Before the arrival of menopause, women go through a process in which they experience various changes, due to the decrease in estrogen and progesterone, and the definitive cessation of menstruation.
To alleviate some annoying symptoms that this moment in a woman’s life entails, such as the so-called hot flashes and sweating, many have resorted for decades to the so-called hormone replacement or replacement therapies (HRT), as indicated by the American Cancer Association.
The treatment can be in pills, gels, patches or creams and is also known as postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT). In any case, as some studies report, this alternative may lead to more consequences what benefits.
Menopause and hormone replacement
Researchers from the Oxford University, in the United Kingdom, determined through a study, that HRT increases the chances of developing breast cancer twice, reported BBC Mundo.
In fact, the academic experts who participated in the 2019 study estimate that one million cases of this type of cancer could have been caused by the therapy in Western countries since the early 1990s.
The study found that six out of every 100 women, from among 50 Y 69 years, they could develop breast cancer, even without taking hormone replacement therapy. But this figure would increase 8/10 if they consume estrogen and progestogen (synthetic hormone that stimulates progesterone).
The myth about therapy
According to the research published in the magazine The Lancet, the probable cases of cancer are also linked to the combined consumption of the hormones or their application intermittently. For example, taking only estrogen increases your risk of uterine cancer.
Valerie Beral, a professor at the University of Oxford and a member of the research team, denied that hormone therapy for menopause is less risky if taken before the age of 50. “And this is a myth that is really quite widespread,” he said.
Gillian Reeves, also a professor at the institution, warned that they do not want to alarm women, but neither do they want to give them false assurances. “What we hope is that women will use this information to make a much more informed decision about whether they want to start HRT or continue HRT,” she said.
This article is designed to be informative and is not intended to provide medical advice or solutions. Always ask your doctor or specialist if you have questions about your health or before starting treatment.
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