Believe the Studies, But Apply the Data Correctly
Many studies have touted the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy especially with the use of the hormone estrogen for women.
And quite a few studies have questioned the safety, as with all medicines used in therapeutic dosages there are potential side effects as well as complications.
The most important question is what conditions do you personally have, and what diseases are you at risk for, and would you, regardless of age or pre-exisiting conditions, benefit from hormone therapy.
We have come full circle understanding that most women would benefit from optimizing their hormone levels, and in many cases that means taking hormone therapy. More studies are confirming the early beliefs of the success of estrogen for prevention of heart disease. Since heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions are the number one cause of death in women, any therapy that could prevent this condition, should be seriously considered.
Studies of women with deficiencies in testosterone have shown that both estrogen and testosterone should be corrected to feel your best. These women have to discuss any potential risks, but think about their health in a holistic fashion, approaching the risks as weighed against the benefits.
Breast cancer rates increase as women age, but the rates never come close to the rates of heart disease. The shocking truth is that over 90% of women with breast cancer will be cured of the disease. Established cardiovascular disease is almost never reversed. So come in to discuss the research studies, but understand the best approach is to take all risks in context of potential benefits.