Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) may be prescribed to reduce certain symptoms of natural or medically-induced menopause in women who no longer have a uterus. For example, ERT can decrease the frequency of hot flashes and help prevent thinning of the bones (osteoporosis).
However, the Breast Cancer Demonstration Project found that women's risk of breast cancer went up by about 1% percent for every year of taking estrogen alone. The real risk with ERT is prolonged use -- the longer a woman uses ERT, the greater her risk of breast cancer. This increase in risk of breast cancer begins to drop after estrogen use stops and eventually returns to that of someone who has never used hormones.
Thus, post-menopausal women should not take ERT for prolonged periods of time.
There are many wonderful alternatives that can help women alleviate undesired symptoms of menopause, without increasing her breast cancer risk. These alternatives include natural hormone replacements, lifestyle changes, and dietary modification.
|
is a trademark of HC Search Corporation.
for free.
