HRT Early in Menopause Does Not Protect Against Heart Disease
by Jennifer Bunn, RN
The current guidelines for HRT (hormone replacement therapy) are that women take HRT for the shortest time and in the smallest dose possible to treat symptoms of menopause. Studies in the past suggested that taking HRT early on in menopause protected women from heart disease, but new data does not support this idea.
The Women’s Health Initiative was a huge study of 16,000 women, half of whom received HRT while the other half received placebos. The study was halted in 2002 when it was discovered that the women taking HRT had higher rates of blood clots, heart disease and breast cancer. It was this study that ignited the fierce debate about HRT therapy and its safety that has raged ever since.
Researchers recently turned their focus to the women in the study who began HRT early in menopause and discovered that there was a slight increase in risk of heart disease, although the numbers were not considered significant. The researchers debunked the theory that HRT taken early in menopause has a protective effect against heart disease. It should be noted that the women in the WHI study took higher doses of hormones than women typically use today.
Women should consider the risks and benefits of HRT and should discuss these factors with their personal physician. Many women are choosing to use lifestyle and natural remedies to cope with menopause symptoms.
PreMenora is a twice-daily all-natural formulation that decreases menopausal symptoms by 80% and provides immediate and long-term results. It is easily affordable and offers a safe alternative to HRT.
