| Hormone
Replacement Therapy (HRT) provides women with the female
hormones that decrease as they age. When the hormone estrogen
is given alone, it is usually referred to as "ERT."
When the hormone progestin is combined with estrogen,
it is generally called "HRT."
Estrogen is a female
hormone that brings about changes in other organs in
the body. Progesterone is a female hormone that prepares
the uterus for a pregnancy each month. During the transition
to menopause ("perimenopause") these hormone
levels start to fluctuate, causing some uncomfortable
symptoms. When the ovaries stop producing estrogen and
progesterone, menstrual periods cease and the woman
has experienced menopause.
Recently, U.S. government
scientists stopped a major study of hormone replacement
therapy on the risks and benefits of combined estrogen
and progestin in healthy menopausal women, citing an
increased risk of invasive breast cancer.
Researchers from the
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National
Institutes of Health also found increases in coronary
heart disease, stroke and pulmonary embolism.
About 6 million women
in the United States are taking estrogen and progestin
for various reasons, including relief of menopausal
symptoms and long-term use for the prevention of heart
disease and brittle bones.
Side Effects of HRT
To
see if you have HRT related case, click here
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