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When talking to women about hormone replacement therapy, the most common question I get is, “Is it safe?”
I applaud this question. We should be highly cognizant of what we put into our bodies, and we should be asking if it’s safe. From the foods we eat to the sunscreens we use.
With HRT there are even more fears than usual because many women have heard anecdotally about potentially risks associated with hormone therapy. I could talk forever about these often well-intentioned but largely under-informed fears. But instead, I’d like to bring you some data.
A recent study, published in the journal for the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology revealed that a combination of estrogen and progesterone replacement therapy (referred to “combined HRT”) shows a “9% reduced risk of death from any cause.”
The aim of the 30+ year study was to see whether estrogen and/or “combined HRT” impacted mortality in women 46-65 years old.
“After ruling out existing health conditions such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease, the study found that, compared to the non-HRT users, women who had taken combined HRT (estrogen and progesterone) had on average a 9% lower risk of death from any cause.”
The president of the institute that commissioned the study said, “This study supports the emerging consensus that, for most women, the benefits of HRT outweigh the harm.”
Not only are these findings exciting to me as a practitioner of HRT, but also as a health-conscious woman who wants to understand ways to improve my own wellbeing and longevity. If we have tools at hand to lower female mortality—while improving quality of life in many ways—that’s something more women should know more about!
Sharing this with you is not to say women should stop asking questions and assume HRT comes to them at zero risk. In fact, the opposite. When women ask these questions, it means they’re getting informed about ways to optimize their health in a safe, effective way. So, keep asking questions, and in the meantime, I’ll keep sharing information.
Should you have questions about your specific conditions, or your personal wellness goals, we can schedule a time for a free one-on-one screening. I look forward to the chance to speak with you!
