Hormone therapy facts

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• Hormone therapy (HT) refers to either estrogen or combination estrogen /progesterone treatment.

• Estrogen therapy is the most highly effective prescription medication for treating menopause symptoms and in light of recent research is still safe and effective for many women when used for fewer than five years.

• Estrogen therapy reduces or eliminates several symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, disturbed sleep resulting from hot flashes, and vaginal dryness.

• Other safe and effective non-hormonal medications exist to address a woman's concerns regarding osteoporosis.

• The use of estrogen therapy without progesterone (progestin), is associated with an increase in the risk of uterine cancer (endometrial cancer, cancer of the lining of the uterus).

• Treatment with progesterone along with estrogen substantially reduces the risk of uterine cancer (endometrial cancer) so that the risk of developing this cancer is equivalent to that of women not taking estrogen.

 

Users of oral hormone therapy (HT) (in the doses of the Women's Health Initiative) for more than five years are at slightly increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke than are nonusers.

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Call our office to set an appointment to discuss hormone therapy options with Dr. Masterson

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obstetrics, gynecology, women's health, santa monica, california,