What are risks of hormone therapy?

There is no drug, herb or hormone without side effects and the same applies to bioidentical hormones. There are many studies which have clearly shown that all sex hormones- both natural and synthetic have side effects. Asides from side effects, these hormones also posses certain risks. In the recent Women’s health initiative study which looked at effects of the sex hormone Prempro in 10,000 women, the following data were observed:

• There were seven more cases of heart disease
• There were eight more cases of breast cancer
• There were eight more cases of moderate to severe stroke
• There were eighteen more cases of blood clots in the lower extremities

Even though the numbers are small, the risk is definite. However, one has to understand that these sex hormones are taken by thousands of women all over the world and the numbers are bound to be much higher. Also observed in the study was that there were many more women who had abnormal mammograms but did not have an actual breast cancer. This increased has been linked to prolonged use of estrogen.

Women who only took the formula containing estrogen alone (Premarin) had no increase in breast cancer or ischemic heart disease. However, the study did show that women who only took estrogen were more prone to blood clots and strokes.

What the results show is that there is a risk of certain disorders in women who take estrogen and progesterone and thus monitoring is vital. This means that women need to get mammograms on a regular basis and get their heart checked at least once a year. To prevent blood clots, a sedentary life style should be avoided.