. There exist many speculations about whether hormone therapy used for treating menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, loss of bone density, night sweats, sleep irregularities, and vaginal and sexual problems, increases the risk of breast cancer . A review published in Menopause evaluated the conflicting results from large observational studies and two large randomized Women's Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trials and provided much-needed clarity on this pressing issue.
After considering all the risks and benefits for women within the age limit of 60 or within 10 years of menopause from various studies, the data provided reassurance for using estrogen alone or with progesterone to treat postmenopausal symptoms. When prescribed to women who had undergone hysterectomy, estrogen therapy used alone at menopause did not increase the risk of breast cancer. However, longer durations of…
