stronger than other women my age. If I wasn’t having a problem with “quality of life” issues, why should I add chemicals to my system?
My doctor, a woman probably ten years younger than I, felt that since my mother had a history of osteoarthritis, it was important for me to increase the estrogen in my system, which could decrease bone loss. What I didn’t know then was that my doctor had a bias. She later told me that her mother suffered from extreme osteoporosis after refusing to use HRT. Perhaps if I’d known that initially I would have held out and not started.
But I reluctantly agreed to try HRT, with the understanding that I would return in three months for a checkup. When I returned, I explained that I wasn’t seeing any benefit and wanted to stop. My doctor urged me to continue a while longer and to return in six months. She stressed how it would be beneficial for my bone density. Again, I reluctantly agreed. Doesn’t the doctor know best?
Unfortunately, in this case, no. What I didn’t realize was that HRT has other side effects. Yes, drug companies and pharmacies provide all the information about side effects. But I don’t know many people who take the time to thoroughly read all that small print. I wish I had.
If I had, I would have seen that depression is one of the side effects. What happened to me was that after another few weeks I began to get very “weepy” - - I’d cry for absolutely no reason. At first I thought I was tired, or coming down with something. I realized something was wrong when this got even worse.
When I began getting ready for a great vacation - - my trip of a lifetime - - I was still feeling down… and crying for no reason. Well, that was it for me. I did some research on depression, found that HRT could be the cause, and called my doctor to say I was quitting!
Believe it or not, she still tried to convince me that I should continue and that something else must be causing my problems… she even suggested I might need something to treat the depression. No, thank you!
I’m here to tell you that I’m glad I stopped - - no more unexplained tears; no more additional chemicals in my system. I feel great; I deal with bone loss in a more natural way through diet and exercise; and the continuing announcements only reinforce my belief that my decision was the right one for me.
My advice to other women - - HRT has many points to consider - - look at your individual situation, be aware of available research and information, and consider your doctor’s recommendation, but make your own decision about what’s right for you.
Often, it seems, women are on one end of the spectrum or the other when it comes to Hormone Replacement Therapy. Some women believe it’s wonderful; some women swear it’s unsafe and unnecessary.
When it comes your time, how do you decide? Well, for me, it came down to weighing the benefits against the risks that were known at the time. This is all any woman can do because the research and data are constantly changing.
For example, a few months ago, one study’s main finding, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, was that long-term estrogen use is linked to ovarian cancer; more specifically, “women who use post-menopausal estrogen had twice the risk of dying from ovarian cancer as women who never take them.”
Additionally, the author of the study I mentioned above, stressed that women should consider their overall risk for a variety of ailments balanced against the “quality of life” benefits from estrogen therapy.
What are “quality of life” benefits? Stopping hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and the like are the most common. Anyone who’s suffered with these will tell you, they do affect your life.
Then, just a few weeks ago, The American Heart Association started advising that HRT should not be used “for the sole purpose of preventing heart attacks and strokes.”
This was another shocker because the medical profession believed, for decades, in the benefits of HRT for a woman’s heart. The hormone’s would raise levels of good cholesterol and reduce the levels of bad cholesterol, thus helping against cardiovascular disease.
The new AHA guidelines suggest using HRT to treat common post-menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia, and to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. But women should not start therapy only to treat cardiovascular disease.
Most recently, another study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is reporting that frail, elderly women (over age 75) can benefit from estrogen replacement therapy. The study showed that estrogen therapy could improve bone density and help in preventing fractures in elderly women.
This study also points out that patients must weigh the potential benefits against the risks, which include a slightly increased chance of breast cancer.
In my case, I chose not to continue taking HRT. But it wasn’t an easy decision, and the way I decided wasn’t totally a result of studies like these, although I was aware of them. It was ultimately based of an adverse reaction and the fact that I was uncomfortable taking something that I didn’t feel was necessary.
I had no hot flashes, no night sweats, not any of the usual symptoms that HRT alleviates. My bone density test indicated that my bones were slightly stronger than other women my age. If I wasn’t having a problem with “quality of life” issues, why should I add chemicals to my system?
My doctor, a woman probably ten years younger than I, felt that since my mother had a history of osteoarthritis, it was important for me to increase the estrogen in my system, which could decrease bone loss. What I didn’t know then was that my doctor had a bias. She later told me that her mother suffered from extreme osteoporosis after refusing to use HRT. Perhaps if I’d known that initially I would have held out and not started.
But I reluctantly agreed to try HRT, with the understanding that I would return in three months for a checkup. When I returned, I explained that I wasn’t seeing any benefit and wanted to stop. My doctor urged me to continue a while longer and to return in six months. She stressed how it would be beneficial for my bone density. Again, I reluctantly agreed. Doesn’t the doctor know best?
Unfortunately, in this case, no. What I didn’t realize was that HRT has other side effects. Yes, drug companies and pharmacies provide all the information about side effects. But I don’t know many people who take the time to thoroughly read all that small print. I wish I had.
If I had, I would have seen that depression is one of the side effects. What happened to me was that after another few weeks I began to get very “weepy” - - I’d cry for absolutely no reason. At first I thought I was tired, or coming down with something. I realized something was wrong when this got even worse.
When I began getting ready for a great vacation - - my trip of a lifetime - - I was still feeling down… and crying for no reason. Well, that was it for me. I did some research on depression, found that HRT could be the cause, and called my doctor to say I was quitting!
Believe it or not, she still tried to convince me that I should continue and that something else must be causing my problems… she even suggested I might need something to treat the depression. No, thank you!
I’m here to tell you that I’m glad I stopped - - no more unexplained tears; no more additional chemicals in my system. I feel great; I deal with bone loss in a more natural way through diet and exercise; and the continuing announcements only reinforce my belief that my decision was the right one for me.
My advice to other women - - HRT has many points to consider - - look at your individual situation, be aware of available research and information, and consider your doctor’s recommendation, but make your own decision about what’s right for you.
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