Hormone Replacement Therapy

February 26, 2010 - 11:52am

Maxsa R

I thought that Hormone Replacement Therapy was dangerous for women to use. Doesn't it increase the risk of breast cancer?

March 1, 2010 - 11:39am

grossmd

It does. Heart attacks, strokes and pulmonary embolism too. Nonetheless, these risks are low ( about 8 more cases of each per ten thousand women) and only seem to be significant after two years of use. Many Drs. still prescribe HRT because the quality of life improvement for some patients justifies the risk ( Think of how often in life we take a slightly more dangerous path to make life better. We would all be safer waliking to the store rather than driving but we often drive anyway).

March 3, 2010 - 7:02pm

janrandyfine

I am a user of bio-identical hormone therapy. It is much safer for many women than the traditional methods of HRT. There is a lot of information available about this form of HRT. Start by asking your doctor about it.

March 7, 2010 - 6:06am

Rhona S

When I asked my doctor about it a while ago I was told that there's a greater incidence of heart disease with women taking HRT and since heart disease runs in my family (my mother died of it) I was advised not to take it. I haven't and I survived well without it.

March 14, 2010 - 5:33pm

janrandyfine

I would encourage everyone to read about this sensitive subject in Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness by Suzanne Somers. Here is the
Synopsis posted on Barnes and Noble on line:

Are you thriving...or do you need a health BREAKTHROUGH?

People are suffering and many haven’t had access to the treatment they truly need to get better. Until now.

In interviews with the most progressive doctors in the field of antiaging medicine, #1 New York Times bestselling author and women’s health pioneer Suzanne Somers uncovers enlightening, lifesaving information for a natural, drug-free approach to living. Spending the time that you just won’t have with your own doctor in today’s challenged medical environment, she shares the 8 STEPS TO WELLNESS that form the cornerstone of breakthrough medicine. Readers will discover how to:

• balance hormones through bioidentical (not synthetic, cancer-causing) hormone replacement
• fix thyroid problems
• sleep 8 to 9 hours each night without drugs
• improve memory
• detect diabetes early
• restore hearing
• preserve eyesight
• and much more!

Okay. So some of you might think that since the author is not a medical doctor than the information can't possibly hold weight. On the contrary. Ms. Somers' book is loaded with information compiled by medical doctors who know this subject and specialize in it. Not everyone can benefit from every treatment, but we sell ourselves short if we don't research the possibilities that might benefit our individual situations.

So, do a little reading and ask more than one doctor. You are bound to find more than one opinion and more than one regimen that is beneficial to more than one person!

Interestingly, my internist disagrees with hormone therapy and believes that bio identical therapy is no better than traditional hormone therapy. My gynecologist disagrees. I went through extensive hormone testing before I was menopausal and continue to monitor my hormones on a regular basis. All results are shared with my internist. While she doesn't agree with what I am doing, she is respectful of my decision and encourages me to keep on reading and learning about what I have chosen to do. All and all a positive situation.

Some of us need to take the reins and that is what I have chosen to do. Challenging your doctor is rarely a negative. Active participation in your medical care is something that might really change your doctor/patient relationship in a positive manor. I would encourage that!

July 24, 2010 - 2:00am

Anna C.

In my case, I started menopause in my mid thirties (!) and spent one hellacious decade going thru the entire gamut of symptoms. Two different times my PCPs put me on Premarin and progesterone to try to regulate my hormones, all to no avail. The only thing that occurred was that I put on 60 lbs in less than 3 months and was a wreck - not just physically but also emotionally. The weight kept piling on and on no matter what I'd try to do to control it. I was on a barrage of other medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis and cardio-pulmonary problems already at that young age. All of which contributed to depression and drastic weight gain. I continued to gain even after being taken off the hormones and it got to the point that I, a nurse by profession, could no longer work. I fell apart. My ex - an ER doctor - couldn't deal with it and left me and our baby daughter to manage alone as best we could. It was an up hill struggle the whole way, our veritable Trail of Tears, and try as I might I never was able to return to work full time. But we made it and I left working full time in Nursing (which I'd loved) and retired early. There was nearly nothing left inside me and I needed to be sure my daughter got a good start she deserved and earn a scholarship for college, in fact 2 scholarships for which we are ecstatically grateful! So now my daughter has been working on her BSN (baccalaureate in Nursing) and a minor in business administration as well as started her own business. I can't help but believe that the start of my worst troubles was begun when I took those first pills. I'm still working on losing the weight for the past 2 decades and am not even halfway thru. Now beginning the 6th decade of my life I am somewhat discouraged and know I need a change of attitude about getting older, and about learning to accept myself as I am now, etc. etc. I would never go on hormone therapy another time, no matter what it promises to do. To those for whom HRT works well and gives you your life and youthful feeling again, I say, "Bully for you all and I only wish you the very best! As for me, It brought devastation to me and I'd never be able in good conscience to recommend it to anyone.

BTW, Anyone on here have any words of wisdom, suggestions, encouragement to pass along my way, I thank you in advance. To ALL, I wish the very best of the summer, be safe, enjoy yourself to the hilt.