Still hearing that HRT can’t hurt your heart? Findings from yet another study, this time published in the February 16 edition of Annals of Internal Medicine, confirm the dangers that HRT poses to your heart, especially in the short-term.
In this latest analysis, researchers evaluated data derived from 16,608 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative trial who still had their uterus. The findings?
Compared to women who had never used hormone replacement therapy, those who had used it continuously over 10 years had more than twice the risk of developing heart disease over the first 2 years, and more than 1.5 times the risk over the subsequent 8 years. For women who started hormone therapy after 10 years of entering menopause, there was also a trend towards developing heart disease over the first 2 years. Of note, researchers did observe a possible protective effect after 6 years in the women who started therapy closer to menopause as risk did start to level off at this time.
The upshot is that the first two years of taking HRT can be a dangerous time for women regardless of whether they start hormones closer to menopause.
Another nail? Yes, I’d say so.
But don’t take my word for it. Knowledge is power. Educate yourselves. And if you’d like to learn more about heart disease and menopause, I’ve written about it numerous times on this blog. I also encourage you to visit the American Heart Association website. Finally, I’d love for you to take a stand. Don’t you think it’s time for the FDA to start paying attention? These drugs are dangerous for women. Yet, they remain on the market and are prescribed daily. Whose nail, whose coffin?
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Knowledge IS indeed power but the information for women on HRT for the past 25 years has been enough to probably accelerate the death of many.
As a breast cancer survivor I can not take hormones, and experienced a chemo-induced menopause at 43. Awful, but ultimately, manageable. Intense aerobic exercise, good diet, and fish oil (good for the heart) help me cope and I’m in better health than ever. There are some things that HRT would have helped but I gladly surrender those to be here:)
All I can do is to urge women not to take a short-term gain for a possible long-term loss. Study the information and talk to a physician you trust. Not someone who brushes off the issue like yesterday’s news. It isn’t. Take care of yourselves.
Thanks Liz, for your post.
What a thoughtful and heartfelt comment. Thank you! I can’t think of better advice – don’t go for the short-term gain at the expense of possible long-term loss. Thank you so much!